Transitive and Intransitive Verbs

Transitive verb An action verb Will have a direct object – A word that receives the action of the verb Also known as vt in a dictionary

Transitive verb I gave a present to my best friend Kim. Penelope wrote a sentence on the board. Take the trash to the curb. Missy’s dog caught the Frisbee. These sentences all have a direct object – a sign that your verb is transitive (vt).

Intransitive verb An action verb Does not have a direct object Also know as vi in a dictionary

Intransitive verb My mother cried. Little Sally’s piggy bank broke. Only Casey and Joseph knew. Yusef went to the party by himself. prepositional phrases – A direct object will never be in the prepositional phrase. – These sentences do not have direct objects.

A VERB CAN SOMETIMES BE TRANSITIVE AND INTRANSITIVE How to tell the difference

Ask yourself… Find the verb. Does it have a direct object? – Can you ask what after the verb and get an answer? The glass dog broke in the car. – Broke what? – Not a transitive verb. The glass dog broke the record. – Broke what? – the record – Yes, this is a transitive verb.

Is it vt or vi? Shauna carried her books in her arms. The books should be carried in her arms. A baseball broke the window. A baseball broke through the window. Mr. Grumps left his shoe in the alley. Mr. Grumps left after the show.

Is it vt or vi? Shauna carried her books. VT The books should be carried in her arms. VI A baseball broke the window. VT A baseball broke through the window. VI Mr. Grumps left his shoe. VT Mr. Grumps left after the show. VI Prepositional phrase