TRANSITIVE AND INTRANSITIVE VERBS

QUICK REVIEW Let’s identify the subject, verb, article, and any objects in the following sentences. The batter hit the ball. The bird sang. What is the difference between the two verbs in the above sentences? How do the verbs differ grammatically? Notice that the first sentence has two words following the verb hit. The second sentence doesn’t have words after the verb sang. These two facts lead us to a discussion on transitive and intransitive verbs.

TRANSITIVE VERBS Transitive verbs are action verbs that have an object to receive that action. In the first sentence above, the direct object ball received the action of the verb hit. Examples: I baked some cookies. I rode the bicycle. I moved the chair. I stitched a quilt. All of the verbs in the sentences are transitive because an object is receiving the action of the verb. A transitive verb must be an action verb plus there must be an object to receive that action.

INTRANSITIVE VERBS Intransitive verbs are action verbs but unlike transitive verbs, the do not have an object receiving the action.action verbs Examples: I laughed. The book fell. The horse galloped. The sun set.

SOME WORDS CAN BE BOTH DEPENDING ON CONTEXT We read the news with great care. Here we can see that read is transitive as it has the direct object news. We read until late at night. Here read is intransitive. There is no object to receive or complement the action.

LET’S TRY IT Let’s identify the subject, verb, article, and any objects in the following sentences. Be careful! I walked to the park today.

EXAMPLES FROM DIVERGENT “A brave man acknowledges the strength of others.”

EXAMPLES FROM DIVERGENT “I am selfish.”

EXAMPLES FROM DIVERGENT “Politeness is deception in pretty packaging.”

RESOURCES Marshall, Pam. "Transitive and Intransitive Verbs." Reading Worksheets Grammar Comprehension Lesson Plans. K12 Reader, Web. 12 Apr Roth, Veronica. Divergent. New York: Katherine Tegen, Print.