Parts of Speech Verbs: Transitive and Intransitive

Eight Parts of Speech Nouns Pronouns Adjectives Adverbs Conjunctions Prepositions Verbs Interjections

Every sentence must have Every sentence must have a a

Verbs A verb is a word that expresses an action or a state of being. The baby cried very loudly. The baby is not very happy.

Kinds of Verbs Action verbs ~ express mental or physical action The baby cried loudly. Linking verbs ~ connect the subject of the sentence with a word that describes or explains its state The baby is not very happy.

Transitive Verbs Tip #1 Only sentences with transitive verbs can be turned into a whom? or what? question. Ex. The ball hit his. Question: What did the ball hit? (the direct object)

Transitive Verbs Tip #2 The answer to the whom? or what? question must follow an action verb to be transitive. Ex. The ate fast. What did the worm eat? (no direct object) If it does not answer the whom? or what?….

Intransitive Verbs Ex. The ate fast. What did the worm eat? (no direct object) Fast does not answer the whom? or what? question. Action verbs that do not have a direct object are called intransitive verbs.

Verbs with Indirect Objects Two kinds of objects may follow an action verb. The object that receives the direct action of the verb is the direct object. However, the object that tells to whom or for whom the action is done is called the indirect object.

The Eagles showed the coach the new goal. indirect object

Evaluate your own and a peer’s sentences as transitive or intransitive verbs (worksheet provided).

Transitive or Intransitive #5 Rides #6 None #7 None # 8 Whistle #9 None #10 None #11 None #12 Cheese

A quick review… What are the two kinds of verbs? Action and linking verbs. What must every transitive verb have? A direct object. What answers the what or whom question? The direct object.

Kinds of Verbs Action verbs ~ express mental or physical action The baby cried loudly. Linking verbs ~ connect the subject of the sentence with a word that describes or explains its state The baby is not very happy.

Transitive Verbs Tip #1 Only sentences with transitive verbs can be turned into a whom? or what? question. Ex. The ball hit his. Question: What did the ball hit? (the direct object)

Transitive Verbs Tip #2 The answer to the whom? or what? question must follow an action verb to be transitive. Ex. The ate fast. What did the worm eat? (no direct object) If it does not answer the whom? or what?….

We have established that words that answer the question whom? or what? after an action verb are called direct objects: Friends sent the flowers. We have also established the meaning of the object of the preposition as in… Friends sent the flowers to Catherine. What happens when we do the following?

Friends sent the flowers to Catherine. This becomes… Friends sent Catherine the flowers. What role does Catherine now play in the sentence? Is Catherine still part of a prepositional phrase? Catherine answers the question to whom? or for whom? was the action done. We call that an…

indirect object. Two kinds of objects may follow an action verb. The object that receives the direct action of the verb is the direct object. However, the object that tells to whom or for whom the action is done is called the indirect object. Friends sent Catherine the flowers. next