Transitive and Intransitive Verbs, Examples, Identification, Meaning

Here are examples of transitive and intransitive verbs:

Transitive Verbs:

She ate an apple.

• Verb: ate
• Object: an apple
• The verb "ate" is transitive because it requires an object (an apple) to complete the action.

He painted the fence.

• Verb: painted
• Object: the fence
• The verb "painted" is transitive because it acts upon the object "the fence."

They bought a new car.

• Verb: bought
• Object: a new car
• The verb "bought" is transitive as it requires an object ("a new car") to complete its meaning.

Intransitive Verbs:

She sleeps.

• Verb: sleeps
• This sentence does not contain an object.
• The verb "sleeps" is intransitive because it doesn't require an object to make sense.

The bird sings.

• Verb: sings
• This sentence does not contain an object.
• The verb "sings" is intransitive because it doesn't require an object to complete its action.

The sun rises in the east.

• Verb: rises
• This sentence does not contain an object.
• The verb "rises" is intransitive because it describes an action without requiring an object.

Identify Transitive Verbs and Intransitive Verbs

Transitive Verbs:

A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object to complete its meaning. Without the direct object, the action expressed by the verb would be incomplete. Transitive verbs often answer the question "What?" or "Whom?" after the action.

Example 1: "Dave bought a new bicycle."

• Verb: bought
• Direct Object: a new bicycle
• In this sentence, "bought" is a transitive verb because it requires the direct object "a new bicycle" to complete the action. Without the direct object, the sentence "Dave bought" would be incomplete and nonsensical.

Example 2: "The children passed the books around."

• Verb: passed
• Direct Object: the books
• In this sentence, "passed" is a transitive verb because it acts upon the direct object "the books." Without the direct object, the action of passing would lack clarity and completeness.

Intransitive Verbs:

In contrast, an intransitive verb is a verb that does not require a direct object to complete its meaning. Intransitive verbs often stand alone in a sentence without needing to act upon something else.

Example 1: "Firoz laughed so hard."

• Verb: laughed
• In this sentence, "laughed" is an intransitive verb because it does not require a direct object to complete its meaning. The action of laughing is complete in itself, and the sentence makes sense without any additional objects.

Example 2: "Jack came home in the evening."

• Verb: came
• In this sentence, "came" is an intransitive verb because it expresses an action (coming home) that does not require an object to complete. The sentence conveys a complete thought without the need for a direct object.

English Tenses
Present Tense	Past Tense
Future Tense	Simple Present Tense
Present Continuous Tense	Present Perfect Tense
Present Perfect Continuous Tense	Simple Past Tense
Past Continuous Tense	Past Perfect Tense