2.1.1 Transitive and Intransitive Verbs

Note the followings before proceeding to identify the sentences that have a transitive or intransitive verb:

The verb that needs an object to make its meaning clear or complete is called a Transitive Verb. The object can be a noun or a pronoun.

The Intransitive Verb does not need an object to complete its meaning.

Each of the following sentences has a verb that is either transitive or intransitive. Choose the correct answer – transitive or intransitive – as given at the end of the sentence. Click for the answer.

1. She saw a ghost. (Transitive/Intransitive)

1. She saw a ghost. (Transitive/Intransitive)

1. She saw a ghost. (Transitive verb – object: ghost)

2. My vase dropped and broke into pieces. (Transitive/Intransitive)

2. My vase dropped and broke into pieces. (Transitive/Intransitive)

2. My vase dropped and broke into pieces. (Intransitive verb – no object)

3. Finally, one of them found the golf ball. (Transitive/Intransitive)

3. Finally, one of them found the golf ball. (Transitive/Intransitive)

3. Finally, one of them found the golf ball. (Transitive verb – object: golf ball)

4. A big cat is chasing a small dog. (Transitive/Intransitive)

4. A big cat is chasing a small dog. (Transitive/Intransitive)

4. A big cat is chasing a small dog. (Transitive verb – object: dog)

5. He used to come here every day. (Transitive/Intransitive)

5. He used to come here every day. (Transitive/Intransitive)

5. He used to come here every day. (Intransitive verb – no object)

6. He landed one very big fish. (Transitive/Intransitive)

6. He landed one very big fish. (Transitive/Intransitive)

6. He landed one very big fish. (Transitive verb – object: fish)

7. You always drink and talk endlessly. (Transitive/Intransitive)

7. You always drink and talk endlessly. (Transitive/Intransitive)

7. You always drink and talk endlessly. (Intransitive verb – no object)

8. Tom likes to read the latest books. (Transitive/Intransitive)

8. Tom likes to read the latest books. (Transitive/Intransitive)

8. Tom likes to read the latest books. (Transitive verb – object: books)

9. The tourists visited the war museum. (Transitive/Intransitive)

9. The tourists visited the war museum. (Transitive/Intransitive)

9. The tourists visited the war museum. (Transitive verb – object: museum)

10. She can cry very loudly. (Transitive/Intransitive)

10. She can cry very loudly. (Transitive/Intransitive)

10. She can cry very loudly. (Intransitive verb – no object)

11. All her valuables were safely locked away. (Transitive/Intransitive)

11. All her valuables were safely locked away. (Transitive/Intransitive)

11. All her valuables were safely locked away. (Intransitive verb – no object)

12. Every evening Tommy plays football. (Transitive/Intransitive)

12. Every evening Tommy plays football. (Transitive/Intransitive)

12. Every evening Tommy plays football. (Transitive verb – object: football)

13. Some grandmothers can still knit very well. (Transitive/Intransitive)

13. Some grandmothers can still knit very well. (Transitive/Intransitive)

13. Some grandmother can still knit very well. (Intransitive verb – no object)

14. She sang a tribal folk song. (Transitive/Intransitive)

14. She sang a tribal folk song. (Transitive/Intransitive)

14. She sang a tribal folk song. (Transitive verb – object: tribal folk song)

15. A species of beetle could soon disappear forever. (Transitive/Intransitive)

15. A species of beetle could soon disappear forever. (Transitive/Intransitive)

15. A species of beetle could soon disappear forever. (Intransitive verb – no object)