Saturday, October 9, 2010

Verbs: Intransitive vs. Transitive


Todd writes:
Aaaaaargh! I don't understand transitive and intransitive verbs. I especially don't understand how sometimes the same verb can be one and sometimes the other. Please explain. I need to get at least an 86 on the quiz next week. Thanks!
Todd, you're in major luck. Yesterday I received a question from Lily about direct and indirect objects, and you should read that post first. After all, before you can ace transitive and intransitive verbs, you need to know how to spot a direct object.  

Quick rules:  
  • Transitive verbs are action verbs that require a direct object. The verb's action is transferred directly to the object, which can be a noun, pronoun, phrase, or clause.
  • Find the direct object by asking Subject + Verb + What/Whom? My dad is driving Fred to his friend's house. My dad is driving whom? Fred. That's the direct object. Therefore, drive is a transitive verb.
  • Intransitive verbs don't require a direct object. My dad goes to work every morning. My dad goes what or whom? That doesn't make sense, so there is no direct object. Therefore, go is an intransitive verb. [In this sentence, the natural question is: My dad goes where? Where questions are answered by prepositional phrases, such as 'to work.']

The tricky part: Many verbs can be either transitive or intransitive, depending on context.
  1. After we eat at my house, we can go outside. (intransitive)
    After we eat our sandwiches, we can go outside. (transitive)
  2. The truck runs on diesel gasoline. (intransitive)
    My uncle runs a restaurant. (transitive)
  3. I'm reading. (intransitive)
    I'm reading an article in TIME magazine about sharks. (transitive)

Quick tip: Sentences written in the passive voice always contain a transitive verb. It makes sense when you think about it. When the writer uses the passive voice, the subject is hidden and the focus is on the direct object. Break it down using the same Subject + Verb + What/Whom? formula, and fill in the missing subject.
  1. Rachel was given detention. [The teacher] gave what? Detention (direct object). To whom? Rachel (indirect object). Since there is a direct object, give is a transitive verb.
  2. The ball was hit past third base. [The batter] hit what? The ball (direct object). To/For whom? We don't know (no indirect object). Since there is a direct object, hit is a transitive verb.

259 comments:

  1. This quick explanation helped me understand the nature of passive constructions. The nugget about passive voice requiring a transitive verb was unique--at least, this is the first time I've read about it.

    Thanks, Tom

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That is so wrong! You left out a comma between the first and second "you".

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    9. what is worked transitive or intransitive

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  2. Thanks for posting, I'm currently working my way through some material and find myself a bit confused on this matter.

    Am I to understand that a verb is only ever really transitive or intransitive within the context of a sentence? The material I'm reading describes verbs as either being permanently one or the other and lists examples of both.

    According to my material a transitive verb is a verb that must be able to be followed by an object but doesn't have to be. It goes on to show examples of transitive verbs being used in an intransitive context. For example, 'She cooks'. 'Cook' could have an object following it if needed but it certainly doesn't have to have one. Does this make 'cook' an intransitive verb in this instance or a transitive verb being used in an intransitive context? Or as you mention is 'cook' another example that can be in both camps in which case I feel that uniquely transitive verbs would be in the minority.

    In your quick rules you mention that transitive verbs 'require' a direct object and you use the example of 'drive', yet in the material that I'm reading in order to teach this to students it defines 'drive' exclusively as an intransitive verb thus leading to more confusion on my part.

    Intransitive: He drives ('Does he drive?','He Drives.')

    Transitive: He drives a car.

    Most verbs are therefore neither permanently transitive or intransitive, it just depends on the context in which they are used right?
    So does a transitive verb have to be followed by a direct object or the fact that it can have a direct object make it transitive.

    Is there such a thing as a transitive verb in an intransitive sentence? It looks more and more like context is everything.

    Thanks, Paul

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, snap! I shouldn't have used 'drive' as an example, since it can be either transitive or intransitive. Great catch! Thanks!

      Delete
    2. "Most verbs are therefore neither permanently transitive or intransitive, it just depends on the context in which they are used right?"
      - I would also like to see the answer to this question. It SEEMS like many verbs could be either (depending on context) and some are only one or the other. I'm learning Italian now and it's making me crazy when I need to use pronouns!

      Delete
  3. i had difficulties to understand the two terms that is intransitive and transitive verbs but know i can boast and explain to others with clarity.Thanks for this good explanation.


    PETER MCFOO @MANDA ZAMBIA

    ReplyDelete
  4. I have a short explanation:
    A Transitive Verb has a receiver and a Transitive verb answers the questions "what and whom"
    Example:
    He ate a large pizza
    (He ate what? pizza)
    An Intransitive verb has no receiver and an intransitive verb answers the questions: "How,when nd where"
    Example:
    He sings everyday
    (He sings when? everyday)

    Here is another example:
    He sang in the hall.
    (he sang where? at the hall)
    He sang a song.
    (he sang what? a song)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wow, Thank you very much! This helped out a LOT!

      Delete
    2. oh........now I understand it more

      Delete
    3. He sang a song has an intransitive verb within. A song is the direct object. Be careful.

      Delete
    4. Did he eat? Yes, he did.

      Delete
  5. thanks for the help i think i got -6

    ReplyDelete
  6. It is really useful tip for me to read. I have learn a lot from this explanation. However, It seems to be imprecise to understand about Indirect object or Indirect object. If possible I would suggest you to explain me a bit more about this.

    Anyway, thank you very much for your precious lesson.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Thanks for the help! We will se if it helped me on my test

    ReplyDelete
  8. Thanks all so much!

    ReplyDelete
  9. "Quick tip: Sentences written in the passive voice always contain a transitive verb. It makes sense when you think about it. When the writer uses the passive voice, the subject is hidden and the focus is on the direct object. Break it down using the same Subject + Verb + What/Whom? formula, and fill in the missing subject. "

    Quick tip: The above quick tip is absolutely wrong. Sentences written in the passive voice use intransitive verbs, the sentence is considered passive because the verb only acts upon the subject of the sentence and does not transfer any sort of action towards a direct object, since there is no direct object.

    I made a mistake. Subject, verb, direct object. Not in the passive voice.

    Mistakes were made. Subject, verb, no direct object. Passive voice.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think you're confusing the subject and object. The object is what 'receives' the action. In passive sentences the object comes before the verb; in your example 'mistake' / 'mistakes' are the objects; in the passive voice the subject (who does the action) is not stated, or is added after the verb + 'by' (eg 'Mistakes were made by someone'), so the original "Quick Tip" comment is correct.

      Delete
  10. Thanks so much, hopefully I ace my English test!

    ReplyDelete
  11. I've been curious about this for at least twenty years. Thanks for the clear explanation!

    ReplyDelete
  12. hi...listen m going to write a comprehensive book of tenses then see how transitive nd intransitive verbs r explained.....there is a permanent set of intransitive verbs which takes no object with it....My book is going to be published from Oxford university press.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, I'm confused about the word "takes" ie "Intransitive verbs that do not 'take' an object".

      Is that the same as "Intransitive Verb which 'is not followed by' an Object"..?

      Thanks for any help with this - I'm really going crazy about this. It's the last Chapter in a VERY long book that I've almost finished reading, which has been necessary in order to do an Online course that I'm completing, where I'm learning how to teach ESL. I've been studying 12 hours a day (I kid you not) & I think my mind just turned to mush on this last topic, in the last chapter...

      Please clarify this use of the word "Take" because my textbook uses the exact same term & it's confusing me

      Thank you :)

      Delete
  13. thanks now i understand what is transitive and intransitive

    ReplyDelete
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    1. IM NOT YO DADDY IM YO GRANDPA!!

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    2. Up had no idea but I do now

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  14. thanks a lot:)..m a teacher of eng lang..and was bit confused..thnks a lot:)...pakistan

    ReplyDelete
  15. Hi. I would like to share this link with my students...BUT THE OFFENSIVE COMMENTS ARE AWFUL! I can't believe someone would post such offensive garbage. Please remove them so I can share this site with my students.

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    ReplyDelete
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    1. U R correct madam.......... This people won't listen........... They are just **BEEP**!!! **BEEP**!!!

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  16. Thanks for taking the time to write this - it was a huge help. I appreciate it!

    ReplyDelete
  17. This is amazing. I totally understand it now.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Very useful. Thanks.

    Please can some moderator/administrator remove any racism, bigotry and any other form of misuse of God's gift to us of language.

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  19. Hello,
    Would A fast girl runs be transitive? As the girl needs to be doing the action to make sense. Or The small puppy sleeps? Transitive as it's describing what the noun did. Is this correct. I get confused by this. Thank you for your support.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
    2. Both of those sentences have intransitive verbs because there is no object. You may be thinking of active and passive voice. A fast girl runs is in the active voice because of the reason you stated (the girl [subject] is doing the action)

      Delete
  20. Re: Nov.4, 2014 garbled racial comment~
    Unless your intended message is to profess your ignorance, your reply has no meaning. Your use of slang and misspelled words have landed on the page like Yahtzee die-meaningless. Nothing of import is communicated. Your words are dismissed as insignificant by the reader. Be mindful that this doesn't spill over to the rest of your interactions with the world.

    ReplyDelete
  21. "My dad is driving Fred to his friend's house."

    In this phrase, "Fred" cannot be a direct object unless Fred is substituting for a car or some other motorized vehicle, or perhaps a horse or some other beast of burden. Unfortunately, this is a situation where the informal English idiom obscures the lack of direct object in a phrase that utilizes the verb "drive" in its intransitive form.

    If this phrase is intended to represent "drive" in its transitive form, and Fred is intended to represent a human, the mental picture evoked by this is indeed disturbing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I was incorrect.

      From the Merriam-Webster Dictionary website:

      drive: 4c: to convey in a vehicle

      So, yes, "Fred" would be a direct object in the case of the example given above.

      Delete
  22. WOW!!!!!!!!!! That was of great help........... Thanx a lot.......

    ReplyDelete
  23. is it correct when the word start with AFTER ,the subsequent verb shoul be progressive .but here example i think is wrong

    ReplyDelete
  24. i go to market
    this sentence is transitive verb or intransitive verb?

    ReplyDelete
  25. So what does the transitive passive sentence use the subject as?

    ReplyDelete
  26. thanx fr this explanation !!!!!it helped me a lottt..................
    plz complain abt these people writing these abusive words !!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  27. very good explanation of the difference between the two. this site also looks good, anyone can see it http://skillenglish.com/

    ReplyDelete
  28. Thanks...it helped alot

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  29. you should do something for such people who use such vulgar language

    ReplyDelete
  30. SHAME ON THIS ARTICLE

    ReplyDelete
  31. I came across a question: Whether this sentence is transitive or not..
    The tea is hot.
    According to me, it should be transitive.
    The tea is (what?)
    Please explain

    ReplyDelete
  32. CORRECTION>
    It is my understanding that intransitive verbs NEVER take an object and can NEVER be used in a passive form.Examples of intransitive verbs are: sleep, come, recline. The subject does the action - the verb is in active voice, no object, e.g.: The baby sleeps.

    If the subject has the action done to it, the voice is passive. ONLY transitive verbs can be used in the passive voice; e.g. Passive: John was hit by the ball. Active: John hit the ball.

    Just recognize the subject and see whether or not the subject is doing the action or having the action done to it.

    ReplyDelete
  33. CORRECTION>
    It is my understanding that intransitive verbs NEVER take an object and can NEVER be used in a passive form.Examples of intransitive verbs are: sleep, come, recline. The subject does the action - the verb is in active voice, no object, e.g.: The baby sleeps.

    If the subject has the action done to it, the voice is passive. ONLY transitive verbs can be used in the passive voice; e.g. Passive: John was hit by the ball. Active: John hit the ball.

    Just recognize the subject and see whether or not the subject is doing the action or having the action done to it.

    ReplyDelete
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