6th Grade: Transitive and Intransitive Verbs

'My mother' is the subject in both sentences. In the first sentence 'like' is the verb and 'tea' is its object. As a result, 'like' is a transitive verb because it has an object.

In the second sentence, the verb is 'laughed.' It has no object and is therefore an intransitive verb.

it ALWAYS has an object (which can be a noun/pronoun)

the transitive verb transfers (or sends) the action to the direct object

examples:

You added the totals incorrectly.

Please carry the books for me.

Tom sold his house.

He sold it.

it NEVER has an object

it does NOT need to transfer action on an object in order for the sentence to make sense

examples:

The man appeared.

I sneezed.

You study hard.

Mrs. Shells laughed very loudly.