​Transitive Verbs

​A transitive verb has two characteristics.

​

First, it is an action verb, expressing a doable activity like kick, want, paint, write, eat, clean, etc.

​

Second, it must have a direct object, something or someone who receives the action of the verb.

​

​*Add "what" or "whom" at the end. If there is something to answer the question, it is Transitive. NOT "WHERE".

​Transitive Verbs

​This is the pattern for transitive verbs:

Subject + Action Verb + Direct Object

​Here's an example

​Sylvia kicked Juan under the table.

​

Kicked = transitive verb; Juan = direct object (the person that Sylvia, the subject, kicked).

​

• ​This is transitive because the verb, kicked, occurs to a thing or person.

​Intransitive Verbs

​An intransitive verb has two characteristics.

​

First, it is an action verb, expressing a doable activity like arrive, go, lie, sneeze, sit, die, etc.

​

Second, unlike a transitive verb, it will not have a direct object receiving the action.

​

​Here's an example

​Huffing and puffing, we arrived at the classroom door with only seven seconds to spare.

​

​

• This is intransitive ​because the verb, arrived, isn't being performed on/to anything or anyone.

Let's try a few. ​

​Intransitive because it doesn't have a direct object.

​It answers "where", but not "what" or "whom"

​Intransitive because it doesn't have a direct object.

​It answers "where", but not "what" or "whom"

​Transitive because it answers "what" or "whom"

​What does the verb answer?

​Intransitive because it doesn't have a direct object.

​It answers "where", but not "what" or "whom"

​Transitive because it answers "what" or "whom"

​What does the verb answer?

​Transitive because it answers "what" or "whom"

​What does the verb answer?

​Intransitive because it doesn't have a direct object.

​It answers "where", but not "what" or "whom"

​Intransitive because it doesn't have a direct object.

​It answers "where", but not "what" or "whom"

​Transitive because it answers "what" or "whom"

​What does the verb answer?

​Transitive because it answers "what" or "whom"

​What does the verb answer?