Transitive Verbs

The word transitive sounds pretty complex, but in reality identifying transitive verbs is really not
that difficult. Transitive verbs express an action and is followed by a direct object (thing or person
that receives the action of the verb).

Examples of Transitive Verbs

Lets first look at a couple of examples of transitive verbs in a sentence:
Examples:
1.
2.
3.

Alex sent (transitive verb) a postcard (direct object) from Argentina.

She left (intransitive verb) the keys (direct object) on the table.
My father took (intransitive verb) me (direct object) to the movies for my
birthday.
In each of the examples above the subject performs an action and there is an object that receives
the action. Followed by the verb, the direct object answers the question What? or Whom?

Alex sent what? A postcard.

She left what? The keys.

My father took whom? Me.

Transitive verbs, though, can have an indirect object before the direct object (see example #3
above). The indirect object me is right before the direct object a dog.
What's wrong with the sentences below?
1.
Alex sent from Argentina.
2.
She left on the table.
3.
My father gave me for my birthday.
Without the use of a direct object the sentences above make no sense.

Examples of Intransitive Verbs

So, what are intransitive verbs? These verbs also express an action, but are not followed by a direct
object.
Examples:
1.
The train arrives (intransitive verb) at 3pm.
2.
Sorry, but I have to leave (intransitive verb).
3.
Susan lives (intransitive verb) on the east side of the city.
Often intransitive verbs are followed by prepositional phrases (or they can be followed by an adverb)
and do not take a direct object.

Transitive and Intransitive Verbs

Verbs can often be both transitive and intransitive, depending on how they are used in a sentence.
Examples:
1.

She usually leaves (transitive) the books on the table.

2.
The train sometimes leaves (intransitive) early on Sunday.
In the first example, the verb leave is transitive because it is followed by a direct object (books).
However, in the second, it is intransitive and there is no direct object. It is followed by a prepositional
phrase (on Sunday).

Final Note on Importance

So, whats the fuss all about? Why should we know the difference between transitive and intransitive
verbs? Well, understanding the different functions of these two verbs can help students avoid
mistakes, such as incomplete sentences.

Action Verbs
Action Verbs are verbs that express action. Ex: run, walk, do, drive.
Ill do my homework when I get home.
Transitive and Intransitive Verbs
Most action verbs are defined as transitive or intransitive. This means that some are used with a direct
object (the person or thing that receives the action of the subject) and others dont need a direct object.
Some verbs can be both transitive and intransitive depending on their meaning.
1.

Transitive Verb Joe will send the price quote as soon as he can.

2.

Intransitive Verb Many of the students are not well. They coughed throughout the lesson.

Transitive Verbs
Transitive verbs always receive a direct object:
1.

Richard annoys his boss so much that hell never get a promotion.
(His boss is the direct object of annoys and a promotion is the direct object of get)

2.

Jenna brings Mrs. Smith lunch every day.

(Mrs. Smith is the direct object of brings. Jenna is the subject.

Heres a list of some common transitive verbs that must be followed by a direct object:

bring

send

owe

contain

buy

show

take

tell

verify

check

get

wash

finalize

annoy

lay

lend

offer

edit

make

phone

Intransitive Verbs
Intransitive verbs do not need a direct object in order to complete their meaning. Many are followed by an
adjective, adverb, preposition or verb complement (gerund or infinitive).
Here is a list of common intransitive verbs:

come

explode

laugh

sit

rise

excel

respond

run

cough

swim

emigrate

smile

act

cry

immigrate

lie

arrive

continue

die

go
1.

If Cathy continues to be late for work, the boss will fire her.
(Continues is followed by an infinitive (to be), with no direct object.)

2.

The bomb exploded in the city center.

(Exploded is followed by a preposition of place with no direct object.)

Many verbs can be both transitive and intransitive depending on their meanings.

Examples
1.

Jamie set the documents down on the CEOs desk.

(Transitive: The documents are the direct object to the verb: set.)

2.

The sun set low over the Pacific Ocean.

(Intransitive: Low is an adverb. Set doesnt need a direct object.)

3.

Ms. Tyson manages the accounting department.

(Transitive: The accounting department is the direct object to the verb: manage.)

4.

John has had difficulty managing since his wifes death.

(Intransitive: Since is a preposition of time. Managing doesnt need a direct object)

Note: Transitive and intransitive verbs can appear in any tense.

Here is a list of several verbs that can be both transitive and intransitive depending on their meanings:

set

leave

give

study

sit

grow

smell

dance

sing

write

teach

burn

eat

paint

drive

manage

stop

climb

run

check

cost

go

pay

improve

Exercises Transitive and Intransitive Verbs

Decide whether the following verbs are transitive, intransitive or both:
1.

The workmen have been painting for hours.

2.

When they call from the charity, Mrs. Alpert always gives generously.

3.

Before you send the proposal, make sure you edit it carefully.

4.

That perfume smells nice.

5.

My new car cost me a small fortune.

6.

Jim owed his landlord $450.

7.

Pete emigrated from Australia in 1998.

8.

The customer was tired of waiting, so he got up and left.

9.

Are you sure you want to paint the ceiling too?

10.

Please take the documents over to Mrs. Samuels office.

Answers:

1.

intransitive

2.

intransitive

3.

transitive

4.

intransitive

5.

transitive

6.

transitive

7.

intransitive

8.

intransitive

9.

transitive

10.

transitive

Verb patterns: with and without objects

Verbs: transitive and intransitive uses
Some verbs always need an object. These are called transitive verbs. Some verbs never have an
object. These are called intransitive verbs. Some verbs can be used with or without an object.
These are called transitive (with an object) and intransitive (without an object) uses of the verbs.

Verbs with an object (transitive)

These verbs are mostly used transitively:

ask

describe

get

need

take

attend

discuss

like

raise

telephone

believe

emphasise

join

receive

use

buy

enjoy

lose

say

want

consider

expect

love

suggest

watch

contact

find

make

Did you enjoy the film?

I cant find her name on the list.
Suzanne took my car keys.
These objects (underlined above) are called direct objects.
Warning:
We dont need a preposition after these verbs:
The book emphasises the role of the arts in society.
Not: The book emphasises on the role of the arts in society.
See also:

Objects

Linking verbs

Want

Verbs with no object (intransitive)

Verbs which are most commonly used intransitively:

appear

die

lie

sneeze

arrive

disappear

live

snow

come

fall

rain

wait

cough

happen

rise

work

Suddenly Joss appeared in the doorway.

Rita looked upset do you know what happened?
Did it rain last night?

Transitive or intransitive
Some verbs can be used with an object (transitively) or without an object (intransitively). Sometimes
the meaning is the same. (Objects are underlined.)
Compare

transitive

intransitive

I just cant eat hot food.

What time do you want

toeat?

She entered the room looking

nervous.

Do not enter.

He drives a van for a delivery firm.

I learnt to drive when I

was twenty.

My father left school when he was

fourteen.

We should leave now.

She won a competition and got a free How was the match? Did
trip to Copenhagen.
you win?

In these examples, although one use has an object and the other does not, the meaning is more or
less the same.

Relationship between verb and subject

Some verbs can be used with or without an object, but the relationship between the verb and the
subject is different in each case. When these verbs have an object, the subject does the action.
When they have no object, the action or event happens to the subject.
(s = subject; v = verb; o = object)
Compare

Transitive (the subject does the

action)

Intransitive (the action or

event happens to the
subject)

[S]He [V]opened [O]the

[S]The

door and

walked in.

door [V]opened slowly.

[S]The

teacher always [V]begins [O]each

lesson with a quiz.

[S]The

interviews [V]will
begin at 2.30 pm.

They increased my salary last

month.

Global temperatures are

increasing.

Do you know how you work this

camera?

How does this

camera work?

Verbs with direct and indirect objects

Some verbs take two objects, a direct object and an indirect object. The indirect object is the person
or thing that receives the direct object. The indirect object (underlined in the examples) comes
before the direct object (in bold):

ask

give

make

promise

show

bring

hand

offer

save

teach

charge

leave

owe

send

tell

find

lend

pay

serve

wish

fine
Can I ask you a question?
They charged me 150 for three hours.
She gave her brother an MP3 player for his birthday.
Buying things on the Internet saves people a lot of time.
Prepositional complements can operate as an alternative to indirect objects with some of these
verbs:
(pc = prepositional complement; io = indirect object; do = direct object)
I gave [DO]an old jacket of mine [PC]to my brother. (or I gave [IO]my brother [DO]an old jacket of
mine.)
He owed a lot of money to his parents. (or He owed his parents a lot of money.)
Edith found an excellent violin teacher for us. (or Edith found us an excellent violin teacher.)
See also:

Passive

Complements

Verbs followed by a direct object and a prepositional phrase of time or

place
Some verbs take a direct object and a prepositional phrase of time or place:

bring

lead

send

stand

drive

place

set

lay

put

show

take

(do = direct object; pp = prepositional phrase)

Could you stand [DO]that vase of flowers [PP]on the little table, please?
You can put [DO]your bag [PP]on the back seat.

Verbs followed by a direct object and an -edclause

Some verbs can be followed by a direct object (underlined) and a clause containing the -ed form of
a verb:

feel (oneself)

have

need

find

leave

want

get

like

I get my car mended locally.

They had the whole house repainted.
We need everything cleaned and tidied by the end of the day.
See also:

Get passive

Have

Verbs followed by a wh-clause as direct object

Wh-clause as direct object

Many verbs which can be followed by a that-clause can also be used with a clause beginning
with who, what, when, where, which, whose, why or howas the direct object. We call these whclauses (underlined in the examples below):

arrange consider

enquire

imagine

predict

show

ask

decide

explain

judge

prove

tell

care

depend

find out

know

realise

think

check

discover

forget

learn

remember

wonder

choose

discuss

guess

mind

say

confirm

doubt

hear

notice

see

Miriam explained how she had done it.

I didnt realise who it was at first.
Can you remember what they told us at the hotel?

Wh-clause + to-infinitive
Many of the verbs which can be followed by a wh-clause can also be followed by a wh-clause
with to-infinitive (underlined below):

arrange

decide

find out

learn

show

ask

discover

forget

notice

tell

check

discuss

imagine

remember

think

choose

enquire

judge

say

consider

explain

know

see

wonder

We discussed what to do about the community hall.

I really dont know who to suggest as a replacement for Jim.
Can you see how to put paper into this printer?
(Verb patterns: with and without objects from English Grammar Today Cambridge University Press. Need grammar
practice? Try English Grammar Today with Workbook.)

double object verbs

1. Some verbs have two objects an indirect object and a direct object:

Subject

Verb

Indirect object

Direct object

My wife

sent

me

an email

He

brought

his mother

some flowers

He

cooked

all his friends

a delicious meal

These clauses have the structure: V + N (indirect object) + N (direct object)

2. We can use a prepositional phrase with to or for with an indirect object:

Subject

Verb

Direct object

Prepositional phrase

My wife

sent

an email

to me

He

brought

some flowers

for his mother

He

cooked

a delicious meal

for all his friends.

These clauses have the structure : V + N (direct object) + Prepositional phrase (indirect
object)
3. Common verbs with for and an indirect object are:

book
buy
get
cook
keep
bring
make
pour
save
find
They booked a table for me at the restaurant.
We made toys for all the children.
4. Common verbs with to and an indirect object are:

give
lend
offer

pass
post
read
sell
send
show
promise
tell

He gave his programme to the man sitting next to him.

They sent Christmas cards to all their customers.
5. If the indirect object is a long phrase we normally use to or for:
He showed his ticket to the policeman standing by the door.
We kept something to eat and drink for all the people who arrived late.
6. If the indirect object is a pronoun we normally use the N + V + N + N pattern:
I poured him another drink.
Their mother read them another story.
- See more at: http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/verbs/doubleobject-verbs#sthash.6I4qVfqN.dpuf

Verbs with two objects

Many English verbs take two objects one direct object and oneindirect object. The
direct object usually refers to an object. The indirect object usually refers to a person and
comes first.

He gave his daugther a camera for Christmas. (Indirect object his daughter, direct
object camera)

Could you lend me some money? (Indirect object me, direct object money)

Let me get you a cup of coffee. (Indirect object you, direct object a cup of
coffee)

Some common verbs which can be followed by two objects are given below:
Bring, buy, cost, get, give, leave, lend, make, offer, owe, pass, pay, play, promise, read,
refuse, send, show, sing, take, teach, tell, wish, write
Position of the direct and indirect objects
The indirect object usually comes before the direct object. We can also put the indirect
object after the direct object. When the indirect object comes after the direct object, it
usually has the preposition toor for before it.

She sent the flowers for me, not for you.

I handed my credit card to the salesman.

When both objects are pronouns

When both objects are pronouns, it is common to put the indirect object last. In informal
style, to is occasionally dropped after it.

Lend them to her.

Send some to him.

It is also possible to put the indirect object first.

Send him some.

The verbs explain, suggest and describe

The verbs explain, suggest and describe are not used with the structure indirect object
+ direct object.

Please explain your decision to us.

Can you suggest a good cardiologist to me? (NOT Can you suggest me a good
cardiologist?)

One object or two

Some verbs can be followed by either a direct object, or an indirect object, or both.

I asked him.

I asked a question.

I asked him a question.

What Is a Direct Object? (with Examples)

The direct object of a verb is the thing being acted upon (i.e., the receiver of the action).

Examples of Direct Objects

Here are some examples of direct objects (shaded):

Play the guitar.
Every actor played his part.
The crowd will cheer the President.
We can climb the hill and fly the kite.

How to Find the Direct Object of a Sentence

You can find the direct object by finding the verb and asking what? (or whom?). For
example:

She fed the cat.

(Step 1. Find the verb = fed)
(Step 2. Ask What? = the cat)
(Therefore, the direct object is the cat.)
Craig will read the book tomorrow.
(Step 1. Find the verb = will read)
(Step 2. Ask What? = the book)
(Therefore, the direct object is the book.)

Phrases and Clauses Can Be Direct Objects

The tip above also works when the direct object is a phrase or a clause. For example:
She thought that the contract had ended.
(Step 1. Find the verb = thought)
(Step 2. Ask What? = that the contract had ended)
(Therefore, the direct object is that the contract had ended.)

The constable described what he saw at the scene.

(Step 1. Find the verb = described)
(Step 2. Ask What? = what he saw at the scene)
(Therefore, the direct object is what he saw at the scene.)

Toby loves cooking scones.

(Step 1. Find the verb = loves)
(Step 2. Ask What? = cooking scones)
(Therefore, the direct object is cooking scones.)

The cat wants to eat our goldfish.

(Step 1. Find the verb = wants)
(Step 2. Ask What? = to eat our goldfish)
(Therefore, the direct object is to eat our goldfish.)
(Note: This direct object has its own verb with its own direct object. (Question: to eat
what? Answer: our goldfish.))

Only Transitive Verbs Have Direct Objects

When a verb has a direct object, it is called a transitive verb. Some verbs do not have a
direct object. They are known asintransitive verbs. For example:

Malcolm fell very badly.

(Step 1. Find the verb = fell)
(Step 2. Ask What? = Nothing. You can't fall something.)
(Therefore, there is no direct object. The verb to fall is intransitive.)

Joan is sleeping at the moment.

(Step 1. Find the verb = sleeping)
(Step 2. Ask What? = Nothing. You can't sleep something.)
(Therefore, there is no direct object. The verb to sleep is intransitive.)

Do Not Confuse Complements with Direct Objects

If you ask what? with a linking verb, you will find a verb complement not a direct object. For
example:

Peter is happy.
(Step 1. Find the verb = is)
(Step 2. Ask What? = happy.)
(However, on this occasion, happy is not the direct object. This is because is (i.e., the
verb to be) is a linking verb.)

Direct and Indirect Object

What is an object?
An object in grammar is a part of a sentence, and often part of the predicate. It refers
to someone or something involved in thesubject's "performance" of the verb. It is what
the verb is being done to. As an example, the following sentence is given:

Subject
Leila

Verb
wrote

Object
the poem

"Leila" is the subject, the doer or performer,

"wrote" is a verb that refers to the action,

"the poem" is the object involved in the action.

Transitive and intransitive verbs

A verb can be classified as transitive or intransitive according to whether it takes or
doesn't take an object:

If a verb takes objects, then it is a transitive verb.

Example:
They played soccer. (The verb play takes ONE object 'soccer')
They sent him a postcard. (The verb send takes TWO objects 'him' and 'a
postcard')

If a verb doesn't take an object, then it is an intransitive verb.

Example:
She lies. (The verb 'lie' doesn't take any object)
The building collapsed. (The verb 'collapse' doesn't take any object)

Types of objects
There are two types of objects: direct and indirect objects:

Direct object
A direct object answers the question "what?" or "whom?"
Examples:

David repaired his car his car is the direct object of the
verb repaired. ( What did David repair?)

He invited Mary to the party Mary is the direct object of the verb invited.
(Whom did he invite?)

Indirect Object
An indirect object answers the question "to whom?", "for whom?", "for what?"...
An indirect object is the recipient of the direct object, or an otherwise affected
participant in the event. There must be a direct object for an indirect object to be
placed in a sentence. In other words an indirect object cannot exist without a direct
object.
Examples:

They sent him a postcard - him is the indirect object of the verb sent. (To
whom did they send a postcard?)

He bought his son a bike - his son is the indirect object of the verb bought.
(For whom did he buy a bike?)