1. **Action Verbs** Transitive and Intransitive Direct and Indirect Objects

2. Action verbs are either…
Action verbs express…
Physical action (run, smile)
Mental action (think, analyze)
Emotional action (love, hate)
Action verbs are either…
Transitive – have a direct object
Intransitive – do NOT have a direct object

3. Transitive vs. Intransitive Action Verbs
A transitive verb has a direct object.
is the receiver of the action
is either a noun or pronoun
answers whom? or what? AFTER the action verb
can never be in a prepositional phrase
Example: The teacher taught a new lesson.
An intransitive verb does NOT have an object.
Example: The teacher taught effectively.
Transitive because it has the direct object lesson
Intransitive because it has no object – effectively is an adverb

4. Transitive vs. Intransitive Action Verb Patterns
S + TAV + DO
The hungry boy ate three bowls of cereal.
S + IAV
The hungry boy ate.
The hungry boy ate noisily and sloppily.
The hungry boy ate in the cafeteria.
As you can see, an INtransitive action verb can be followed by nothing or adverbs and/or prep. phrases.

5. Transitive action verb
Direct Objects Review
A direct object always….
Comes after a transitive action verb
Answers what? or whom?
Is a noun or pronoun
Never in a prep. phrase
Example:
Casey gave a nice compliment.
Casey gave what? compliment
Transitive action verb
noun - direct object

6. Finding Direct Objects
Process:
Re-arrange sentence if inverted or a question.
Strip out prepositional phrases.
Find the verb, and determine if it is an action verb. Don’t forget about HVs!
If so, look for a noun or pronoun that answers whom? or what? AFTER the action verb. This is the DIRECT OBJECT!
Example:
Mason stole a piece of candy.
Mason stole a piece.
Mason stole what? piece
action verb
TRANSITIVE action verb because it has DO
noun - direct object

7. An intransitive action verb has a direct object.
True
False

8. A direct object comes AFTER an intransitive action verb.
True
False

9. A direct object that follows a transitive action verb is either a noun or pronoun.
True
False

10. A direct object can NOT be in a prepositional phrase.
True
False

11. To determine if an action verb has a direct object, ask how? after it.
True
False

12. I bought some fries for lunch.
transitive
intransitive

13. She laughed at my funny joke.
transitive
intransitive

14. He fell off his bike.
transitive
intransitive

15. Everyone loves Raymond.
transitive
intransitive

16. Indirect Objects Always come BEFORE direct objects
Is a noun or pronoun
Can’t be in a prep. phrase
Answer to whom/what? or for whom/what? the action is done
Can be compound
Direct object that answers what?
Example:
I gave him a big kiss on the cheek.
Indirect object that answers to whom?
Transitive action verb

17. Finding Indirect Objects
Process:
Re-arrange sentence if inverted or a question.
Strip out prepositional phrases.
Find the verb, and determine if it is an action verb. Don’t forget about HVs!
Find the direct object (DO) by asking “whom?” or “what?” after the action verb.
Find a noun or pronoun BEFORE the DO that answers “to/for whom?” or “to/for what?” This is the indirect object (IO). It receives the DO.
Example:
Sarah gave me the rest of her lunch.
Sarah gave me the rest.
Sarah gave what? rest (which is the DO)
Sarah gave rest to whom? me (which is the IO)

18. Another Action Verb Sentence Pattern
S + TAV + IO + DO
My sister bought Mom a beautiful bouquet of flowers for her birthday.
My sister bought Mom a beautiful bouquet.
Indirect object that answers to whom?
Transitive action verb
Direct object that answers what?

19. Transitive action verb because it has a DO
Let’s Practice!
What is the direct object in the following sentence?
The teacher gave us a tricky question on the test.
What kind of verb is gave?
Transitive action verb because it has a DO
Question is a noun that answers what? after the action verb gave, so it is a direct object!

20. The teacher gave us a tricky question on the test.
Let’s Practice!
What is the indirect object in the following sentence?
The teacher gave us a tricky question on the test.
Us is a pronoun that answers to whom? and comes before the direct object question so it is an indirect object!

21. I bought my puppy a new toy from Puppies R Us.
Let’s Practice!
In the following sentence, what is the word toy?
Direct object
Indirect object
I bought my puppy a new toy from Puppies R Us.
Toy is a noun that answers what? after the action verb bought so it is a direct object!

22. I bought my puppy a new toy from Puppies R Us.
Let’s Practice!
In the following sentence, what is the word puppy?
Direct object
Indirect object
I bought my puppy a new toy from Puppies R Us.
Puppy is a noun that answers to whom? and comes before the direct object toy so it is an indirect object!

23. The girl gave him a present for his birthday.
Let’s Practice!
What is the direct object in the following sentence?
girl
him
present
birthday
The girl gave him a present for his birthday.

24. The girl gave him a present for his birthday.
Let’s Practice!
What is the indirect object in the following sentence?
girl
him
present
birthday
The girl gave him a present for his birthday.

25. Please give me your attention at once!
Let’s Practice!
What is the direct object in the following sentence?
please me
attention
once
Please give me your attention at once!

26. Please give me your attention at once!
Let’s Practice!
What is the indirect object in the following sentence?
please me
attention
once
Please give me your attention at once!

27. Let’s Practice!
From memory, write the THREE sentence patterns that are possible with ACTION verbs.
S + TAV + DO
S + TAV + IO + DO
S + IAV

28. Let’s Practice! What is wrong with this sentence pattern? S + TAV + IO
Answer: You can’t have an IO without a DO!

29. Let’s Practice! What is wrong with this sentence pattern?
S + IAV + IO + DO
Answer: Intransitive action verbs don’t have objects!

30. Let’s Practice! What is wrong with this sentence pattern?
S + TAV + DO + IO
Answer: IOs always come before DOs!

31. Let’s Practice! What is wrong with this sentence pattern? S + TAV
Answer: Transitive action verbs always have a direct object!