1. Transitive and Intransitive Verbs

2. Bellwork
Find the two verbs in the sentence below. Which verb takes an object? Which verb does not?
The birds sang only gray songs and the road wound back and forth in an endless series of climbing curves.
—from The Phantom Tollbooth

3. Transitive and Intransitive Verbs
Most verbs express action. Often that action is directed toward another word in the predicate. A verb that directs action toward something or someone named in the predicate is called a transitive verb.

4. Transitive Verbs Examples of transitive verbs:
The mechanic had repaired the truck.
The owner paid the mechanic.

5. Transitive Verbs
The word in the predicate to which the action of the verb is directed is the object. A transitive verb always has at least one object. If you can answer the question what thing? or whom? after an action, then you know that the verb is transitive.

6. Transitive Verbs
The mechanic watched the driver. (Watched whom? The driver.)
The driver unlocked the truck. (Unlocked what thing? The truck.)

7. Intransitive Verbs
An intransitive verb does not have an object. There is no “receiver” of the action.
The truck was running well.
The driver turned left quickly.

8. Intransitive Verbs
Often, words following an intransitive verb answer the questions how?, when?, or where?
The driver drove away.
(Drove where? Away.)
The truck ran smoothly.
(Ran how? Smoothly.)

9. Intransitive Verbs
Sometimes, an intransitive verb is the only word in the predicate.
The driver continued.

10. Intransitive Verbs
Some verbs can be used as either transitive verbs or intransitive verbs.
Transitive:
He opened the window.
Intransitive:
The window opened easily.

11. Intransitive Verbs
Linking verbs are always intransitive. They do not express action, and they cannot, therefore, have objects.
The driver looked comfortable.
The trip became a pleasure.

12. Transitive and Intransitive Verbs
Find each verb. Is the verb transitive or intransitive?
1. First, Yolanda put some tape on the wall.
2. She gently hammered a nail into the tape.

13. Transitive and Intransitive Verbs
1. First, Yolanda put some tape on the wall. Transitive
2. She gently hammered a nail into the tape. Transitive

14. Transitive and Intransitive Verbs
Find each verb. Is the verb transitive or intransitive?
3. The frame felt heavy to her.
4. She attached strong wire to the back of the frame.

15. Transitive and Intransitive Verbs
3. The frame felt heavy to her.
Intransitive
4. She attached strong wire to the back of the frame. Transitive

16. Transitive and Intransitive Verbs
Find each verb. Is the verb transitive or intransitive?
5. Finally, she lowered the picture over the nail.
6. Yolanda stepped back from the picture.

17. Transitive and Intransitive Verbs
5. Finally, she lowered the picture over the nail. Transitive
6. Yolanda stepped back from the picture. Intransitive

18. Transitive and Intransitive Verbs
Find each verb. Is the verb transitive or intransitive?
7. It looked a little crooked to her.
8. She adjusted the picture to make it level.

19. Transitive and Intransitive Verbs
7. It looked a little crooked to her.
Intransitive
8. She adjusted the picture to make it level. Intransitive

20. Transitive and Intransitive Verbs
A transitive verb expresses action that is directed toward a word in the predicate.
The word to which the action is directed is the object of the verb.

21. Transitive and Intransitive Verbs
An intransitive verb does not have an object.
Linking verbs are always intransitive.

22. Practice Underline each verb. Label it transitive or intransitive.
Heavy rains had destroyed the road.
The damage to the road had occurred over a week ago.
Ruts and holes in the road had disrupted traffic for several days.

23. Practice Underline each verb. Label it transitive or intransitive.
People in the neighborhood called the city highway department.
Some people were angry about the road’s condition.

24. Practice Underline each verb. Label it transitive or intransitive.
Drivers moved slowly around the deep ruts in the road.
One man could not exit his driveway because of the damage.
A road crew arrived at the washed-out part of the road.

25. Practice Underline each verb. Label it transitive or intransitive.
The workers shoveled dirt into the uneven places.
At lunchtime they ate their sandwiches under nearby trees.
Several hours of work remained for the crew.

26. Practice Underline each verb. Label it transitive or intransitive.
Lightly at first, the rain began again.
They worked in the rain during the late afternoon,

27. Writing Application
Write instructions for repairing or taking care of something such as a bicycle, pet, or a computer. Exchange instructions with a partner. Read each other’s instructions aloud and decide whether transitive or intransitive verbs occur more frequently.

28. Answers to Practice had destroyed-transitive occurred-intransitive
disrupted-transitive
called-transitive
were-intransitive
moved-intransitive

29. Answers to Practice could exit-transitive arrived-intransitive
shoveled-transitive
ate-transitive
remained-intransitive
began-intransitive
worked-intransitive