Transitive and Intransitive Verbs — Difference & Examples

Written by

Daniel Bal

July 5, 2023

Edited by

Courtney Adamo

Fact-checked by

Paul Mazzola

Transitive vs. intransitive verbs

A transitive verb expresses a doable action that impacts the object of a sentence. An intransitive verb needs no connection to an object. Sentences whose main verb is intransitive do not contain an object.

Transitive: Sally sent the birthday gift yesterday.

• Verb: sent

• Direct Object: birthday gift

Intransitive: Sally went to Jack's birthday party.

• Verb: went

• Object: none

How to identify transitive and intransitive verbs

Looking at the object of the sentence is the best way to identify if the verb in a sentence is transitive or intransitive. The object of a sentence is the noun or pronoun that receives the action of the verb and is either direct (recipient of the action) or indirect (a noun or noun phrase that receives the direct object).

The following guidelines explain the best ways to identify transitive and intransitive verbs using the object of a sentence:

Object: When using a transitive verb, the object must receive the action. Without an object, a sentence with a transitive verb is incomplete.

• Without an object: The waiter carried.

  • Verb: carried

• With an object: The waiter carried the tray to the table.

  • Verb: carried

  • Direct object: tray

  • Indirect object: table

No object: When there is no direct or implied object in a sentence, the verb is intransitive.

• The waiter walked all night.

  • Verb: walked

Transitive and intransitive: Some verbs can be both transitive and intransitive. Consider the verb "to run:"

• Direct object: Susan ran the entire department.

• Indirect object: Susan ran the entire department for the CEO.

• No direct object: Susan ran every morning.

Transitive phrasal verbs

Phrasal verbs combine a verb with a preposition, adverb, or both to create a new verb with a meaning different from that of the original words:

Phrasal verbs can also be transitive or intransitive depending upon the presence of a direct or indirect object:

Transitive Phrasal Verb: Jessica didn't want to give up her parking spot for Tim.

• Phrasal Verb: give up

• Direct Object: parking spot

• Indirect Object: Tim

Intransitive Phrasal Verb: Jessica didn't want to give up.

• Phrasal Verb: give up

Transitive and intransitive verb examples

Some of the more common verbs that can be transitive and intransitive include the following:

The following sentences incorporate examples of transitive verbs:

Transitive (Direct Object)

• John ate all of his dinner.

• I have to clean my room before I leave.

• Please feed the dog twice a day.

• Rita offered a dozen cookies.

• Don't forget to send a postcard.

Transitive (Direct and Indirect Object)

• Ian brought an extra pencil for Katie.

• Wendy hit the ball over to Nelly.

• Did you make a reunion video for your family?

• Karen offered a stick of gum to Oliver.

• Mrs. Jones taught math and English to the class.

The following example sentences use intransitive verbs:

Intransitive (No Object)

• I was surprised that Trent agreed with me.

• Nick lives down the street.

• The movie made most of us laugh out loud.

• Only three participants remained.

• It was like Hannah had just vanished.

The following sentences use verbs that can be either transitive or intransitive:

Transitive and Intransitive:

• Drive

  • Joanna drove the car down the street.

  • Joanna drove all night.

• Eat

  • Ryan does not like eating vegetables.

  • The family was eating later than usual.

• Grow

  • They mainly grow vegetables in their garden.

  • It was as if the vegetables grew overnight.

• Read

  • Have you ever read The Great Gatsby?

  • I don't read much.

• Write

  • Write 5-10 lines of poetry before the end of class.

  • Laura could read and write at a young age.