Understand the difference between intransitive and transitive verbs in English grammar. Learn rules, exceptions, objects, and common verb examples to master sentence structure.
What is an Intransitive Verb?
An intransitive verb cannot take an object, although there can be a prepositional phrase after it.
- The man was waiting at the side of the road.
- Something unfortunate happened.
- The man runs along the beach every morning.
Intransitive verbs usually express actions (people doing things) and events (things happening).
A verb can be intransitive in one meaning and transitive in another. For example, run is transitive when it means 'manage.'
- He runs his own business.
What is a Transitive Verb?
A transitive verb takes an object.
- The man stole a coat.
- Everyone enjoyed the conference.
- The driver saw the hitch-hiker at the side of the road.
- The man had no money.
Transitive verbs can express not only actions (stole) but also feelings (enjoyed), perception (saw) and possession (had).
Omitting Objects After Transitive Verbs
Here are examples where objects can be omitted:
- The man opposite was reading (a book).
- We're going to eat (a meal).
- A woman was driving (the coach).
We can also leave out the object after these verbs:
ask/answer (a question), draw/paint (a picture), enter/leave (a room/building), pass/fail (a test/exam), play/win/lose (a game), practise (a skill), sing (a song), speak (a few words), study (a subject).
The following verbs can also be without an object if the context is clear: begin, choose, decide, hear, help, know, notice, see, start.
There must be an object after discuss and deny.
- The committee discussed the problem.
- He denied the accusation.
How Can Verbs Be Both Transitive and Intransitive?
Many verbs can be either transitive or intransitive.
| Transitive | Intransitive |
|---|---|
| The driver stopped the coach. | The coach stopped. |
| He opened the door. | The door opened. |
| I broke a cup. | The cup broke. |
| Someone rang the bell. | The bell rang. |
The two sentences can describe the same event. The transitive sentence has as its subject the agent, the person who made the event happen (the driver).
The intransitive sentence describes the event but does not mention the agent.
Common Verbs That Can Be Transitive or Intransitive
| alter | develop | increase | shine | tear |
| begin | divide | join | shut | turn |
| bend | drive | melt | slide | weaken |
| boil | dry | mix | smash | unite |
| break | end | move | soften | |
| burn | finish | open | sound | |
| change | fly | pour | spread | |
| close | freeze | ring | stand | |
| cook | hang | roll | start | |
| combine | harden | sail | stop | |
| continue | hurt | separate | strengthen | |
| crash | improve | shake | swing |
NOTE
Raise is transitive, and rise is intransitive.
- The oil companies will raise their prices.
- The price of oil will rise.
Key Takeaways
- Intransitive verbs do not take an object.
- Transitive verbs require an object, though certain objects can be omitted if context is clear.
- Many verbs can function as both transitive and intransitive depending on the context.
- Specific verbs like raise are strictly transitive, while others like rise are intransitive.
Quick Practice
Test your understanding by writing answers in the comments below:
- Is the verb in "The price of oil will rise" transitive or intransitive?
- Provide an example sentence where the verb "open" is used as a transitive verb.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main difference between transitive and intransitive verbs?
A transitive verb takes a direct object to complete its meaning, whereas an intransitive verb does not take an object.
Can a verb be both transitive and intransitive?
Yes, many verbs in English can function as either transitive or intransitive depending on how they are used in a sentence, such as "stop," "open," and "break."
Can you omit the object after transitive verbs?
Yes, after some transitive verbs, the object can be omitted if the context is completely clear and adds little to no extra meaning.