G5 Transitive - Intransitive Verbs

Learning Targets <3
Define verbs and its purpose
Differentiate transitive and intransitive verbs
Construct clear and coherent sentences utilizing verbs
Assess the importance of verbs in a sentence as well as their use in our

daily lives
Review: What are Verbs?
Verbs tell you what the subject of a sentence or
clause is doing (or being). Verbs are conjugated
according to person, number, gender, tense,
aspect, mood, or voice.
Review: What are Verbs?
Verbs are at the heart of sentences and clauses;
they are indispensable to the formation of a
complete thought. A verb can express a thought
by itself (with the subject implied) and be
understood.
Transitive &
Intransitive
Verbs
Transitive & Intransitive Verbs
A verb can be described as transitive or intransitive based on
whether it requires an object to express a complete thought or
not. A transitive verb is one that only makes sense if it exerts its
action on an object. An intransitive verb will make sense without
one. Some verbs may be used both ways.
The word transitive often makes people think of transit, which
leads to the mistaken assumption that the terms transitive and
intransitive are just fancy ways of describing action and
nonaction. But these terms have nothing to do with whether a
verb is active or not.
A better word to associate when you see transitive is transfer. A
transitive verb needs to transfer its action to something or
someone—an object. In essence, transitive means “to affect
something else.”
How to
Identify a
Transitive
Verb
How to Identify a Transitive Verb
Transitive verbs are not just verbs that can take an
object; they demand objects. Without an object to
affect, the sentence that a transitive verb inhabits will
not seem complete.
Please bring coffee.
In this sentence, the verb bring is transitive; its object
is coffee, the thing that is being brought. Without an
object of some kind, this verb cannot function.
Please bring.
Bring what, or who? The question begs itself because
the meaning of bring demands it.
Here are some more examples of transitive
verbs and their objects.
The girls carry water to their village.
Juan threw the ball.
Could you phone the neighbors?
Here are some more examples of transitive
verbs and their objects.
I caught a cold.
She loves rainbows.
Lila conveyed the message.
Each of the verbs in the previous sentences have objects that

complete the verbs’ actions. If the objects were taken out, the
results would be illogical and questions would be raised in the
mind of the reader; for example, Lila conveyed. Conveyed what?
How to
Identify an
Intransitive
Verb
How to Identify an Intransitive Verb
An intransitive verb is the opposite of a transitive verb: it does not
require an object to act upon.
They jumped.
The dog ran.
She sang.
A light was shining.

None of these verbs require an object for the sentence to make sense,
and all of them can end a sentence. Some imperative forms of verbs
can even make comprehensible one-word sentences.
Run!
Sing!
A number of English verbs can only be intransitive; that is, they will
never make sense paired with an object. Two examples of intransitive-
only verbs are arrive and die. You can’t arrive something, and you
certainly can’t die something; it is impossible for an object to follow
these verbs.
Transitive or
Intransitive?
Some Verbs
Can Be
Both!
Transitive or Intransitive? Some
Verbs Can
Many verbs can Be asBoth
be classified both transitive and intransitive depending on
how they are used in a sentence.
Urged by the others, she sang.
She sang the national anthem at the hockey game.
After he cleaned up, he left.
He left the gift on the table.

Verbs Can Be Both
To decide whether the verb is being used transitively
or intransitively, all you need to do is determine
whether the verb has an object. Does she sing
something? Does he leave something? The verb is
only transitive when the answer is yes.
Verbs Can Be Both
When in doubt, look it up. In the dictionary, verbs will
be listed as transitive, intransitive, or both right under
the pronunciation key, and any possible differences in
meaning between the two uses will be given as well.
Transitive vs.
Intransitive
Determine whether the verb in each sentence is transitive or intransitive.
My father drinks three
glasses of water every day.
TRANSITIVE
The new born cried all night.
INTRANSITIVE
Leslie baked cupcakes for the
bake sale.
TRANSITIVE
Did you forget the batteries
for the flashlight?
TRANSITIVE
In the morning, Harry prefers tea
rather than coffee.
TRANSITIVE
We rode the sled down the
hill.
TRANSITIVE
Look up!
INTRANSITIVE
The contractor built a three-
story hotel.
TRANSITIVE
Carol, come down here this
instant!
INTRANSITIVE
The DJ played my favorite
song!
TRANSITIVE
Penny scored a 100% on her
Algebra test.
TRANSITIVE
Most musicians perform at
night.
INTRANSITIVE
The coffee mug broke in the
sink.
INTRANSITIVE
Will you help me?
TRANSITIVE
Tiffany returned the form
confirming her attendance
tonight.
TRANSITIVE
Pablo ran to the store.
INTRANSITIVE
The sleepy child slept
soundly last night.
INTRANSITIVE
You can pay for your
purchases online.
INTRANSITIVE
Lacy travelled to Rome last
summer.
INTRANSITIVE
Ms. Lynch loves grammar!
TRANSITIVE
Assignment:
Prepare for a writing
activity tomorrow. <3

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Learning Targets <3

Define verbs and its purpose

Differentiate transitive and intransitive verbs

Construct clear and coherent sentences utilizing verbs

Assess the importance of verbs in a sentence as well as their use in our

Each of the verbs in the previous sentences have objects that

The dog ran.

A light was shining.

Urged by the others, she sang.

She sang the national anthem at the hockey game.

After he cleaned up, he left.

He left the gift on the table.

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