Verbs: Transitive and Intransitive Depending on its use in a particular sentence, an action verb can be either
transitive or intransitive. A transitive verb is followed by a word or words called
the direct object that answers the question what? or whom? An intransitive verb
is an action verb that does not have a direct object.
TRANSITIVE: Shawn painted landscapes and portraits. (Landscapes and
portraits make up the compound direct object that answers the question what?
Shawn painted.)
INTRANSITIVE: Shawn painted beautifully. (There is no direct object answering
the question what? or whom? Shawn painted.)
Exercise 1 Draw two lines under each action verb. Draw one line under each direct
object. In the blank, write T if the verb is transitive or I if the verb is intransitive.
T
Aaron painted his house white.
Hiroko plays softball and tennis every summer.
2. The pigeon drank water from the muddy puddle.
3. The eagle soared higher and higher in the sky.
4. The stern judge gave a harsh sentence to the defendant.
5. The happy baby wore a toothless grin.
6. New Zealand lies about 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometers) southeast of Australia.
7. City council meets once a week.
8. Maria prepares dinner for the family.
9. The artist paints colorful, geometric designs.
10. The news reporter lifted her eyebrows in disbelief.
11. The news of war shocked the nation and the world.
12. The timid man muttered under his breath.
13. Most dinosaurs resembled birds in their leg and foot structure.
14. The assistant coach made a suggestion.
15. The buffalo herd-stampeded across the prairie.