Transitive and Intransitive Verbs: correct answers
Jump to answers ↓All English verbs are divided into three big groups of transitive, intransitive and linking verbs. The belonging to one of these groups influences the choice of the object the verb may be followed by: direct, indirect, indirect without a preposition, prepositional object or the complex object. Another reason to know about "transitivity/intransitivity" of a verb is to be able to use the verb in the passive voice. In addition, some verbs such as get, grow, keep, look, and alike, can be also link verbs that will strongly influence the meaning of a sentence.
Correct answers
Question 1
- Cheered may be both transitive and intransitive, depending on whether it has an object or not. As a rule, a transitive verb must have an object. Here, cheered is transitive because it has an object, Ruth.
- Cheered may be both transitive and intransitive, depending on whether it has an object or not. As a rule, an intransitive verb does not have an object. Here, cheered is intransitive because it has no object.
Question 2
Email may be both transitive and intransitive depending on whether it has an object or not.
It is transitive in the first part of the sentence because it has an object, me. It is intransitive in the second part because it has no object.
Question 3
- The indirect object explains for whom something was done. The indirect object is grandpa. It is for him the fruits were bought.
- The word fruits is the direct object in the sentence. It is the noun the verb buying transfers its action to.
Question 4
- The transitive verb hit transfers its action to its direct object, John.
- Well cannot be an object, it is an adverb. You cannot transfer the action of work to the adverb. Well is intransitive.
- The verb played has an object, the noun golf. The playing action is transferred to golf. The verb played is therefore transitive.
Question 5
- Fly is intransitive; it is generally used with adverbs or prepositional phrases. For example, they fly by every afternoon.
- Buy is transitive because as it can transfer its action to an object. For example, We will buy land. etc.
- Lie is intransitive. It is generally used with adverbs or prepositional phrases. For example, I want to lie down.
Question 6
Love may be both transitive and intransitive depending on whether it has an object or not.
In the first part of the sentence love is transitive because it has an object, her. In the second part it is a noun and not a verb at all.
Question 7
- Sneeze is intransitive, it cannot transfer its action and does not take an object. You cannot sneeze something. For example, he sneezes often. Here, it is followed by an adverb.
- Fall is intransitive as it cannot transfer its action of falling to an object. You cannot fall something. For example, fall on your knees!. In this case, it is followed by the prepositional phrase on your knees.
- Read is transitive because it can transfer its action to an object.
Question 8
- Intransitive verbs do not have an object.
The verb applauded does not have an object and therefore is intransitive. - Intransitive verbs do not have an object.
Transitive verbs must have an object. The verb gave is transitive because it has an object, my speech.
Question 9
- The indirect object explains for whom something was done. The indirect object is him. It is for him the cake was brought.
- The noun cake is the direct object in the sentence. It completes the action expressed by the verb brought.
Question 10
- Understand may be both transitive and intransitive depending on whether it has an object or not. Understand in this sentence is intransitive because it has no object.
- Understand may be both transitive and intransitive depending on whether it has an object or not. Understand in this sentence is transitive because it has an object, her.
Question 11
The verb swimming is intransitive because it is followed by the adverb upstream.
Intransitive verbs may be followed by adverbs or prepositional phrases. They cannot transfer their action to the adverbs or prepositional phrases. For example, the action of swimming cannot be transferred to the adverb upstream.
Question 12
A transitive verbs is followed by its direct object, which is usually a noun or a pronoun. The object receives the verb's action. An intransitive verb does not transfer its action, but may be followed by a prepositional phrase or an adverb.
The verb spoke is intransitive because it is followed by the adverb loudly. It cannot transfer its action to the adverb.
Question 13
- When we change an active construction into a passive construction, the direct object becomes the subject, the subject becomes an object.
- The action of the verb is directed toward the direct object: the verb passes its action onto the object; the object receives the action of the verb.
- Intransitive verbs do not have objects.
- Intransitive verbs are generally used only in the active voice. For example, the active constructions "she arrived yesterday; it happened to me; they disappeared" (with intransitive verbs "arrive, happen, disappear") cannot be changed into passive constructions.
Question 14
- Pay is transitive, it can transfer its action to an object. For example, you must pay rent.
- Belong is intransitive as it cannot transfer its action. It can be followed by prepositional phrases or adverbs. Examples: I belong to that group; they belong together.
- Play is transitive because as it can transfer its action to an object. Examples: let's play football; you will play the piano.
Question 15
- None of the verbs have objects. That means they are all intransitive.
- The general rule of intransitive verbs is that they do not have objects.
The verb wept is intransitive. It has no direct object. - Transitive verbs are followed by direct objects, which are usually nouns or pronouns. Intransitive verbs do not transfer their action but may be followed by prepositional phrases or adverbs.
The verb flew is intransitive because it is followed by the adverb northwards. - Transitive verbs are followed by direct objects, which are usually nouns or pronouns. Intransitive verbs do not transfer their action but may be followed by prepositional phrases or adverbs.
The verb arrived is intransitive. It is followed by after midnight, which is a prepositional phrase.
Question 16
- Transitive verbs must have an object. The object, usually a noun or pronoun, must be able to receive the verb's action. Took is the transitive verb because it has an object, the bus. The bus can be taken.
- Transitive verbs must have an object. The object, usually a noun or pronoun, must be able to receive the verb's action.
The verb arrived does not have an object, it has a prepositional phrase this morning and is therefore intransitive. Morning can't be arrived.
Question 17
Transitive verbs are followed by direct objects, which are usually nouns or pronouns. The objects receive the verbs action. Intransitive verbs do not transfer their action but may be followed by prepositional phrases or adverbs.
The verb continued is intransitive because it is followed by a prepositional phrase after the break. It cannot transfer its action to the prepositional phrase.
Question 18
Pinched may be both transitive and intransitive depending on whether it has an object or not.
It is transitive in the first part of the sentence because it has an object, her. However, it is intransitive in the second part because it has no object.
Question 19
- The noun Tony is the subject. The subject is the focus of the sentence.
- The phrase his eyes is a subject complement. It describes the subject, Tony.
- The direct object receives an action from a transitive verb. The transitive verb sipped transfers its action to the direct object, the wine.
Question 20
Transitive verbs are followed by direct objects, which are usually nouns or pronouns. The objects receive the verbs' actions. Intransitive verbs do not transfer their action but may be followed by prepositional phrases or adverbs. The verb leads is intransitive because it is followed by a prepositional phrase to the cave.