intransitive and transitive verbs

Intransitive and Transitive Verbs


Many verbs do not normally have an object. They are called ‘intransitive verbs’. They often refer to:

existence: appear, die, disappear, exist, happen, live, occur, remain, vanish

the human body: ache, bleed, blush, faint, shiver, smile


human noises: cough, cry, laugh, scream, sigh, snore, speak, yawn

light, smell, vibration: gleam, glow, shine, sparkle, stink, throb, vibrate

position, movement: arrive, come, depart, fall, flow, go, jump, kneel, pause, run, sit, sleep, stand, swim, wait, walk, work


An awful thing has happened.The girl screamed.I waited.

Note: Transitive verbs cannot be used in the passive.


Many verbs normally have an object. These verbs are called ‘transitive’ verbs. They are often connected with:

physical objects: build, buy, carry, catch, cover, cut, damage, destroy, fill, hit, own, remove, rent, sell, use, waste, wear

senses: feel, hear, see, smell, taste, touch


feelings: admire, dislike, enjoy, fear, frighten, hate, interest, like, love, need, prefer, surprise, trust, want

facts, ideas: accept, believe, consider, correct, discuss, expect, express, forget, include, know, mean, remember, report

people: address, blame, comfort, contact, convince, defy, kill, persuade, please, tease, thank, warn


He hit the ball really hard.Did you see the rainbow?They both enjoyed the film.She reported the accident to the police.Don’t blame me.


Note: Transitive verbs can be used in the passive.

They were blamed for everything.


WARNING: ‘Have’ is a transitive verb, but cannot be use in the passive. You can say ‘I have a car’ but not ‘A car is had by me’.


Often, the people you are talking to know what the object is because of the situation, or because it has already been mentioned. In this case you can omit the object, even though the verb is transitive.


accept draw ironphone study answerdrive know readtype change eatlearn remember understandchoose explain leave


ride wash cleanforget paint singwatch cook helppark steal write


I don’t own a car. I can’t drive.You don’t smoke, do you?I asked a question and George answered.Both dresses are beautiful. It’s difficult to choose.


Many verbs have more than one meaning, and are transitive in one meaning and intransitive in another meaning. For example, the verb ‘run’ is intransitive when you use it to mean ‘move quickly’ but transitive when you use it to mean ‘manage or operate’.

call lose miss spreadplay show fit runmanage move


The hare runs at enormous speed.She runs a hotel.

She moved gracefully.The whole incident had moved her profoundly.


A few verbs are normally intransitive, but can be used with an object that is closely related to the verb.

dance (a dance) laugh (a laugh)sigh (a sigh) die (a death)live (a life) smile (a smile)dream (a dream)


Steve smiled his thin, cruel smile.He appears to have lived the life of a rock star.I once dreamed a very nice dream.

Note: You normally add more information about the object, for example by using adjectives in front of the noun.

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intransitive and transitive verbs

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