Intransitive Verb

Team English - Examples.com
Created by: Team English - Examples.com, Last Updated: June 25, 2024

Intransitive Verb

Intransitive Verb

An intransitive verb is a type of verb that does not require a direct object to complete its meaning. Unlike transitive verbs, which act upon a specific object, intransitive verbs convey complete actions on their own. For example, in “She sleeps,” the verb “sleeps” is intransitive because the action does not pass to an object. Intransitive verbs can be followed by adverbs or prepositional phrases for more context, such as “He runs quickly” or “They arrived at noon.” They do not take an indirect object, distinguishing them from phrasal verbs and other action verbs.

What Is an Intransitive Verb?

An intransitive verb is a verb that does not require a direct object to complete its meaning. Unlike transitive verbs, which need an object, intransitive verbs convey complete actions on their own. For example, in “She sleeps,” the verb “sleeps” is intransitive because the action does not pass to an object.

Intransitive Verb Examples

  1. The baby cried.
  2. The sun shines.
  3. The cat slept.
  4. The children laughed.
  5. The flower bloomed.
  6. She yawned.
  7. He smiled.
  8. The leaves fell.
  9. The wind howled.
  10. The dog barked.
  11. They arrived.
  12. He grew.
  13. She left.
  14. The plane landed.
  15. The fish swam.
  16. The bird flew.
  17. The train stopped.
  18. The boy jumped.
  19. The girl danced.
  20. The river flows.
  21. The tree stood.
  22. He waited.
  23. She sang.
  24. The snow melted.
  25. The sun set.
  26. The boat sailed.
  27. The star twinkled.
  28. The horse galloped.
  29. The baby slept.
  30. The man fainted.
  31. The flowers wilted.
  32. The candle flickered.
  33. The waves crashed.
  34. The fire burned.
  35. The crowd cheered.
  36. The music played.
  37. The phone rang.
  38. The light dimmed.
  39. The clock ticked.
  40. The audience applauded.
  41. The rain stopped.
  42. The ice thawed.
  43. The leaves rustled.
  44. The volcano erupted.
  45. The storm subsided.
  46. The tides turned.
  47. The grass grew.
  48. The owl hooted.
  49. The peacock strutted.
  50. The butterfly fluttered.

Transitive and Intransitive verbs Examples

  1. She sleeps.
  2. He runs quickly.
  3. They arrived at noon.
  4. She reads a book.
  5. He kicks the ball.
  6. They watched the movie.
  7. The dog barks loudly.
  8. She cries softly.
  9. The sun sets in the west.
  10. The bird sings beautifully.
  11. He paints a picture.
  12. She drinks water.
  13. They built a house.
  14. He buys groceries.
  15. She writes a letter.
  16. The cat jumps on the table.
  17. The baby smiles.
  18. He eats an apple.
  19. She drives a car.
  20. They celebrate a birthday.

Subject Intransitive verb Examples

  1. Birds chirp.
  2. Rain falls.
  3. Children play.
  4. Flowers bloom.
  5. Stars twinkle.
  6. Cats purr.
  7. Dogs bark.
  8. Leaves rustle.
  9. The wind howls.
  10. The sun shines.
  11. Waves crash.
  12. Rivers flow.
  13. Snow melts.
  14. Trees sway.
  15. Fire burns.
  16. Wolves howl.
  17. Babies cry.
  18. Clouds gather.
  19. People cheer.
  20. Lightning strikes.

Types of Intransitive Verb

1. Action Intransitive Verbs

These verbs describe an action that does not require a direct object.

Examples:

  • The birds fly.
  • The children play.

2. Stative Intransitive Verbs

These verbs describe a state or condition rather than an action.

Examples:

  • She exists.
  • They remain.

3. Movement Intransitive Verbs

These verbs indicate motion or direction.

Examples:

  • He arrived.
  • The boat sailed.

4. Existence Intransitive Verbs

These verbs express the existence of the subject.

Examples:

  • There is.
  • The stars are.

5. Change of State Intransitive Verbs

These verbs indicate a change in condition or state.

Examples:

  • The ice melted.
  • The leaves wilted.

List of Intransitive Verbs

Intransitive VerbsIntransitive Verbs
ArriveSleep
RunCry
LaughSwim
SitStand
GrowShine
FallJump
DanceWalk
YawnSmile
BarkTravel
RelaxRest
ShoutAppear
DisappearCome
GoLie
RiseBloom
FlourishFloat
WanderHappen
ExistRemain
OccurDie
SnorePersist
DepartThrive
CollapseShiver
TrembleQuake
ExplodeBurst
RadiateGlimmer

How To Use Intransitive Verbs in a Sentence

Using intransitive verbs in a sentence is straightforward because they do not require a direct object. Here are the steps and examples to help you understand how to use intransitive verbs correctly:

Steps to Use Intransitive Verbs in a Sentence

  1. Identify the Subject: Determine who or what is performing the action or experiencing the state.
  2. Choose an Intransitive Verb: Select an appropriate intransitive verb that matches the subject and the context.
  3. Complete the Sentence: You can add additional information such as adverbs, prepositional phrases, or clauses to provide more context, but ensure there is no direct object.

Transitive vs Intransitive Verbs

FeatureTransitive VerbsIntransitive Verbs
DefinitionVerbs that require a direct object to complete their meaning.Verbs that do not require a direct object to complete their meaning.
Direct ObjectYes, always requires a direct object.No, does not take a direct object.
Example Sentence 1She reads a book.She sleeps.
Example Sentence 2He kicked the ball.He laughed.

Transitive and Intransitive Verbs Exercises with Answers

Exercise 1:

Identify whether the verb in each sentence is transitive or intransitive.

  1. She reads a book.
  2. The baby sleeps.
  3. He kicked the ball.
  4. They arrived at the airport.
  5. The dog barks loudly.
  6. She paints a picture.
  7. They laughed at the joke.
  8. He buys groceries.
  9. The sun sets in the west.
  10. The teacher explained the lesson.

Answers:

  1. Transitive (reads what? a book)
  2. Intransitive (no direct object)
  3. Transitive (kicked what? the ball)
  4. Intransitive (no direct object)
  5. Intransitive (no direct object)
  6. Transitive (paints what? a picture)
  7. Intransitive (no direct object)
  8. Transitive (buys what? groceries)
  9. Intransitive (no direct object)
  10. Transitive (explained what? the lesson)

Exercise 2:

Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verb and identify if it’s transitive or intransitive.

  1. She ______ (run) every morning.
  2. He ______ (eat) an apple.
  3. The children ______ (play) in the park.
  4. They ______ (watch) a movie last night.
  5. The bird ______ (sing) beautifully.
  6. He ______ (write) a letter to his friend.
  7. The cat ______ (jump) on the table.
  8. They ______ (build) a new house.
  9. The baby ______ (cry) for hours.
  10. She ______ (read) a fascinating novel.

Answers:

  1. runs (intransitive)
  2. ate (transitive, ate what? an apple)
  3. play (intransitive)
  4. watched (transitive, watched what? a movie)
  5. sings (intransitive)
  6. wrote (transitive, wrote what? a letter)
  7. jumped (intransitive)
  8. built (transitive, built what? a new house)
  9. cried (intransitive)
  10. read (transitive, read what? a fascinating novel)

Exercise 3:

Identify whether the verb in each sentence is transitive or intransitive.

  1. She danced gracefully.
  2. He opened the door.
  3. They discussed the problem.
  4. The tree fell during the storm.
  5. The chef cooked a delicious meal.
  6. She smiled at the stranger.
  7. The boy threw the ball.
  8. The audience clapped loudly.
  9. He found a lost wallet.
  10. The cat slept on the couch.

Answers:

  1. Intransitive (no direct object)
  2. Transitive (opened what? the door)
  3. Transitive (discussed what? the problem)
  4. Intransitive (no direct object)
  5. Transitive (cooked what? a delicious meal)
  6. Intransitive (no direct object)
  7. Transitive (threw what? the ball)
  8. Intransitive (no direct object)
  9. Transitive (found what? a lost wallet)
  10. Intransitive (no direct object)

Exercise 4:

Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verb and identify if it’s transitive or intransitive.

  1. The students ______ (complete) their homework.
  2. She ______ (arrive) at the meeting on time.
  3. He ______ (catch) the train to work.
  4. The flowers ______ (bloom) in spring.
  5. They ______ (clean) the house together.
  6. The dog ______ (bark) at the mailman.
  7. He ______ (enjoy) the concert.
  8. The car ______ (stop) suddenly.
  9. She ______ (give) a presentation.
  10. The wind ______ (blow) fiercely.

Answers:

  1. completed (transitive, completed what? their homework)
  2. arrived (intransitive)
  3. caught (transitive, caught what? the train)
  4. bloom (intransitive)
  5. cleaned (transitive, cleaned what? the house)
  6. barked (intransitive)
  7. enjoyed (transitive, enjoyed what? the concert)
  8. stopped (intransitive)
  9. gave (transitive, gave what? a presentation)
  10. blew (intransitive)

FAQ’s

Can you give an example of an intransitive verb?

Yes, in the sentence “She sleeps,” “sleeps” is an intransitive verb because it does not need a direct object.

How do intransitive verbs differ from transitive verbs?

Intransitive verbs do not need a direct object to complete their meaning, while transitive verbs do.

Are all verbs either transitive or intransitive?

No, some verbs can be both transitive and intransitive, depending on how they are used in a sentence.

Can intransitive verbs have indirect objects?

No, intransitive verbs cannot have indirect objects because they do not take direct objects.

Do intransitive verbs require complements?

Some intransitive verbs may require complements, such as prepositional phrases, to complete their meaning.

Can intransitive verbs form passive sentences?

No, intransitive verbs cannot form passive sentences because they do not have direct objects to become the subject of a passive sentence.

Do intransitive verbs need adverbs?

Intransitive verbs do not need adverbs, but adverbs can be used to provide more information about the action.

How do intransitive verbs function in questions?

Intransitive verbs function in questions without needing a direct object, e.g., “Where do you live?”

Can an intransitive verb be followed by a prepositional phrase?

Yes, intransitive verbs are often followed by prepositional phrases to add more detail, e.g., “She sleeps in the afternoon.”

Can a verb change from transitive to intransitive?

Yes, some verbs can be both, depending on the context, e.g., “He runs a company” (transitive) vs. “He runs every morning” (intransitive).

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