Transitive Verb And Intransitive Verbs Worksheet

Transitive and Intransitive Verbs Worksheet: A Comprehensive Guide

Understanding the difference between transitive and intransitive verbs is crucial for mastering English grammar. This comprehensive guide provides a detailed explanation of these verb types, accompanied by a variety of exercises to solidify your understanding. We'll delve into definitions, examples, and practical applications, transforming the often-daunting topic of transitive and intransitive verbs into an engaging and manageable challenge.

What are Transitive Verbs?

Transitive verbs are action verbs that require a direct object to complete their meaning. The direct object receives the action of the verb. Think of it as the verb acting upon something.

Key Characteristics:

• Action Verb: Transitive verbs always express an action.
• Direct Object: They must have a direct object; a noun or pronoun that receives the action.

Examples:

• She reads books. (Reads is the transitive verb; books is the direct object)
• The dog chased the ball. (Chased is the transitive verb; ball is the direct object)
• He wrote a letter. (Wrote is the transitive verb; letter is the direct object)
• They built a house. (Built is the transitive verb; house is the direct object)
• We ate pizza. (Ate is the transitive verb; pizza is the direct object)

What are Intransitive Verbs?

Intransitive verbs are action verbs or verbs of being that do not require a direct object to complete their meaning. The action is complete in itself.

Key Characteristics:

• Action or State of Being: Intransitive verbs can describe actions or states of being.
• No Direct Object: They do not take a direct object.

Examples:

• The bird sings. (Sings is the intransitive verb; there's no direct object receiving the action of singing.)
• He sleeps soundly. (Sleeps is the intransitive verb.)
• The sun shines brightly. (Shines is the intransitive verb.)
• She laughed heartily. (Laughed is the intransitive verb.)
• The children play. (Play is the intransitive verb.)

Identifying Transitive and Intransitive Verbs: A Closer Look

Sometimes, the same verb can be transitive in one sentence and intransitive in another. This depends entirely on whether a direct object is present.

Consider these examples:

• Transitive: He ran a marathon. (Ran is transitive; marathon is the direct object)

• Intransitive: He ran quickly. (Ran is intransitive; no direct object)

• Transitive: She walked the dog. (Walked is transitive; dog is the direct object)

• Intransitive: She walked to the store. (Walked is intransitive; no direct object)

• Transitive: They opened the present. (Opened is transitive; present is the direct object)

• Intransitive: The door opened. (Opened is intransitive; no direct object)

This highlights the importance of carefully examining the sentence structure to identify the verb's role.

Transitive and Intransitive Verbs Worksheet: Part 1 - Identification

Instructions: Identify each verb in the following sentences as either transitive (T) or intransitive (I). If the verb is transitive, underline the direct object.

1. The cat sat on the mat. (I)
2. The chef prepared a delicious meal. (T - meal)
3. The flowers bloomed beautifully. (I)
4. He threw the ball high in the air. (T - ball)
5. The river flows swiftly. (I)
6. She wrote a poem. (T - poem)
7. The sun sets in the west. (I)
8. They built a sandcastle. (T - sandcastle)
9. The birds sing sweetly. (I)
10. He drives a red car. (T - car)
11. The rain fell softly. (I)
12. She painted a landscape. (T - landscape)
13. The music played loudly. (I)
14. They ate all the cookies. (T - cookies)
15. The wind howled. (I)

Transitive and Intransitive Verbs Worksheet: Part 2 - Sentence Construction

Instructions: Write a sentence using each of the following verbs, once as a transitive verb and once as an intransitive verb.

1. Run:

   • Transitive: He ran a successful business.
   • Intransitive: He ran quickly down the street.

2. Walk:

   • Transitive: She walked the dog daily.
   • Intransitive: She walked for hours enjoying the scenery.

3. Open:

   • Transitive: He opened the door carefully.
   • Intransitive: The door opened with a loud creak.

4. Sing:

   • Transitive: She sang a beautiful song.
   • Intransitive: She sang with passion and joy.

5. Play:

   • Transitive: He plays the guitar beautifully.
   • Intransitive: The children play happily in the park.

6. Write:

   • Transitive: He wrote a compelling story.
   • Intransitive: She writes eloquently.

7. Read:

   • Transitive: She read the newspaper every morning.
   • Intransitive: He read fluently and silently.

Transitive and Intransitive Verbs Worksheet: Part 3 - Advanced Exercises

Instructions: Read each sentence carefully and determine if the verb is transitive or intransitive. If it's transitive, identify the direct object. If there is a direct object, identify what kind of noun or pronoun it is (e.g., singular noun, plural noun, pronoun).

1. The team won the championship. (Transitive; championship - singular noun)
2. The sun rises in the east. (Intransitive)
3. She gave them a present. (Transitive; present - singular noun, them - pronoun)
4. The birds flew south for the winter. (Intransitive)
5. He told a captivating story. (Transitive; story - singular noun)
6. The children laughed uncontrollably. (Intransitive)
7. We painted the house a cheerful yellow. (Transitive; house - singular noun)
8. The phone rang incessantly. (Intransitive)
9. They ate all the appetizers. (Transitive; appetizers - plural noun)
10. The train arrived on time. (Intransitive)

Understanding the Importance of Direct Objects

The presence or absence of a direct object is the defining factor in differentiating between transitive and intransitive verbs. Mastering this distinction is crucial for constructing grammatically correct and clear sentences. It also improves your overall understanding of sentence structure and how different parts of speech interact.

Further Practice and Resources

To further enhance your understanding, you can explore additional grammar exercises online or in grammar textbooks. Focus on actively identifying verbs in sentences and determining whether they require direct objects to complete their meaning. The key is consistent practice and application. The more you engage with these concepts, the more intuitive they will become.

Remember to always analyze sentence structure carefully to correctly identify the verb type and its role within the sentence. By consistently practicing the exercises provided and seeking out further opportunities for application, you can confidently master the difference between transitive and intransitive verbs. This improved grammatical understanding will translate to clearer, more effective communication in both written and spoken English.