State whether the verbs in the following sentences are used transitively or intransitively.
1Heat expands metals.
Wrong!
The verb "expands" is "Transitive" because it has the direct object "metals".
2Metals expand on heating.
Wrong!
The verb "expand" is "Intransitive" because it has no direct object.
3The driver stopped the car.
Wrong!
The verb "stopped" is "Transitive" because it has the direct object "the car".
4The car stopped abruptly.
Wrong!
The verb "stopped" is "Intransitive" because it has no direct object.
5You must speak the truth.
Wrong!
The verb "speak" is "Transitive" because it has the direct object "the truth".
6You must speak loudly.
Wrong!
The verb "speak" is "Intransitive" because "loudly" is an adverb, not an object.
7The boy is flying the kite.
Wrong!
The verb "flying" is "Transitive" because it has the direct object "the kite".
8The birds are flying in the sky.
Wrong!
The verb "flying" is "Intransitive" because it has no direct object.
9The rider fell off the horse and broke his arm.
Wrong!
The verb phrase "broke his arm" is "Transitive" because "broke" has the direct object "his arm".
10The woodcutter felled a huge tree.
Wrong!
The verb "felled" is "Transitive" because it has the direct object "a huge tree".
11The explosion sank the ship.
Wrong!
The verb "sank" is "Transitive" because it has the direct object "the ship".
12The ship sank suddenly.
Wrong!
The verb "sank" is "Intransitive" because it has no direct object.
Answers
- Heat expands metals. — Transitive
- Metals expand on heating. — Intransitive
- The driver stopped the car. — Transitive
- The car stopped abruptly. — Intransitive
- You must speak the truth. — Transitive
- You must speak loudly. — Intransitive
- The boy is flying the kite. — Transitive
- The birds are flying in the sky. — Intransitive
- The rider fell off the horse and broke his arm. — Transitive
- The woodcutter felled a huge tree. — Transitive
- The explosion sank the ship. — Transitive
- The ship sank suddenly. — Intransitive
Notes
- A transitive verb has an object. An intransitive verb does not have an object. Note that most verbs can be used both transitively and intransitively.
