A transitive verb takes an object. An intransitive verb, on the other hand, does not have an object.
Study the examples given below.
The peon rang the bell.
The peon rang what? The bell
As you can see, here the verb ‘rang’ has an object. Therefore, it is a transitive verb.
Now consider another example.
- The boy laughed loudly.
Here the verb ‘laughed’ does not have an object. Therefore, it is an intransitive verb.
When an intransitive verb is used in a causative sense it becomes transitive.
Examples are given below.
- Intransitive: The dog walks.
- Transitive: The man walks the dog. (Here the verb ‘walks’ becomes transitive because it has an object. The man causes the dog to walk.)
- Intransitive: Birds fly in the sky.
- Transitive: The boys fly their kites. (Here the verb ‘fly’ becomes transitive because it has an object. The boys cause the kites to fly.)
Some common verbs are distinguished as transitive or intransitive by their spelling.
Study the examples given below.
- Many trees fall in a storm. (Here the verb ‘fall’ is intransitive. It does not have an object.)
- Woodcutters fell trees. (NOT Woodcutters fall trees. Fell means cause to fall.)
- The doctor asked the patient to lie still. (Here the verb ‘lie’ is intransitive.)
- Lay the books on the table. (Lay means cause to lie. Here the verb ‘lay’ is transitive.)
- Rise with the lark. (Here the verb ‘rise’ is intransitive.)
- The teacher asked the boys to raise their hands. (Here the verb ‘raise’ is transitive because it has an object.)