PPT: Transitive and Intransitive Verbs | Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) - CAT PDF Download

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Transitive and 
Intransitive Verbs
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Transitive and 
Intransitive Verbs
Transitive and Intransitive Verbs4What's the 
Difference?
Transitive Verbs
A transitive verb requires an 
object to express a 
complete thought. It needs 
to transfer its action to 
something or someone. 
Without an object to affect, 
the sentence will feel 
incomplete.
Intransitive Verbs
An intransitive verb makes 
sense without an object. It 
can stand alone and still 
convey a complete thought. 
These verbs don't need to 
transfer their action to 
anything else.
Common Misconception
Transitivity is not about 
whether a verb is active. 
Rather, it's about whether 
the verb needs to affect 
something else. Think of 
"transitive" as related to 
"transfer" rather than 
"transit".
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Transitive and 
Intransitive Verbs
Transitive and Intransitive Verbs4What's the 
Difference?
Transitive Verbs
A transitive verb requires an 
object to express a 
complete thought. It needs 
to transfer its action to 
something or someone. 
Without an object to affect, 
the sentence will feel 
incomplete.
Intransitive Verbs
An intransitive verb makes 
sense without an object. It 
can stand alone and still 
convey a complete thought. 
These verbs don't need to 
transfer their action to 
anything else.
Common Misconception
Transitivity is not about 
whether a verb is active. 
Rather, it's about whether 
the verb needs to affect 
something else. Think of 
"transitive" as related to 
"transfer" rather than 
"transit".
How to Identify a Transitive Verb
Definition
Transitive verbs demand 
objects. Without an object to 
affect, the sentence will 
seem incomplete. They 
transfer their action to 
something or someone.
The Test
If removing the object makes 
the sentence illogical or 
raises questions in the 
reader's mind, the verb is 
transitive. For example, 
"Please bring" leaves us 
asking "bring what?"
Examples
"The girls carry water." "Juan threw the ball." "Could you phone 
the neighbors?" "I caught a cold." "She loves rainbows." "Lila 
conveyed the message."
Page 4


Transitive and 
Intransitive Verbs
Transitive and Intransitive Verbs4What's the 
Difference?
Transitive Verbs
A transitive verb requires an 
object to express a 
complete thought. It needs 
to transfer its action to 
something or someone. 
Without an object to affect, 
the sentence will feel 
incomplete.
Intransitive Verbs
An intransitive verb makes 
sense without an object. It 
can stand alone and still 
convey a complete thought. 
These verbs don't need to 
transfer their action to 
anything else.
Common Misconception
Transitivity is not about 
whether a verb is active. 
Rather, it's about whether 
the verb needs to affect 
something else. Think of 
"transitive" as related to 
"transfer" rather than 
"transit".
How to Identify a Transitive Verb
Definition
Transitive verbs demand 
objects. Without an object to 
affect, the sentence will 
seem incomplete. They 
transfer their action to 
something or someone.
The Test
If removing the object makes 
the sentence illogical or 
raises questions in the 
reader's mind, the verb is 
transitive. For example, 
"Please bring" leaves us 
asking "bring what?"
Examples
"The girls carry water." "Juan threw the ball." "Could you phone 
the neighbors?" "I caught a cold." "She loves rainbows." "Lila 
conveyed the message."
How to Identify an Intransitive Verb
Complete Without 
Objects
Intransitive verbs do 
not require an object to 
act upon. Sentences 
like "They jumped," "The 
dog ran," and "She 
sang" make perfect 
sense without any 
object.
Can End Sentences
These verbs can 
comfortably end a 
sentence. Some can 
even form 
comprehensible one-
word sentences in the 
imperative form, such 
as "Run!" or "Sing!"
Intransitive-Only 
Verbs
Some English verbs can 
only be intransitive, 
never taking an object. 
Examples include 
"arrive" and "die" - you 
can't "arrive something" 
or "die something."
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Transitive and 
Intransitive Verbs
Transitive and Intransitive Verbs4What's the 
Difference?
Transitive Verbs
A transitive verb requires an 
object to express a 
complete thought. It needs 
to transfer its action to 
something or someone. 
Without an object to affect, 
the sentence will feel 
incomplete.
Intransitive Verbs
An intransitive verb makes 
sense without an object. It 
can stand alone and still 
convey a complete thought. 
These verbs don't need to 
transfer their action to 
anything else.
Common Misconception
Transitivity is not about 
whether a verb is active. 
Rather, it's about whether 
the verb needs to affect 
something else. Think of 
"transitive" as related to 
"transfer" rather than 
"transit".
How to Identify a Transitive Verb
Definition
Transitive verbs demand 
objects. Without an object to 
affect, the sentence will 
seem incomplete. They 
transfer their action to 
something or someone.
The Test
If removing the object makes 
the sentence illogical or 
raises questions in the 
reader's mind, the verb is 
transitive. For example, 
"Please bring" leaves us 
asking "bring what?"
Examples
"The girls carry water." "Juan threw the ball." "Could you phone 
the neighbors?" "I caught a cold." "She loves rainbows." "Lila 
conveyed the message."
How to Identify an Intransitive Verb
Complete Without 
Objects
Intransitive verbs do 
not require an object to 
act upon. Sentences 
like "They jumped," "The 
dog ran," and "She 
sang" make perfect 
sense without any 
object.
Can End Sentences
These verbs can 
comfortably end a 
sentence. Some can 
even form 
comprehensible one-
word sentences in the 
imperative form, such 
as "Run!" or "Sing!"
Intransitive-Only 
Verbs
Some English verbs can 
only be intransitive, 
never taking an object. 
Examples include 
"arrive" and "die" - you 
can't "arrive something" 
or "die something."
Transitive or Intransitive? Some Verbs Can Be Both
Intransitive Use
"Urged by the others, she sang." 
Here, "sang" stands alone without 
an object and makes complete 
sense. The verb doesn't transfer 
its action to anything.
Transitive Use
"She sang the national anthem at 
the hockey game." Here, "sang" 
transfers its action to "the 
national anthem," which serves as 
the object of the verb.
When in Doubt
Check a dictionary. Verbs will be 
listed as transitive, intransitive, or 
both right under the 
pronunciation key, with any 
differences in meaning between 
the two uses.