Choose the sentence that does not have an intransitive verb.a)The cust...
a) The customer is buying this afternoon.
- The verb "buying" does not have a direct object in this sentence, making it intransitive. It indicates an action without specifying what is being bought.
b) They were crying all day long.
- The verb "crying" is intransitive because it doesn't have a direct object. It expresses an action that the subject is performing without acting upon an object.
c) The customer is buying pancakes.
- The verb "buying" is transitive here because it has a direct object, "pancakes." The action is being done to something (pancakes), which makes this sentence different from the others.
d) She giggled at the joke.
- The verb "giggled" is intransitive because it doesn't have a direct object. The phrase "at the joke" is a prepositional phrase, not a direct object.
Therefore, the only sentence with a transitive verb is c) The customer is buying pancakes.
View all questions of this test
Choose the sentence that does not have an intransitive verb.a)The cust...
Understanding Intransitive Verbs
Intransitive verbs are action verbs that do not require a direct object to complete their meaning. They can stand alone in a sentence, expressing an action or state without needing to act upon something or someone.
Analysis of Each Option
- Option A: "The customer is buying this afternoon."
- The verb "is buying" suggests an action that will happen, but it doesn't specify what is being bought, making it a bit ambiguous. Despite this, it implies an upcoming action.
- Option B: "They were crying all day long."
- The verb "were crying" is clearly intransitive as it describes an action (crying) that does not require a direct object.
- Option C: "The customer is buying pancakes."
- Here, "is buying" takes "pancakes" as a direct object. This indicates that the verb is transitive because it requires an object to complete the meaning of the action.
- Option D: "She giggled at the joke."
- The verb "giggled" is intransitive; it describes an action that does not need a direct object. The phrase "at the joke" is a prepositional phrase, not an object.
Conclusion
The correct answer is option 'C' because it contains a transitive verb ("is buying") that requires a direct object ("pancakes"). This distinguishes it from the other sentences, which all feature intransitive verbs. Understanding the difference between transitive and intransitive verbs is essential for clarity in sentence construction.