Review: Transitive and Intransitive Verbs
Identify whether the underlined verb or compound verb is used transitively or intransitively:
Question 1
The old woman struggled up the hill, pulling a grocery cart that had lost one wheel behind her.
1. Transitive Verb
X Oops!
- Question:
- The old woman struggled up the hill, pulling a grocery cart that had lost one wheel behind her.
- Answer:
- The answer transitive verb is not correct.
- Explanation:
- The verb "struggled" does not have a direct object; the prepositional phrase "up the hill" acts as an adverb describing where she struggled.
2. Intransitive Verb
Good Work!
- Question:
- The old woman struggled up the hill, pulling a grocery cart that had lost one wheel behind her.
- Answer:
- The answer intransitive verb is correct.
- Explanation:
- The verb "struggled" does not have a direct object; the prepositional phrase "up the hill" acts as an adverb describing where she struggled.
Question 2
Hermione is editing her uncle's memoirs of his lifetime as a green grocer.
1. Transitive Verb
Good Work!
- Question:
- Hermione is editing her uncle's memoirs of his lifetime as a green grocer.
- Answer:
- The answer transitive verb is correct.
- Explanation:
- The compound verb "is editing" takes a direct object--the noun phrase "her uncle's memoirs."
2. Intransitive Verb
X Oops!
- Question:
- Hermione is editing her uncle's memoirs of his lifetime as a green grocer.
- Answer:
- The answer intransitive verb is not correct.
- Explanation:
- The compound verb "is editing" takes a direct object--the noun phrase "her uncle's memoirs."
Question 3
Much to the amusement of the onlookers, Paul danced a minuet to the polka music that drifted out of the beer tent.
1. Transitive Verb
Good Work!
- Question:
- Much to the amusement of the onlookers, Paul danced a minuet to the polka music that drifted out of the beer tent.
- Answer:
- The answer transitive verb is correct.
- Explanation:
- Here the verb "danced" is accompanied by a noun phrase ("a minuet") that acts as a direct object.
2. Intransitive Verb
X Oops!
- Question:
- Much to the amusement of the onlookers, Paul danced a minuet to the polka music that drifted out of the beer tent.
- Answer:
- The answer intransitive verb is not correct.
- Explanation:
- Here the verb "danced" is accompanied by a noun phrase ("a minuet") that acts as a direct object.
Question 4
At the beginning of the play, the entire cast dances manically across the stage.
1. Transitive Verb
X Oops!
- Question:
- At the beginning of the play, the entire cast dances manically across the stage.
- Answer:
- The answer transitive verb is not correct.
- Explanation:
- In this sentence, the verb "dances" is not accompanied by a direct object. The phrase "manically across the stage" acts as an adverb describing where the dancing takes place.
2. Intransitive Verb
Good Work!
- Question:
- At the beginning of the play, the entire cast dances manically across the stage.
- Answer:
- The answer intransitive verb is correct.
- Explanation:
- In this sentence, the verb "dances" is not accompanied by a direct object. The phrase "manically across the stage" acts as an adverb describing where the dancing takes place.
Question 5
Stella is reading quietly in the upstairs bedroom instead of doing her chores.
1. Transitive Verb
X Oops!
- Question:
- Stella is reading quietly in the upstairs bedroom instead of doing her chores.
- Answer:
- The answer transitive verb is not correct.
- Explanation:
- The compound verb "is reading" is accompanied by the adverb "quietly" but does not take a direct object.
2. Intransitive Verb
Good Work!
- Question:
- Stella is reading quietly in the upstairs bedroom instead of doing her chores.
- Answer:
- The answer intransitive verb is correct.
- Explanation:
- The compound verb "is reading" is accompanied by the adverb "quietly" but does not take a direct object.
Question 6
This term I am reading all of the works of Sylvia Townsend Warner.
1. Transitive Verb
Good Work!
- Question:
- This term I am reading all of the works of Sylvia Townsend Warner.
- Answer:
- The answer transitive verb is correct.
- Explanation:
- In this sentence, the compound verb "am reading" takes the noun phrase "all of the works of Sylvia Townsend Warner" as a direct object.
2. Intransitive Verb
X Oops!
- Question:
- This term I am reading all of the works of
Sylvia Townsend Warner.
- Answer:
- The answer intransitive verb is not correct.
- Explanation:
- In this sentence, the compound verb "am reading" takes the noun phrase "all of the works of Sylvia Townsend Warner" as a direct object.
Question 7
At the feast, we will eat heartily.
1. Transitive Verb
X Oops!
- Question:
- At the feast, we will eat heartily.
- Answer:
- The answer transitive verb is not correct.
- Explanation:
- Here the compound verb is not associated with a direct object; "heartily" is an adverb modifying the compound verb.
2. Intransitive Verb
Good Work!
- Question:
- At the feast, we will eat heartily.
- Answer:
- The answer intransitive verb is correct.
- Explanation:
- Here the compound verb is not associated with a direct object; "heartily" is an adverb modifying the compound verb.
Question 8
Charles opened up his lunch, examined the contents carefully, and ate his dessert first.
1. Transitive Verb
Good Work!
- Question:
- Charles opened up his lunch, examined the contents
carefully, and ate his dessert first.
- Answer:
- The answer transitive verb is correct.
- Explanation:
- In this sentence, the verb "ate" takes a
direct object, the noun phrase "his
dessert."
2. Intransitive Verb
X Oops!
- Question:
- Charles opened up his lunch, examined the contents carefully, and ate his dessert first.
- Answer:
- The answer intransitive verb is not correct.
- Explanation:
- In this sentence, the verb "ate" takes a direct object, the noun phrase "his dessert."
Question 9
The Stephens sisters are both very talented; Virginia writes and Vanessa paints.
1. Transitive Verb
X Oops!
- Question:
- The Stephens sisters are both very talented; Virginia writes and Vanessa paints.
- Answer:
- The answer transitive verb is not correct.
- Explanation:
- The verb "paints" describes Vanessa's actions but takes no direct object; what Vanessa paints is not stated.
2. Intransitive Verb
Good Work!
- Question:
- The Stephens sisters are both very talented; Virginia writes and Vanessa paints.
- Answer:
- The answer intransitive verb is correct.
- Explanation:
- The verb "paints" describes Vanessa's actions but takes no direct object; what Vanessa paints is not stated.
Question 10
When I was three years old, my father left a can of paint open in my bedroom, and early one morning, I painted my baby brother's face green.
1. Transitive Verb
Good Work!
- Question:
- When I was three years old, my father left a can of paint open in my bedroom, and early one morning, I painted my baby brother's face green.
- Answer:
- The answer transitive verb is correct.
- Explanation:
- In the sentence, the verb "painted" takes the noun phrase "my baby brother's face" as a direct object.
2. Intransitive Verb
X Oops!
- Question:
- When I was three years old, my father left a can of paint open in my bedroom, and early one morning, I painted my
baby brother's face green.
- Answer:
- The answer intransitive verb is not correct.
- Explanation:
- In the sentence, the verb "painted" takes the noun phrase "my baby brother's face" as a direct object.
Written by Heather MacFadyen