Since we have studied predicate nominatives and direct objects, we can now learn about transitive and intransitive verbs.

Transitive verbs are verbs that have subjects or objects that receive the action. They are either active voice or passive voice. Transitive active verbs are the verbs in sentences with a direct object. Example: The boy kicked the ball. The subject is the doer and the direct object is the receiver of the action. Transitive passive verbs have the subject receiving the action with the doer in a prepositional phrase or omitted in the sentence. Examples: The ball was kicked by the boy. The ball was kicked hard. The verb in the transitive passive voice always has is, am, are, was, were, be, being, or been as an auxiliary or helping verb.

Intransitive verbs have no receiver of the action. They are classified as intransitive complete or intransitive linking. Intransitive linking are sentences with a predicate nominative or predicate adjective. Examples: The girl is Mary. (predicate nominative) The girl is cute. (predicate adjective) Intransitive complete are all the verbs that don't fit one of the other kinds of transitive or intransitive verbs. Examples: The bell rang suddenly. The girl knitted all evening. (There is no receiver of the action.) They were here. (no action or predicate nominative or predicate adjective.)

Tell whether the verbs in the following sentences are transitive active, transitive passive, intransitive linking, or intransitive complete.

1. The stadium roared with the cheers of the fans.

2. Bill was the captain of the ship.

3. A new dress will be needed for the dance.

4. Did Rulon forget his new title?

5. Chris has a new digital camera!

Answers

1. roared - intransitive complete (no receiver of the action)

2. was - intransitive linking (captain is a predicate nominative)

3. will be needed - transitive passive (be is the helping verb and dress receives the action)

4. did forget - transitive active (title receives the action and is the direct object)

5. has - transitive active (camera receives the action and is the direct object)

Transitive verbs are verbs that have subjects or objects that receive the action. They are either active voice or passive voice. Transitive active verbs are the verbs in sentences with a direct object. Example: The boy kicked the ball. The subject is the doer and the direct object is the receiver of the action. Transitive passive verbs have the subject receiving the action with the doer in a prepositional phrase or omitted in the sentence. Examples: The ball was kicked by the boy. The ball was kicked hard. The verb in the transitive passive voice always has is, am, are, was, were, be, being, or been as an auxiliary or helping verb.

Intransitive verbs have no receiver of the action. They are classified as intransitive complete or intransitive linking. Intransitive linking are sentences with a predicate nominative or predicate adjective. Examples: The girl is Mary. (predicate nominative) The girl is cute. (predicate adjective) Intransitive complete are all the verbs that don't fit one of the other kinds of transitive or intransitive verbs. Examples: The bell rang suddenly. The girl knitted all evening. (There is no receiver of the action.) They were here. (no action or predicate nominative or predicate adjective.)

Tell whether the verbs in the following sentences are transitive active, transitive passive, intransitive linking, or intransitive complete.

1. The hikers reached the mountain by nightfall.

2. They prepared their own meals that night.

3. Last week the family painted the house.

4. Jane spent her vacation in the Grand Tetons.

5. The apricot tree spread its branches over the fence.

Answers

1. reached - transitive active

2. prepared - transitive active

3. painted - transitive active

4. spent - transitive active

5. spread - transitive active

(All of the sentences have direct objects.)

Transitive verbs are verbs that have subjects or objects that receive the action. They are either active voice or passive voice. Transitive active verbs are the verbs in sentences with a direct object. Example: The boy kicked the ball. The subject is the doer and the direct object is the receiver of the action. Transitive passive verbs have the subject receiving the action with the doer in a prepositional phrase or omitted in the sentence. Examples: The ball was kicked by the boy. The ball was kicked hard. The verb in the transitive passive voice always has is, am, are, was, were, be, being, or been as an auxiliary or helping verb.

Intransitive verbs have no receiver of the action. They are classified as intransitive complete or intransitive linking. Intransitive linking are sentences with a predicate nominative or predicate adjective. Examples: The girl is Mary. (predicate nominative) The girl is cute. (predicate adjective) Intransitive complete are all the verbs that don't fit one of the other kinds of transitive or intransitive verbs. Examples: The bell rang suddenly. The girl knitted all evening. (There is no receiver of the action.) They were here. (no action or predicate nominative or predicate adjective.)

Tell whether the verbs in the following sentences are transitive active, transitive passive, intransitive linking, or intransitive complete.

1. Yesterday Grandma was hit by a car.

2. My former classmates were seen at the reunion.

3. The lamp for the study was broken on the way home.

4. At camp taps had been blown every night.

5. The dirty clothes will be sent to be cleaned.

Answers

1. was hit - transitive passive

2. were seen - transitive passive

3. was broken - transitive passive

4. had been blown - transitive passive

5. will be sent - transitive passive

(All sentences have the subjects receiving the action and the necessary helping verbs.)

Transitive verbs are verbs that have subjects or objects that receive the action. They are either active voice or passive voice. Transitive active verbs are the verbs in sentences with a direct object. Example: The boy kicked the ball. The subject is the doer and the direct object is the receiver of the action. Transitive passive verbs have the subject receiving the action with the doer in a prepositional phrase or omitted in the sentence. Examples: The ball was kicked by the boy. The ball was kicked hard. The verb in the transitive passive voice always has is, am, are, was, were, be, being, or been as an auxiliary or helping verb.

Intransitive verbs have no receiver of the action. They are classified as intransitive complete or intransitive linking. Intransitive linking are sentences with a predicate nominative or predicate adjective. Examples: The girl is Mary. (predicate nominative) The girl is cute. (predicate adjective) Intransitive complete are all the verbs that don't fit one of the other kinds of transitive or intransitive verbs. Examples: The bell rang suddenly. The girl knitted all evening. (There is no receiver of the action.) They were here. (no action or predicate nominative or predicate adjective.)

Tell whether the verbs in the following sentences are transitive active, transitive passive, intransitive linking, or intransitive complete.

1. Mother looked for her lost shoes.

2. The sea waves lapped at the levy.

3. There are many desserts for the party.

4. Rebecca hunted for her baby sister.

5. Duty calls.

Answers

1. looked - intransitive complete

2. lapped - intransitive complete

3. are - intransitive complete

4. hunted - intransitive complete

5. calls - intransitive complete

(None of the sentences have receivers for the action or predicate nominatives or predicate adjectives.)

Transitive verbs are verbs that have subjects or objects that receive the action. They are either active voice or passive voice. Transitive active verbs are the verbs in sentences with a direct object. Example: The boy kicked the ball. The subject is the doer and the direct object is the receiver of the action. Transitive passive verbs have the subject receiving the action with the doer in a prepositional phrase or omitted in the sentence. Examples: The ball was kicked by the boy. The ball was kicked hard. The verb in the transitive passive voice always has is, am, are, was, were, be, being, or been as an auxiliary or helping verb.

Intransitive verbs have no receiver of the action. They are classified as intransitive complete or intransitive linking. Intransitive linking are sentences with a predicate nominative or predicate adjective. Examples: The girl is Mary. (predicate nominative) The girl is cute. (predicate adjective) Intransitive complete are all the verbs that don't fit one of the other kinds of transitive or intransitive verbs. Examples: The bell rang suddenly. The girl knitted all evening. (There is no receiver of the action.) They were here. (no action or predicate nominative or predicate adjective.)

Tell whether the verbs in the following sentences are transitive active, transitive passive, intransitive linking, or intransitive complete.

1. The radio was my favorite gift at Christmas.

2. Jay will be the winner of the most games.

3. The meal tasted wonderful to everyone.

4. The furniture should be early American style for this room.

5. Gomer Pyle's favorite expression was "Golly!".

Answers

1. was - intransitive linking (gift = predicate nominative)

2. will be - intransitive linking (winner = predicate nominative)

3. tasted - intransitive linking ( wonderful = predicate adjective)

4. should be - intransitive linking (style = predicate nominative)

5. was - intransitive linking (Golly = predicate nominative)

Tell whether the verbs in the following sentences are transitive active, transitive passive, intransitive linking, or intransitive complete.

1. We started our new lessons today.

2. The game started at noon.

3. Mr. Paul is our math teacher.

4. The dog slept in the sun.

5. The cat chased our dog around the barn.

6. Ann prepared the fruit for the salad.

7. The relish tray was done by the two sisters.

8. The meal is now complete.

9. The man opened the car door for his wife.

10. There were many guests at the party.

Answers

1. started - transitive active (lessons = direct object)

2. started - intransitive complete (no receiver of the action)

3. is - intransitive linking (teacher = predicate nominative)

4. slept - intransitive complete (no receiver of the action)

5. chased - transitive active (dog = direct object)

6. prepared - transitive active (fruit = direct object)

7. was done - transitive passive (tray = receiver of the action and is the subject)

8. is - intransitive linking (complete = predicate adjective)

9. opened - transitive active (door = direct object)

10. were - intransitive complete ( no action or predicate nominative or predicate adjective)

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