There are some verbs in English that do not need a direct object to complete the meaning in a sentence. These verbs are called intransitive verbs. Intransitive verbs can express a wide range of actions and states of being, such as walking, running, sleeping, talking, and laughing. In this blog post, we will take a closer look at intransitive verbs in English. We will discuss what they are, how to identify them, and how to use them. We will also look at some examples of intransitive verbs in different contexts.
The post includes:
- What is an intransitive verb?
- Basic characteristics of intransitive verbs
- How do you Identify intransitive verbs?
- Different types of intransitive verbs
- Common intransitive verbs
- Intransitive verbs in different tenses
- Frequently asked questions
What is an intransitive verb?
An intransitive verb is a type of verb in English (and in many other languages) that does not require a direct object to complete its meaning within a sentence. In simpler terms, when you use an intransitive verb, the action or state described by the verb is complete on its own, and it doesn’t need an object to receive that action. Intransitive verbs typically stand alone in a sentence and do not transfer the action to another noun or object.
For example:
- She slept peacefully. (The verb “slept” is intransitive because it doesn’t require a direct object. The sentence is complete as it is.)
- The birds fly. (Here, “fly” is an intransitive verb. It tells us what the birds are doing without the need for a direct object.)
Basic Characteristics of intransitive verbs
1. Do Not Require a Direct Object: The core feature of intransitive verbs is that they do not need a direct object to complete their meaning in a sentence. In other words, the action or state expressed by the verb is self-contained and does not transfer to an object.
Examples of Intransitive Verbs in Sentences:
She laughed heartily.
- In this sentence, “laughed” is an intransitive verb. It conveys the action of laughing, and there is no need for a direct object to complete the meaning. The sentence is complete with just “She laughed.”
The sun shines brightly.
- Here, “shines” is an intransitive verb. It describes the action of the sun emitting light. There is no direct object in the sentence because the verb “shines” doesn’t act upon anything specific.
They arrived late.
- In this sentence, “arrived” is an intransitive verb. It expresses the action of reaching a destination, and no direct object is required for the sentence to make sense.
The baby cried loudly.
- “Cried” is an intransitive verb here. It conveys the action of crying, and there is no direct object because the verb describes what the baby is doing without affecting something or someone else.
The cat purred contentedly.
- In this sentence, “purred” is an intransitive verb. It describes the sound the cat is making, and no direct object is needed to complete the thought.
These examples illustrate how intransitive verbs stand alone in sentences and do not require a direct object to convey their meaning. They represent actions or states that are self-contained.
How do you Identify intransitive verbs?
Identifying intransitive verbs in a sentence in English can be relatively straightforward once you understand their characteristics. Here are some steps and examples to help you identify them:
Steps to Identify Intransitive Verbs:
- Look for verbs that do not require a direct object: Intransitive verbs are verbs that don’t need a direct object to complete their meaning. They can stand alone in a sentence and still make sense.
- Check if the verb is self-contained: Intransitive verbs express actions or states that are self-contained, meaning they don’t affect or transfer their action to another noun or object.
Examples to Illustrate:
The cat sleeps.
- The subject is “cat” and the verb is “sleeps”
She slept peacefully.
- The verb “slept” is intransitive because it doesn’t require a direct object. It tells us what she did (slept) without needing to specify what she slept.
The birds fly.
- “Fly” is an intransitive verb because it stands alone to convey the action of the birds without needing to mention what they are flying.
He smiled warmly.
- In this sentence, “smiled” is an intransitive verb. It describes what he did (smiled) without needing to specify what made him smile.
The flowers bloomed beautifully.
- The verb “bloomed” is intransitive because it tells us what the flowers did (bloomed) without specifying anything or anyone causing the blooming.
They laughed at the joke.
- Be careful here; “laughed” is not intransitive in this sentence because it has a direct object (“the joke”). In this context, it’s a transitive verb.
Different types of intransitive verbs
Intransitive verbs can be categorized into different types in English based on their meanings and how they function in sentences. Here are some common types of intransitive verbs:
1. Intransitive Verbs of Action:
- These verbs describe actions that do not require a direct object.
- Examples: run, jump, dance, swim, laugh, cry, talk, sing.
- She danced gracefully.
- He laughed loudly.
2. Intransitive Verbs of Motion:
- These verbs describe movement without the need for a direct object.
- Examples: walk, run, crawl, hike, drive, fly, skate.
- They walked to the park.
- The birds flew south for the winter.
3. Intransitive Verbs of Perception:
- These verbs describe sensory experiences or perceptions.
- Examples: see, hear, smell, taste, feel.
- She heard a distant noise.
- I smell something delicious cooking.
4. Intransitive Verbs of State:
- These verbs describe a state or condition.
- Examples: exist, appear, seem, remain, belong, occur.
- Happiness exists within us all.
- The problem remains unsolved.
5. Intransitive Verbs of Change:
- These verbs describe a change in state or condition.
- Examples: become, grow, turn, evolve.
- The caterpillar became a butterfly.
- His attitude has grown more positive.
6. Intransitive Verbs of Emotion:
- These verbs express emotions or feelings.
- Examples: laugh, cry, smile, sigh.
- She smiled when she saw the surprise.
- He sighed with relief.
7. Intransitive Phrasal Verbs:
- Some phrasal verbs are intransitive, meaning they consist of a verb and a particle (preposition or adverb) and do not require a direct object.
- Examples: show up, give in, wake up, come over.
- He showed up at the party unexpectedly.
- She woke up early this morning.
Common Intransitive Verbs in English
Here is a list of frequently used intransitive verbs, along with examples:
1. arrive: The train arrived at the station at 10:00 AM.
2. bark: The dog barked at the mailman.
3. bloom: The flowers bloomed in the springtime.
4. boil: The water boiled.
5. break: The vase broke when it fell on the floor.
6. cry: The baby cried because he was hungry.
7. dance: The children danced to the music.
8. die: The old man died peacefully in his sleep.
9. disappear: The magician made the rabbit disappear.
10. fall: The leaves fell from the trees in the fall.
11. fly: The bird flew away.
12. laugh: The children laughed at the clown.
13. live: The old woman lived in a small cottage in the woods.
14. look: The cat looked up at me.
15. move: The man moved to a new city.
16. open: The door opened when I turned the knob.
17. rain: It rained all day yesterday.
18. run: The boy ran down the street.
19. scream: The girl screamed when she saw the spider.
21. see: I saw you at the store yesterday.
22. sleep: The baby slept soundly in her crib.
23. smile: The woman smiled at me.
24. speak: The teacher spoke to the class.
25. stand: The man stood up when he saw me coming.
26. talk: The friends talked for hours.
27. walk: The old woman walked slowly down the street.
28. work: The man works hard to support his family.
Intransitive Verbs in Different Tenses
Intransitive verbs are conjugated in various tenses (past, present, future, etc.) just like other verbs in English. Conjugation depends on the tense, the subject, and whether the verb is regular or irregular.
1. Present Simple Tense:
- The present simple tense describes actions that are habitual, general facts, or routines.
- The base form of the verb is used (e.g., “eat,” “run”).
- She laughs every day.
- In the present simple tense, “laughs” is used with the third-person singular subject “She.”
2. Past Simple Tense:
- The past simple tense describes actions that happened and were completed in the past.
- Regular verbs add “-ed” to the base form to create the past tense.
- Irregular verbs have unique past tense forms.
- He laughed at the joke yesterday.
- “Laughed” is the past tense of the intransitive verb “laugh.”
- She ran a marathon last year.
- “Ran” is the past tense of the intransitive verb “run.”
3. Present Continuous Tense:
- The present continuous tense describes actions happening right now or around the present time.
- It uses the base verb form plus “is” (for singular) or “are” (for plural).
- They are laughing at a funny movie.
- “Are laughing” is the present continuous form of “laugh.”
- She is running in the race today.
- “Is running” is the present continuous form of “run.”
4. Past Continuous Tense:
- The past continuous tense describes actions that were ongoing in the past.
- It uses “was” (for singular) or “were” (for plural) plus the base verb form with “-ing.”
- They were laughing when I entered the room.
- “Were laughing” is the past continuous form of “laugh.”
- She was running when it started raining.
- “Was running” is the past continuous form of “run.”
5. Future Simple Tense:
- The future simple tense describes actions that will happen in the future.
- It often uses “will” or “shall” before the base verb form.
- She will laugh at the joke tomorrow.
- “Will laugh” is the future simple tense of “laugh.”
- They shall run a marathon next month.
- “Shall run” is the future simple tense of “run.”
These examples illustrate how intransitive verbs are conjugated in different tenses to convey actions or states in various time frames.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some frequently asked questions (FAQs) related to intransitive verbs, along with answers that can help address additional doubts:
No, by definition, intransitive verbs do not take direct objects. They describe actions or states that are self-contained and do not transfer to an object. If a verb takes a direct object, it is considered transitive.
Yes, intransitive verbs can be accompanied by prepositional phrases to provide additional information about the action or state. Prepositional phrases often indicate when, where, or how the action is taking place.
No, phrasal verbs can be either transitive or intransitive. Some phrasal verbs are transitive (e.g., “pick up the phone”), while others are intransitive (e.g., “show up at the party”).
Yes, some intransitive verbs can be used reflexively with reflexive pronouns (e.g., “He hurt himself”). However, not all intransitive verbs can be used reflexively.
Yes, intransitive verbs can be modified by adverbs to provide more information about the manner or degree of the action. Adverbs can enhance the meaning of intransitive verbs in sentences.
Yes, intransitive verbs can be conjugated in various tenses (past, present, future, etc.) like other verbs in English. Conjugation depends on the tense, subject, and whether the verb is regular or irregular.
Explore more:
- Mental Verbs
- Physical Verbs
- Determiners List in English
- Position of Determiners in Sentences
- Predeterminers in English
Additional Resources:
- Transitive and Intransitive Verbs | English Grammar by EasyTeaching
- Transitive and Intransitive Verbs – Class 4th to 8th English Grammar by Magnet Brains
- Transitive and Intransitive Verbs — Learn the Difference – Grammarly
- Transitive and Intransitive Verbs – Grammar – Academic Guides at Walden University
