This document discusses the difference between transitive and intransitive verbs. Transitive verbs are followed by an object, while intransitive verbs are not. Common examples of transitive verbs include mailed, signed, and killed. Common intransitive verbs include agree, exist, live, and sleep. Only transitive verbs can be used in the passive voice. Intransitive verbs cannot be used in the passive voice. Some verbs can be either transitive or intransitive depending on how they are used.

1. 10-3TransitiveandIntransitive
Verbs
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2. ATRANSITIVEverbis
followedbyan
object.
An object is a noun or a pronoun.
SUBJECT VERB OBJECT
Bob mailed the letter.
Mr. Lee signed the check.
A cat killed the bird.

3. AnINTRANSITIVE
verbisaverbthatis
NOT followedbyan
object.
SUBJECT VERB
Something happened suddenly.
Kate came to our house.
The bird died.

4. CommonIntransitive
Verbs:
agree exist live sleep
appear fall occur sneeze
arrive flow rain stay
become go rise talk
come happen seem wait
die laugh sit walk

5. TransitiveVerbs:
Only transitive verbs can be used in the
passive voice:
Active Passive
Bob mailed the
letter.
The letter was
mailed by Bob.

6. IntransitiveVerbs:
A intransitive verb is NOT used in the
passive voice:
ACTIVE PASSIVE INCORREC
T
Something
happened.
Not possible! **Something
was
happened.

7. IntransitiveVerbs:
A intransitive verb can be followed by
something other than a noun or pronoun
object.
Something happened very suddenly.
Something happened in the BART station.
Something happened last night.
Something happened when I pushed the
button.

8. Lookinthe
dictionary:
Some verbs are always intransitive:
https://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/co
me

9. Lookinthe
dictionary:
Some verbs are always transitive:
https://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/sen
d

10. Lookinthe
dictionary:
Some verbs can be transitive or
intransitive:
https://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/sin
g

11. Manydictionaries
usethese
abbreviations:
transitive verb =
v.t.
intranstive verb =
v.i.