Review: Transitive and Intransitive Verbs

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Identify whether the highlighted verb or compound verb is used transitively or intransitively:

1. The letter carrier struggled up the hill, pulling a cart that had lost one wheel behind him.

Oops!

Question:
The letter carrier struggled up the hill, pulling a cart that had lost one wheel behind him.
Answer:
The answer transitive verb is not correct.
Explanation:
The verb struggled is used intransitively and does not have a direct object. The prepositional phrase up the hill acts as an adverb describing where he struggled.

Good work!

Question:
The letter carrier struggled up the hill, pulling a cart that had lost one wheel behind him.
Answer:
The answer intransitive verb is correct.
Explanation:
The verb struggled is used intransitively and does not have a direct object. The prepositional phrase up the hill acts as an adverb describing where he struggled.

2. Bridget is editing her uncle’s memoirs of his lifetime as a merchant seaman.

Good work!

Question:
Bridget is editing her uncle’s memoirs of his lifetime as a merchant seaman.
Answer:
The answer transitive verb is correct.
Explanation:
The compound verb is editing is used transitively and takes a direct object—the noun phrase her uncle’s memoirs.

Oops!

Question:
Bridget is editing her uncle’s memoirs of his lifetime as a merchant seaman.
Answer:
The answer intransitive verb is not correct.
Explanation:
The compound verb is editing is used transitively and takes a direct object—the noun phrase her uncle’s memoirs.

3. Much to the amusement of onlookers, Paul danced a minuet to the polka music that drifted out of the beer tent.

Good work!

Question:
Much to the amusement of 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 used transitively and is followed by a noun phrase (a minuet) that acts as a direct object.

Oops!

Question:
Much to the amusement of 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 used transitively and is followed by a noun phrase (a minuet) that acts as a direct object.

4. At the beginning of the play, the entire cast dances manically across the stage.

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:
The verb dances is used intransitively and is not followed by a direct object. The phrase manically across the stage acts as an adverb describing where the dancing takes place.

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:
The verb dances is used intransitively and is not followed by a direct object. The phrase manically across the stage acts as an adverb describing where the dancing takes place.

5. Stella is reading quietly in the upstairs bedroom instead of doing her chores.

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 modified by the adverb quietly. In this case, the verb is used intransitively and does not take a direct object.

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 modified by the adverb quietly. In this case, the verb is used intransitively and does not take a direct object.

6. This year I am reading all of the works of Sylvia Townsend Warner.

Good work!

Question:
This year I am reading all of the works of Sylvia Townsend Warner.
Answer:
The answer transitive verb is correct.
Explanation:
The compound verb am reading is used transitively and takes the noun phrase all of the works of Sylvia Townsend Warner as a direct object.

Oops!

Question:
This year I am reading all of the works of Sylvia Townsend Warner.
Answer:
The answer intransitive verb is not correct.
Explanation:
The compound verb am reading is used transitively and takes the noun phrase all of the works of Sylvia Townsend Warner as a direct object.

7. At the barbecue, we will eat heartily.

Oops!

Question:
At the barbecue, we will eat heartily.
Answer:
The answer transitive verb is not correct.
Explanation:
Here the compound verb will eat is used intransitively and does not have a direct object; heartily is an adverb modifying the compound verb.

Good work!

Question:
At the barbecue, we will eat heartily.
Answer:
The answer intransitive verb is correct.
Explanation:
Here the compound verb will eat is used intransitively and does not have a direct object; heartily is an adverb modifying the compound verb.

8. Charles opened up his lunch, examined the contents carefully, and ate his dessert first.

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:
The verb ate is used transitively and takes a direct object—the noun phrase his dessert.

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:
The verb ate is used transitively and takes a direct object—the noun phrase his dessert.

9. The Stephens sisters are both very talented; Virginia writes and Vanessa paints.

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. The verb is used intransitively and has no direct object. In other words, what Vanessa paints is not stated.

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. The verb is used intransitively and has no direct object. In other words, what Vanessa paints is not stated.

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.

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:
The verb painted is used transitively and takes the noun phrase my baby brother’s face as a direct object.

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:
The verb painted is used transitively and takes the noun phrase my baby brother’s face as a direct object.

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© Département d’anglais, Faculté des arts, Université d’Ottawa
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