Intransitive Verbs
An intransitive verb is one which involves an action that is
not performed on anyone or anything, i.e., it has no direct object.
Examples:
 Mel walks
for miles.
(As "walks" is not being done to
anything, this verb is intransitive. "Mel walks the dog
for miles" does have an object, the dog, and therefore "walk"
is
transitive in the second example.)
Every single
person voted. ("voted" - not
done to anything - intransitive)
The crowd
demonstrated outside the theatre. ("demonstrated"
- not done to anything - intransitive)
Many verbs can be used intransitively or transitively:
Examples:
The apes
played in the woods. (intransitive)
The apes
played hide and seek in the woods. (transitive)
Interactive example:
|
They chopped down the large oak where
the jackdaws roost. [show
me the intransitive
verb] |
See also:
Glossary of grammatical terms
|
