An intransitive verb is a verb that does not take a direct object. The action does not transfer to a noun phrase that answers what or whom after the verb. Intransitive verbs may be complete with only a subject and the verb. They may be followed by adverbs, prepositional phrases, or complements, but these are not direct objects.

Many common English verbs are intransitive when they do not take a direct object. In these sentences, the verb describes an action or state that does not point to a what or whom. The words after the verb may give more information, but they are not objects. Recognizing this pattern helps identify intransitive usage.

Intransitive verbs can be followed by complements that complete the meaning, such as subject complements. These complements describe or identify the subject, not a direct object. Linking verbs like be are often treated separately as verbs that take subject complements. Intransitive verbs may also appear with adjuncts, which add information without acting as objects.

Some verbs are always intransitive, and some verbs can be transitive or intransitive depending on meaning. The classification depends on whether the verb takes a direct object in the sentence. Checking for a what or whom after the verb identifies transitive use. Intransitive use does not answer what or whom with a noun phrase.

Intransitive verbs do not take a direct object and are complete without one. They may be followed by adverbs, prepositional phrases, or complements that do not function as objects. Identifying intransitive verbs relies on sentence structure, not just the verb itself. This pattern supports accurate sentence formation in English.