Intransitive Verbs

An intransitive verb does not take a direct object. The sentence can be complete with only the subject and the verb, or with other parts such as time, place, or manner. The action or state does not pass directly to a person or thing.

A sentence with an intransitive verb is complete without a direct object. Extra words may follow the verb, but they do not act as direct objects. They often show where, when, or how something happens.

A transitive verb usually needs a direct object to complete its meaning. This difference helps you identify intransitive verbs. If the verb cannot take a direct object in that meaning, it is intransitive.

Some verbs can be transitive in one use and intransitive in another use. The meaning often changes with the pattern. Native speakers may also differ on some uses by dialect or style, so it is better to check the meaning in the full sentence.

Many everyday verbs are often intransitive. They describe actions or states that do not need a direct object. Some of them can still appear with other sentence parts, but those parts are not direct objects.

You can now identify an intransitive verb by checking whether it takes a direct object. You can also see when a sentence is complete without an object and when extra words after the verb have another job. You also know that some verbs can be both transitive and intransitive, depending on meaning, usage, and sometimes dialect or style.