TRANSITIVE AND INTRANSITIVE VERBS:

Look at these sentences.

• I saw a film
• She is arranging the flowers
• The dog bit a boy.

The words a film, the flowers and a boy are the ‘objects’ of the verbs saw, is arranging, and bit.
A verb which takes an object is called a transitive verb.

Now look at these sentences.

• The child is sleeping
• She sat down.
• He sneezed.

The verbs is sleeping, sneezed and sat down do not have objects.

A verb which does not take an object is called an intransitive verb.

Several verbs can be used as both transitive and intransitive.

Transitive	Intransitive
Latha started the quarrel.	The meeting started on time
I opened the door.	The library opens at 10 a.m
The government increased the price of petrol	The water level steadily increased.
They broke the window panes.	The pencil broke into two.