Intransitive Verbs Examples

There are two types of verbs-action verbs and linking verbs. Action verbs describe what a subject does. There are also two types of action verbs-transitive and intransitive.

A transitive verb has an object (Example: Cory threw the ball).

An intransitive verb does not have, or need, an object. The sentence is complete with just a subject and the verb.

Whether or not a verb is transitive or intransitive will depend on the structure of the sentence more than on the actual verb. Many verbs can be either transitive or intransitive depending on how they are used in the sentence.

Examples:

Melissa sings songs in the church choir. "Sings" is transitive in this sentence-"songs" is the direct object.

Melissa sings in the shower each morning. "Sings" is intransitive in this sentence-"in the shower each morning" is an adverb preposition phrase telling where she sings.

Because a transitive verb is often followed by more information-words or phrases that are functioning as modifiers rather than as objects in the sentence-you cannot just assume that if there are words following the verb that the verb is transitive. You must remember to look for an object after the action verb. If there is no object, then the verb is intransitive.

Examples of Intransitive Verbs in Sentences

Mary cried.

Louis eats after every baseball practice.

Mrs. Hale thinks on her feet.

Sometimes, my mom runs before she goes to work in the morning.

The plan worked!

The dog chewed on the bone.

Elizabeth walked through the hallway to get to the cafeteria.

Jenna and Aaron swam yesterday.

Don't stop!

We must go to the store.

We cleaned before going to the movies.

It rained last night.

The flowers grew beside the front porch of the old house.