Firstly, an intransitive verb expresses action. This includes verbs like lie, run, fall, cry, laugh. However, by nature, an intransitive verb doesn’t have an object directly being affected by the action.
Example:
I was feeling sick, so I lay down.
Lay = Intransitive verb
He laughed and milk came out of his nose!
Laughed = Intransitive verb
My sister had arrived late again.
arrived = Intransitive verb
There is clearly an action happening in these sentences. However, no direct object has been associated with the any of the verbs. This indicates that the verb used is intransitive.
A transitive verb also expresses action. But in contrast to an intransitive verb, a transitive verb IS directly connected to an object in the sentence. The object can be either a thing or a person.
Example:
Johnny kicked the ball.
Transitive verb = kicked
Object = ball
I eat lunch in the school canteen every day.
Transitive verb = eat
Object = lunch
I want a dog for Christmas.
Transitive verb = want
Object = dog
Many verbs can be both used as transitive and intransitive depending on the sentence used.
Example
Versatile verb = read
Dad was reading when the doorbell rang.
Was reading is intransitive, it’s not directly connected to an object in this sentence.
Dad was reading the newspaper when the doorbell rang.
Here we see that the verb reading is linked to “newspaper.” So in this sentence, it is a transitive verb.
