• 4-minute read
• 14th November 2022

Grammar Tips: Direct Objects and Transitive and Intransitive Verbs

In this article, we’ll explore direct objects and the type of verbs (transitive vs. intransitive) that they’re used with. We’ll also look at some examples of direct objects and how to identify when a verb is transitive or intransitive.

What’s a Direct Object?

In short, a direct object is the “what” or “whom” the verb is directed at. For example:

In this sentence, “pizza” is the direct object that Laura wants. What does Laura want? Pizza.

The direct object will always follow the verb in a sentence. It can be a noun or noun phrase.

Can you identify the direct object in the following sentences?

What does the man need? Money.

What does the cat enjoy? A warm place to sleep.

Whom does the teacher call? Her friend.

What does my dog prefer? Morning walks.

Transitive and Intransitive Verbs

Transitive Verbs

Direct objects only follow transitive verbs. Transitive verbs, such as the verbs used in the sentences above, are verbs that need a direct object to show who or what receives the action in a sentence. Without the direct object, the sentence is incomplete. Other verbs that can be used as transitive verbs include break, carry, change, define, describe, keep, leave, quit, remove, and so many more.

Intransitive Verbs

In contrast to transitive verbs intransitive verbs do not take an object. Here are some sentences using intransitive verbs:

In these sentences, either the intransitive verb has no information following it because it is a complete stand-alone sentence, such as “The children laughed” and “The man ran,” or it is followed by an adverb or a prepositional or other phrase to give more information or detail about the sentence. In the example, “The family smiled in the photo,” “in the photo” is the prepositional phrase giving more information. If we remove the prepositional phrase, “The family smiled” is still a complete sentence.

Examples of verbs that are mostly used as intransitive verbs include walk, arrive, and laugh.

Or

Or

Verbs That Are Both Transitive and Intransitive

Some verbs can be transitive or intransitive, depending on how they are used. Examples include eat, continue, play, return, and grow. Here are some sentences showing how they can be used transitively and intransitively:

What does the man eat? A hamburger. Therefore, “eats” is a transitive verb in this sentence.

Here, we cannot answer “what” or “whom” the man eats, so “eats” is an intransitive verb followed by an adverb, “quickly,” describing how he is eating.

What will my manager continue? The meeting. In this example, “continue” is a transitive verb.

Here, we cannot answer “what” or “whom” is being continued, so we know that “continue” is being used as an intransitive verb. We also know that “continue” is intransitive because “We will continue” is a complete sentence, and “later today” is a phrase giving more details.

What does my neighbor grow? Beautiful tomatoes. Therefore, “grows” is transitive in this example.

Here, we cannot answer “what” or “whom” the baby birds are growing, so we know that “growing” is an intransitive verb in this sentence.

Takeaway

If you’re unsure whether or not you can follow a verb with a direct object, always ask yourself “what” or “whom” is the verb acting on. If you can’t answer this, then you can’t follow the verb with a direct object.

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