15 Verb Types
Active Verbs
Active verbs are the simplest type of verb: they simply express some sort of action: e.g., contain, roars, runs, sleeps.
Transitive and Intransitive Verbs
Active verbs can be divided into two categories: transitive and intransitive verbs. A transitive verb is a verb that requires one or more objects. This contrasts with intransitive verbs, which do not have objects.
It might be helpful to think of it this way: transitive verbs have to be done to something or someone in the sentence. Intransitive verbs only have to be done by someone.
Let’s look at a few examples of transitive verbs:
- We are going to need a bigger boat.
- The object in this sentence is the phrase “a bigger boat.” Consider how incomplete the thought would be if the sentence only said “We are going to need.” Despite having a subject and a verb, the sentence is meaningless without the object phrase.
- She hates filling out forms.
- Hates is also a transitive verb. Without the phrase “filling out forms,” the phrase “She hates” doesn’t make any sense.
Intransitive verbs, on the other do not take an object.
- John sneezed loudly.
- Even though there’s another word after sneezed, the full meaning of the sentence is available with just the subject John and the verb sneezed: “John sneezed.” Therefore, sneezed is an intransitive verb. It doesn’t have to be done to something or someone.
- My computer completely died.
- Again, died here is enough for the sentence to make sense. We know that the computer (the subject) is what died.
Note: there are some verbs that can act as both transitive and intransitive verbs. Here are a few examples:
| Intransitive | Transitive |
|---|---|
| The fire has burned for hundreds of years. | Miranda burned all of her old school papers. |
| Don’t let the engine stop running! | Karl ran the best horse track this side of the river. |
| The vase broke. | She broke the toothpick. |
Practice
Read the following sentences. Are the verbs in each transitive or intransitive? How can you tell?
- Alba fell out of the car.
- Ian has written over four hundred articles on the subject.
- Javier sings really well.
- Marton wondered about a lot of things.
- Cate gave great gifts.
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- Alba fell out of the car. Fell is intransitive; it doesn’t require an object.
- Ian has written over four hundred articles on the subject. Has written is transitive; it has an object: articles.
- Javier sings really well. Sings is intransitive; it doesn’t require an object.
- Note that sings can also be a transitive verb. In the sentence “Lorena sang three songs in the show last night,” the verb sing has the object songs.
- Marton wondered about a lot of things. Wondered is intransitive; it doesn’t require an object.
- Cate gave great gifts. Gave is transitive; it has an object: gifts.
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Multi-Word Verbs
Multi-word verbs a subclass of active