Fast and Easy Way To Learn About Verbs For the CSET

the sentence.

To determine whether a verb is transitive, ask yourself whether the action is done to someone or something.

Examples

1. The doctor has revealed the bad news.
The transitive verb is “has revealed”. The subject (the doctor) has transferred an action (revealed) to a direct object (news).

2. The judge had previously sentenced the man.
The transitive verb is “had sentenced”. The subject (the judge) has transferred an action (sentenced) to a direct object (the man).

3. The prosecutor charged him with grand theft larceny.
The transitive verb is “charged”. The subject (the prosecutor) has transferred an action (charged) to a direct object (him).

Intransitive Verbs

An intransitive verb is an action verb, but it does not have a direct object. The action ends rather than being transferred to some person or object or is modified by an adverb or adverb phrase.

To determine whether a verb is intransitive, ask yourself whether the action is done in some way, in some direction or to some degree.

Examples

1. He failed because of his education, not his lack of intelligence.
The intransitive verb is “failed”. The subject (he) did something (failed) for a particular reason (because of his education).

2. Hailie screamed loudly.
The intransitive verb is “screamed”. The subject (Hailie) did something (screamed) to a