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Level: B1-B2

Transitive vs. Intransitive Verbs — Practice

Tell apart verbs that need a direct object (transitive) from verbs that can stand alone (intransitive). Includes the simple “What? / Whom?” test, many verbs that work both ways (break, open, move, run, walk, eat, read), 50+ example sentences, and 4 interactive practice modes — every example is click-to-hear.

📝 Verbs unit · lesson 6 of 17 ⏱ about 14 minutes 🔊 every example has audio

Builds on The 5 Verb Forms Next in unit Stative vs Dynamic →

  • Same verb, both jobs
  • He broke the window. – Transitive
  • The glass broke suddenly. – Intransitive
  • We broke the silence with laughter. – Transitive
  • His voice broke when he got emotional. – Intransitive
  • She opened the door quietly. – Transitive
  • The store opened at 9 a.m. – Intransitive
  • They moved the table to the corner. – Transitive
  • We moved to a new city last year. – Intransitive
  • I bounced the ball off the wall. – Transitive
  • The ball bounced across the floor. – Intransitive
  • She dropped her phone on the floor. – Transitive
  • The temperature dropped overnight. – Intransitive
  • He turned the key in the lock. – Transitive
  • She turned suddenly. – Intransitive
  • The dog pulled the leash hard. – Transitive
  • The train pulled into the station. – Intransitive
  • She passed the salt to me. – Transitive
  • The car passed quickly down the road. – Intransitive
  • The mother sang the song to her children. – Transitive
  • The mother sang to her children. – Intransitive
  • We eat our pizza. – Transitive
  • We eat at my house. – Intransitive
  • I read this book every day. – Transitive
  • I read every day. – Intransitive
  • Now, close your eyes slowly. – Transitive
  • All shops here close at 8 p.m. – Intransitive
  • Mike ran his first marathon yesterday. – Transitive
  • Mike ran at the marathon yesterday. – Intransitive
  • Every morning Mark walks his bulldog for miles. – Transitive
  • Every morning Mark walks for miles. – Intransitive
  • John studies English. – Transitive
  • John studies hard. – Intransitive
  • Related pair: raise (transitive) vs rise (intransitive)
  • They raised the flag together. – Transitive
  • The sun rose slowly over the hills. – Intransitive
  • Verbs that need an object (transitive)
  • I washed the car yesterday. – Transitive
  • I took my sister to the movie. – Transitive
  • We all admire your courage. – Transitive
  • We sold a lot of furniture this year. – Transitive
  • She wants a new bicycle. – Transitive
  • He enjoys classical music. – Transitive
  • Verbs that can’t take an object (intransitive)
  • Tom’s grades improved with the help of a tutor. – Intransitive
  • The child cried loudly. – Intransitive
  • My package arrived just on time. – Intransitive
  • I work for a large company. – Intransitive
  • We talk for hours. – Intransitive
  • All my messages disappeared from the inbox. – Intransitive
  • The bear hid behind the tree. – Intransitive
  • Black trees emerged from the fog. – Intransitive
  • The city appeared on the horizon. – Intransitive
  • The accident occurred at about 3:30 p.m. – Intransitive
  • Many people laughed at these stories. – Intransitive
  • Eleven men vanished over the Pacific islands. – Intransitive
  • The old man slept on the bench. – Intransitive
  • The accident happened very quickly. – Intransitive