In syntax, a transitive verb is a verb that requires both a direct subject and one or more objects. The term is used to contrast intransitive verbs, which do not have objects.

Contents

• 1 Examples
• 2 Types
• 3 Other languages
• 4 See also
• 5 References

Examples

Some examples of sentences with transitive verbs:

• You lifted the bag. ("bag" is the direct object of "lifted")
• I punished you. ("you" is the direct object of "punished")
• I gave you the book. ("book" is the direct object, and "you" is the non-prepositional indirect object of "give")
• John traded his apple and Jane's orange with her. ("his apple and Jane's orange" is the object of "traded", but "with her" is not)
• I ate the pie. ("pie" is an object of "ate")
• I tried on the shoes. ("shoes" is an object of "tried")

Types

Those transitive verbs that are able to take both a direct object and an indirect object

Verbs that don't require an object are called intransitive, for example the verb to die. Since one cannot "die" something, the verb acts intransitively. Verbs that can be used in a transitive or intransitive way are called ambitransitive; an example is the verb eat, since the sentences You eat (with an intransitive form) and You eat beets (a transitive form that has beets as the object) are both grammatically correct.