English Language Arts
Grade 11
15 min
Identify transitive and intransitive verbs
Identify transitive and intransitive verbs
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Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Define transitive verbs, intransitive verbs, and direct objects with 100% accuracy.
Differentiate between transitive and intransitive verbs in complex sentences by successfully applying the 'what/whom?' test.
Identify the direct object that receives the action of a transitive verb.
Analyze how an author's choice of transitive or intransitive verbs impacts tone, pacing, and characterization in a literary passage.
Manipulate their own sentences, converting verbs between transitive and intransitive forms to achieve specific rhetorical effects.
Distinguish intransitive verbs from linking verbs and prepositional phrases.
Why does a character who 'shatters a mirror' feel more active and decisive than one who simply 'exists'?...
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Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
Action VerbA word that expresses a physical or mental action.In *The Great Gatsby*, Gatsby 'stretched' his arms, Nick 'judged' people, and Daisy 'murmured' her words.
Transitive VerbAn action verb that requires a direct object to complete its meaning. It transfers its action to someone or something.Hester Prynne 'sewed' the scarlet letter. ('sewed' what? -> the scarlet letter)
Intransitive VerbAn action verb that does not have a direct object. The action is complete in itself and is not transferred to another noun.In Thoreau's *Walden*, he 'lived' deliberately. (The verb 'lived' has no object receiving the action.)
Direct ObjectA noun, pronoun, or group of words that receives the action of...
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Key Rules & Conventions
The Direct Object Test
Subject + Verb + what/whom? = Direct Object
To determine if a verb is transitive, ask 'what?' or 'whom?' after the verb. If a word in the sentence logically answers the question, that word is the direct object, and the verb is transitive. If there is no answer, the verb is intransitive.
The Passive Voice Transformation Test
Active Sentence (S + V + DO) <=> Passive Sentence (DO becomes S)
Only sentences with transitive verbs can be changed into the passive voice. The direct object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive sentence. For example, 'Poe wrote the story' (transitive) can become 'The story was written by Poe.' An intransitive sentence like 'Poe wrote feverishly' cannot be...
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Challenging
An author is describing a character's internal state. Which sentence choice most effectively uses a transitive verb to convey a sense of active, deliberate thought?
A.She thought for a long time.
B.She pondered her decision.
C.She seemed thoughtful.
D.Her thoughts raced.
Challenging
A passage from a thriller reads: 'He crept. The floorboards groaned. A shadow moved.' What is the primary effect of the author's consistent use of intransitive verbs on the pacing of this passage?
A.It slows the pacing by focusing on detailed descriptions.
B.It creates a fast, choppy pace by presenting a series of complete, self-contained actions.
C.It confuses the reader by leaving the actions incomplete.
D.It builds a romantic tone by focusing on the setting rather than the character.
Challenging
Consider the sentence: 'The politician spoke.' How does changing it to 'The politician spoke lies' alter the rhetorical effect and the function of the verb?
A.It changes 'spoke' from transitive to intransitive, making the politician seem less active.
B.It changes 'spoke' from intransitive to transitive, directly connecting the politician to a negative object and strengthening the accusation.
C.It adds a prepositional phrase, clarifying where the politician spoke, thus making the verb intransitive.
D.It changes 'spoke' to a linking verb, equating the politician with 'lies'.
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