English Language Arts
Grade 5
15 min
Identify transitive and intransitive verbs
Identify transitive and intransitive verbs
What you'll learn
- Identify at least 8 out of 10 transitive verbs in sentences from a given excerpt of 19th-century British literature.
- Distinguish between transitive and intransitive verbs with 80% accuracy in a worksheet containing varied sentence structures.
- Apply knowledge of transitive and intransitive verbs by composing 5 original sentences, correctly using at least 2 transitive and 2 intransitive verbs, ensuring subject-verb agreement and clear meaning.
- Explain the function of a direct object in relation to a transitive verb with 100% accuracy in a short paragraph response.
Tutorial Preview
1
Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Define transitive verb, intransitive verb, and direct object.
Identify the action verb and its subject in a sentence.
Use the 'what?' or 'whom?' test to find the direct object.
Differentiate between a transitive verb and an intransitive verb in a given sentence.
Correctly label verbs in sentences as either transitive or intransitive.
Construct original sentences using both transitive and intransitive verbs.
The cat chased... what? The bird flew... where? 🤔 Some action words need a target, and some don't. Let's find out why!
In this lesson, you'll become a verb detective! You will learn about two special types of action verbs—transitive and intransitive—and discover the secret to telling them apart. Mastering this skill...
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Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
Action VerbA word that shows physical or mental action. It tells what the subject of the sentence is doing.In 'The dog barks,' the word 'barks' is the action verb.
SubjectThe person, place, thing, or idea that is doing the action in a sentence.In 'Maria threw the ball,' the subject is 'Maria'.
Direct ObjectThe noun or pronoun that receives the action of the verb. It answers the question 'what?' or 'whom?' after the verb.In 'Maria threw the ball,' the direct object is 'ball' because it's what Maria threw.
Transitive VerbAn action verb that has a direct object. The action 'transfers' from the subject to the direct object.The verb 'built' is transitive in 'The t...
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Key Rules & Conventions
The Direct Object Test
Ask 'Subject + Verb + what?' or 'Subject + Verb + whom?'
Use this test after you find the subject and verb. If you get a clear noun or pronoun as an answer, the verb is transitive because you found a direct object. If the question doesn't make sense or the answer is an adverb (like 'quickly' or 'there'), the verb is intransitive.
The Complete Thought Rule
Subject + Intransitive Verb = A Complete Thought
A sentence with an intransitive verb can be a complete thought without a direct object. For example, 'Birds fly' is a complete sentence. A sentence with a transitive verb often feels incomplete without its direct object, like 'The student wrote...' (wrote what?).
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Challenging
The sentence "The chef cooks delicious meals" uses a transitive verb. Which sentence changes 'cooks' to be an intransitive verb?
A.The chef cooks for the entire restaurant.
B.The chef cooks the fish perfectly.
C.Delicious meals are what the chef cooks.
D.The chef cooks the meals.
Challenging
Which sentence correctly follows the pattern: Subject + Transitive Verb + Direct Object?
A.The birds flew south for the winter.
B.My dad built a sturdy bookshelf.
C.The audience laughed loudly at the joke.
D.After the rain, the flowers bloomed.
Challenging
Read the passage: "The scientist mixed the chemicals. A bright light flashed. She recorded her observations in a notebook." How many transitive verbs are in this passage?
A.One
B.Two
C.Three
D.Zero
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What grade level is "Identify transitive and intransitive verbs"?
Identify transitive and intransitive verbs is a Grade 5 English Language Arts lesson on ExcelOS.
What will I learn in Identify transitive and intransitive verbs?
You'll be able to: Identify at least 8 out of 10 transitive verbs in sentences from a given excerpt of 19th-century British literature; Distinguish between transitive and intransitive verbs with 80% accuracy in a worksheet containing varied….
Is "Identify transitive and intransitive verbs" free to practice?
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How many practice questions are included with Identify transitive and intransitive verbs?
This lesson includes 27 practice questions across multiple difficulty levels, each with instant feedback and explanations.