Transitive verbs

First and foremost, a transitive verb is an action verb. Second, it requires a direct object to complete its meaning in the sentence. In other words, the action of the verb is transferred to the object directly.

To determine whether a verb is transitive, ask whether the action is done to someone or something. Does the subject act upon someone or something? Or put another way, does someone or something receive the action of the verb. If it does, then the verb is transitive and the person or thing that receives its action is the direct object.

In the following examples, the transitive verb is bold and the direct object is underlined.

• The judge sentences the man to five years in prison.
  • The subject (the judge) applies an action (sentences) to a direct object (the man).
    
    
• The attorney has revealed the bad news.
  • The subject (the attorney) has transferred an action (revealed) to a direct object (news).
    
    
• The defendant could not provide an alibi.
  • The subject (the defendant) will transmit an action (could provide) to a direct object (an alibi).
    

The direct object can be found by asking a question about the action:

• The subject did something to WHOM?
  
  
  • Prosecutors charge people.
  • The knife's sharp edge cut the chef.
  • Law enforcement had previously convicted the man.
  • Prosecutors charged him under a habitual offender statute.
  • Authorities are incarcerating repeat offenders.
    
    
• The subject did something to WHAT?
  
  
  • The jury deliberated the case for 48 minutes.
  • The technician made a joke.
  • A local woman is seeking a seat on the city council.
    

Passive voice can hide a transitive verb because the subject is not in the sentence.

Learning to identify the subject and object can help you avoid passive voice construction and help you identify a "hidden" transitive verb.

• A man was given a sentence of 25 years to life under California's "three strikes and you're out" law for stealing a cell phone.
  
  
  • Presumably a judge sentenced the man; therefore, THE JUDGE is the subject, GAVE is the verb and the MAN is the object. It can be better written as:
    
    
    • A judge sentenced a man to 25 years to life under California's "three strikes and you're out" law for stealing a cell phone.
      
      
• A substantial amount of the nation's street crime is committed by a small number of bad actors.
  
  
  • Here the subject is actually in the sentence and the power of the verb is weakened by passive voice construction.

    It can be better written as:
    

    • A small number of actors commit a substantial amount of the nation's street crime.

Whether written in the passive voice or corrected for a stronger sentence, the verb is transitive.

In the following sentences, identify the subject, the verb and the direct object. Click on the to check your skills

• Jacob told the truth.
• Please deliver this package before noon.
• The embarrassed executive will offer his resignation.
• Demanding so much will give you a bad reputation.
  

To find out more about intransitive verbs, please turn the page.