Intransitive Verbs

What is a Intransitive Verb

Intransitive verbs are verbs that do not depend on an object. It does not need an object to act upon, lacks context, and remains independent. At times, intransitive verbs are full sentences For example, run!, jump!, sing!. Some other examples of intransitive verbs are,

– She ran.
– They laughed.

Notice the verbs in the above sentences are independent of the object and yet they still make sense. In the English language, there are a few verbs that can only be used as intransitive verbs, and they do not make sense even if they are paired with an object. These verbs are die and arrive. Sometimes, it’s hard to differentiate between the transitive and intransitive verbs. However, if the sentence has an object, direct or indirect then it is a transitive verb. If not, then it is an intransitive verb.

It is also important to remember that there are a few words in the English language that can be used as transitive and intransitive verbs both, depending on how they are incorporated. These words are continue, grow, return, and play. In such instances, the sentence takes the format of the verb, object, propositional phrase, adverb.

Take a look at the following sentences:
– We will continue the concert after the break. (transitive verb)
– The concert continued after the break. (intransitive verb)
– She grows tomatoes in her garden. (transitive verb)
– My plants are growing quickly. (intransitive verb)

  • Agree
  • Appear
  • Arrive
  • Act
  • Adapt
  • Alter
  • Arrange
  • Attack
  • Become
  • Belong
  • Balance
  • Bat
  • Bat
  • Beam
  • Beat
  • Believe
  • Bet
  • Bid
  • Blaze
  • Bleed
  • Blink
  • Blow
  • Boil
  • Bolt
  • Bomb
  • Bounce
  • Box
  • Break
  • Broil
  • Browse
  • Build
  • Burn
  • Burp
  • Bust
  • Buzz
  • Call
  • Cancel
  • Carry
  • Crave
  • Cast
  • Catch
  • Cease
  • Change
  • Charge
  • Check
  • Choke
  • Chuck
  • Churn
  • Clack
  • Clap
  • Clash
  • Clip
  • Clean
  • Clear
  • Clinch
  • Clog
  • Clump
  • Collect
  • Color
  • Conceive
  • Conclude
  • Conduct
  • Confer
  • Confine
  • Congest
  • Conjure
  • Contract
  • Convert
  • Consist
  • Collapse
  • Cost
  • Cough
  • Cool
  • Cough
  • Crack
  • Crackle
  • Cram
  • Crash
  • Crinkle
  • Cross
  • Cry
  • Crawl
  • Crunch
  • Cure
  • Darken
  • Dam
  • Dabble
  • Dance
  • Date
  • Dash
  • Dart
  • Deal
  • Deliver
  • Develop
  • Decline
  • Deflate
  • Depend
  • Die
  • Disappear
  • Dig
  • Dip
  • Direct
  • Discard
  • Disperse
  • Dissolve
  • Divert
  • Divide
  • Do
  • Dock
  • Doctor
  • Double
  • Down
  • Drag
  • Drain
  • Emerge
  • Erupt
  • Escape
  • Expand
  • Explode
  • Exist
  • Fade
  • Fail
  • Fast
  • Float
  • Fly
  • Gallop
  • Go
  • Grow
  • Happen
  • Have
  • Hiccup
  • Inquire
  • Jump
  • Kneel
  • Knock
  • Last
  • Laugh
  • Lead
  • Lean
  • Leap
  • Learn
  • Left
  • Lie
  • Limp
  • Listen
  • Live
  • Look
  • March
  • Mourn
  • Move
  • Occur
  • Ooze
  • Open
  • Pack
  • Paddle
  • Paint
  • Pass
  • Pay
  • Peel
  • Pick
  • Pinch
  • Pitch
  • Place
  • Play
  • Plow
  • Point
  • Pop
  • Pour
  • Press
  • Pull
  • Push
  • Quit
  • Race
  • Reach
  • Recover
  • Relax
  • Rest
  • Return
  • Ride
  • Rip
  • Roar
  • Run
  • Rush
  • Scrape
  • Stick
  • Stir
  • Stop
  • See
  • Sell
  • Separate
  • Set
  • Shake
  • Shoot
  • Shut
  • Sink
  • Sit
  • Skip
  • Slam
  • Slide
  • Slip
  • Smash
  • Smell
  • Snap
  • Sneeze
  • Soak
  • Spark
  • Spill
  • Spin
  • Split
  • Spoil
  • Spot
  • Spread
  • Spring
  • Spy
  • Stamp
  • Stand
  • Start
  • Stretch
  • Strike
  • Swim
  • Swing
  • Take
  • Talk
  • Tease
  • Tell
  • Throw
  • Tip
  • Track
  • Trail
  • Train
  • Trap
  • Travel
  • Trip
  • Turn
  • Twist
  • Unwind
  • Vanish
  • Vomit
  • Wade
  • Wait
  • Wake
  • Walk
  • Wander
  • Wave
  • Watch
  • Wear
  • Whirl
  • Wiggle
  • Wind
  • Work
  • Yell
  • Zip