Basic Details
Word: Intransitive
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: In grammar, describes a verb that does not need an object, such as sleep, arrive or laugh.
Antonyms: transitive
How to Spell Intransitive
Syllables: in - tran - si - tive
Tricky part: It is in + transitive. Trans has an a, and an i comes before the tive ending, so ative and itiv are both wrong.
Watch out for: intransative, intransitiv, intrensitive
Memory tip: In means not: an intransitive verb does not carry its action across to an object. Write in, then transitive whole.
Usage Examples
Example 1: In 'The baby slept', slept is an intransitive verb.
Example 2: Sneeze is intransitive: you can sneeze, but you cannot sneeze a thing.
Example 3: Our grammar test asked us to circle every intransitive verb in the passage.
Fun Fact
Many English verbs can be both. In 'She sings' the verb is intransitive, but in 'She sings a song' it is transitive because song is its object.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Makeup
Only one of these words takes the prefix given to make a real word. Choose it:
Prefix: in
a) polite
b) mature
c) transitive
d) perfect
Show answer
c) transitive. Mature, polite and perfect take im; transitive takes in.
Spell-o-Spell
Only one word in the list is spelt correctly. Choose the meaning of that word.
1. auxilary 2. infinative 3. intransitive 4. participel
a) describing a verb that takes no object
b) a helping verb such as is or have
c) the base form of a verb, often with to
d) a verb form such as broken or singing that can act as an adjective
Show answer
a) describing a verb that takes no object. Auxiliary needs an i after the l, participle ends in ple and infinitive has an i before tive; that leaves intransitive.
Word Cookie
Insert the correct letters to form a word:
intr_ns_tive
a) e,i
b) a,i
c) a,e
d) a,a
Show answer
b) a,i. Trans takes an a, and the vowel before tive is i, as in positive.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Pick out the verb that is usually intransitive.
a) bring
b) carry
c) buy
d) arrive
Show answer
d) arrive
2. In 'The children laughed loudly', the verb laughed is ____.
a) intransitive, because it has no object
b) transitive, because loudly is its object
c) a noun
d) an adjective
Show answer
a) intransitive, because it has no object
