Transitive or Intransitive?
Identify the Verb Phrase
Troublesome Verbs
Linking Verbs
V A/P T/I
100

If a verb lacks this, you know it's intransitive

What is a direct object?

100

He will not watch the fireworks with you tonight.

will watch

100

You can do this FROM another person, but you cannot do it TO them

What is "borrow"?

100

What do linking verbs connect?

A subject with a subject complement

100

He evaded detection.

evaded (Active) (Transitive)

"He" is actually doing the evasion.

"Detection" is the DO: "evaded what?" = detection.

200

My sister eats all the time.

"eats" is INTRANSITIVE

(my sister is not eating "time")

200

Can you play outside after lunch?

can play

200

"Set" takes one of these but "set" does not.

What is a direct object?

200

Categorize the verb in the following sentence:

"Dimitri looked distraught over the news."

Linking

"distraught" is a subject complement describing Dimitri.

200

  Paul was convinced.

was convinced (passive) (intransitive)

Paul is not doing any convincing himself, he is receiving it.

There is no direct object = intransitive

300

  The salsa made my enchilada so spicy it was inedible.

"made" is TRANSITIVE

The verb "made" is acting directly on the object "my enchilada", which in turn is paired with the object complement "inedible".

300

You have been working on that assignment for a long time, are you done yet?

have been working

AND

are done

300

  I have plans to ( lie / lay ) on the couch all day tomorrow.

lie

(Lie is intransitive)

300

Which three parts of speech can a subject complement be?

Noun, pronoun, and adjective.

300

  Ariana did not wait in line very long before she allowed inside.

did wait (active) (intransitive)

Ariana is doing the waiting = active

Wait what? = 0  Wait whom? = 0 ... no Direct Object

400

When I walk to school, I walk Molly, my poodle.

The first "walk" is intransitive.

The second "walk" is TRANSITIVE since it has a direct object (Molly).

400

Has the teacher changed the assignment?

has changed

400

Transitive verb between "raise" and "rise"

Raise

You can "raise" a child or a fuss, but you can't "rise" them.

400

"Be" and all its forms

What is the most common linking verb?

400

Ralph hung his head in defeat.

hung (active) (transitive)

Ralph is doing the action = active

Hung what? = "his head" = Direct Object

500

"Whom" or "What"?

What are the questions you need to ask directly following a verb to determine if it has a direct object?

500

The farmer will harvest her zucchini soon if she wants to be called the "Spring Queen" at the state fair.

will harvest

AND

be called

500

Penelope ( lay / laid ) her project gently on the table and released a heavy sigh. 

laid

"released" clues you in to use past tense.

lay (laid, laid) is transitive

500

Categorize the verb in this sentence:

"He appeared on stage in a puff of smoke!" 

Action

(there is no subject complement in this sentence, so "appeared" can not be a linking verb)

500

  Shoplifters will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

will be prosecuted (P) (I)

Shoplifters are receiving the prosecution = passive

no direct object = intransitive