Transitive or Intransitive?
If a verb lacks this, you know it's intransitive
What is a direct object?
He will not watch the fireworks with you tonight.
will watch
What do linking verbs connect?
A subject with a subject complement
He evaded detection.
evaded (Active) (Transitive)
"He" is actually doing the evasion.
"Detection" is the DO: "evaded what?" = detection.
My sister eats all the time.
"eats" is INTRANSITIVE
(my sister is not eating "time")
Can you play outside after lunch?
can play
Categorize the verb in the following sentence:
"Dimitri looked distraught over the news."
Linking
"distraught" is a subject complement describing Dimitri.
Paul was convinced.
was convinced (passive) (intransitive)
Paul is not doing any convincing himself, he is receiving it.
There is no direct object = intransitive
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".
You have been working on that assignment for a long time, are you done yet?
have been working
AND
are done
Which three parts of speech can a subject complement be?
Noun, pronoun, and adjective.
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
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).
Has the teacher changed the assignment?
has changed
"Be" and all its forms
What is the most common linking verb?
Ralph hung his head in defeat.
hung (active) (transitive)
Ralph is doing the action = active
Hung what? = "his head" = Direct Object
"Whom" or "What"?
What are the questions you need to ask directly following a verb to determine if it has a direct object?
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
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)
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