When you hear the term “Examples of Transitive Verbs” it might sound a little intimidating, but don’t worry! Understanding transitive verbs is key to mastering English grammar. In simple terms, transitive verbs are action verbs that require a direct object to complete their meaning. Without a direct object, the sentence would feel incomplete or unclear. Think of a transitive verb as a verb that transfers action to something or someone else.
For instance, when we say, “She kicked the ball,” the verb kicked is transitive because it directly affects the noun ball. Without the ball, the sentence wouldn’t make sense, and the action wouldn’t have a clear target.
In this article, we will delve into everything you need to know about transitive verbs, including their definition, how they work, and, most importantly, some examples of transitive verbs that you can use in your everyday speech and writing. By the end of this guide, you’ll be able to identify and use transitive verbs with ease, improving your writing clarity and overall fluency.
What Is a Transitive Verb?
Definition: A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object to complete its meaning. This object receives the action of the verb. The direct object is usually a noun or a pronoun that answers the question “what?” or “whom?” after the verb.
For example:
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She ate the cake.
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In this sentence, “ate” is the transitive verb, and “cake” is the direct object because it answers the question, “What did she eat?”
Key Feature of Transitive Verbs:
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Requires a direct object: the verb cannot stand alone. It needs something to act upon.
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Action is Transferred: The verb’s action is passed onto the object.
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Completes the Thought: The sentence would not feel complete without a direct object.
100 Examples of Transitive Verbs
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Accept
She accepted the invitation to the party. -
Achieve
He achieved his goal of running a marathon. -
Admire
I admire her dedication to the project. -
Advise
I advised him to start saving for the future. -
Allow
The teacher allowed the students to leave early. -
Answer
She answered the phone immediately. -
Appreciate
I appreciate your help with the presentation. -
Arrive
The parcel arrived at my house yesterday. -
Ask
I asked her a question about the assignment. -
Avoid
He avoided making eye contact during the meeting. -
Bake
She baked a chocolate cake for the party. -
Bring
He brought his laptop to the office. -
Build
They are building a new library in our town. -
Buy
I bought a new car last weekend. -
Call
I will call you later today. -
Capture
The photographer captured a beautiful sunset. -
Change
She changed her shoes before leaving. -
Choose
I chose the blue dress for the event. -
Clean
He cleaned the windows in the living room. -
Close
Please close the door behind you. -
Compare
I compared the prices of the two products. -
Complete
She completed the puzzle in an hour. -
Confirm
I will confirm the details of the meeting. -
Continue
She continued the conversation without hesitation. -
Create
They created a new design for the logo. -
Deliver
The company delivered the package yesterday. -
Demand
She demanded an explanation for the delay. -
Destroy
The storm destroyed the house’s roof. -
Discuss
We need to discuss the upcoming event. -
Do
I did my homework before going to bed. -
Draw
She drew a beautiful picture of the sunset. -
Drink
He drank the entire glass of water. -
Drive
She drove her car to work this morning. -
Eat
He ate a sandwich for lunch. -
Enable
The new software will enable us to complete tasks faster. -
End
He ended the call abruptly. -
Enjoy
I enjoyed the concert last night. -
Expect
They expect the package to arrive on Monday. -
Explain
She explained the process clearly. -
Fill
Please fill the cup with water. -
Find
I found the book I was looking for. -
Finish
She finished the project ahead of schedule. -
Fix
He fixed the broken chair in the living room. -
Forget
I left my keys on the kitchen counter. -
Get
I got the message you sent earlier. -
Give
She gave me a wonderful gift for my birthday. -
Handle
I will handle the arrangements for the event. -
Help
Can you help me with my homework? -
Hold
She held the baby in her arms. -
Hug
He hugged his friend tightly before leaving. -
Improve
She improved her skills through constant practice. -
Invite
They invited me to their wedding. -
Join
I joined the gym to stay healthy. -
Judge
The committee will judge the contestants’ performances. -
Keep
He kept the documents in a safe place. -
Know
I know the answer to the question. -
Leave
They left their bags in the hallway. -
Let
She let me borrow her car for the weekend. -
Like
I like to read mystery novels in my free time. -
Listen
I listened to the entire podcast yesterday. -
Love
She loves the new painting she bought. -
Make
He made a beautiful sculpture out of clay. -
Manage
She managed the project from start to finish. -
Mention
He mentioned the importance of teamwork during the meeting. -
Move
I moved the furniture around in the living room. -
Offer
They offered me a job at their company. -
Open
She opened the window to let in some fresh air. -
Order
I ordered a pizza for dinner. -
Pass
He passed the ball to his teammate. -
Pay
She paid the bill for dinner. -
Place
He placed the keys on the kitchen table. -
Plan
They planned a surprise party for their friend. -
Play
She played the piano beautifully at the concert. -
Prepare
He prepared the documents for the meeting. -
Produce
The factory produces high-quality electronics. -
Promise
She promised to help me with the project. -
Provide
They provided food and drinks for the guests. -
Put
Please put the dishes in the dishwasher. -
Reach
I reached the destination after two hours of driving. -
Read
She read the book in one day. -
Receive
I received a letter from my friend today. -
Remember
He remembered the details of the conversation. -
Remove
She removed the old wallpaper from the walls. -
Send
He sent the package through express delivery. -
Show
I will show you the new website design. -
Solve
He solved the math problem in minutes. -
Suggest
I suggested a different approach to the problem. -
Take
She took the picture with her phone. -
Teach
He teaches English to high school students. -
Tell
She told me a fascinating story about her travels. -
Throw
He threw the ball over the fence. -
Touch
Don’t touch the artwork; it’s fragile. -
Try
I tried the new restaurant last night. -
Understand
I understand the instructions clearly. -
Use
I used a pencil to write my notes. -
Visit
They visited their grandparents over the weekend. -
Wait
I waited for her at the coffee shop. -
Warn
He warned me about the slippery road. -
Win
She won the first prize in the competition. -
Write
I will write an email to confirm the meeting.
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As you can see from these examples, each action verb has a direct object that receives the action. The sentence wouldn’t convey a clear meaning without these objects.
Conclusion On Examples of transitive verbs
In conclusion, examples of transitive verbs are essential building blocks in the English language. These verbs help make sentences clearer and more precise by showing the action directed at an object. Whether you’re writing, speaking, or just improving your grammar skills, understanding how transitive verbs work can significantly enhance your communication.
By reviewing the list of 100 transitive verbs and seeing how they function in everyday sentences, you can grasp their role in conveying meaning and make your language more vibrant and engaging. As you continue practicing, you’ll become more comfortable using transitive verbs naturally and confidently in your writing and conversations.
If you’re looking to improve your English further, don’t forget to pay attention to how transitive verbs can elevate your language skills. Keep experimenting with these verbs and be mindful of how they help convey actions more effectively. Remember, learning grammar is a journey, and every step you take helps you communicate better!
Stay tuned for more tips, and continue exploring new ways to master English grammar. Whether you’re a beginner or a professional, using examples of transitive verbs correctly can take your language skills to the next level. Happy learning!