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Quizzes > Literature & Language > English & Grammar

Master Transitive & Intransitive Verbs: Take the Quiz!

Ready for transitive and intransitive verbs exercises? Start the quiz now!

Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
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Ready to put your understanding of transitive and intransitive sentences to the test? In this free quiz, you'll explore the subtle differences between verb functions, reinforce your grammar skills, and boost your confidence in crafting clear sentences. Perfect for students, teachers, and grammar enthusiasts, our quiz offers dynamic transitive and intransitive verbs exercises that cater to every level. Dive into interactive exercises with instant feedback - no guesswork required! Plus, don't miss our quick transitive and intransitive exercises and sharpen your skills with the ultimate verb quiz . Ready, set, go - challenge yourself now and ace those sentences!

Identify whether the verb in the following sentence is transitive or intransitive: She kicked the ball.
Transitive verb
Intransitive verb
Linking verb
Auxiliary verb
A transitive verb requires a direct object to complete its meaning. In this sentence, 'kicked' acts on 'the ball,' making it transitive. The verb is taking a direct object, which is the hallmark of transitive usage. Grammarly
Which of the following sentences includes an intransitive verb?
The dog chased the cat.
She played the piano.
He sleeps soundly.
They built a house.
An intransitive verb does not take a direct object. In 'He sleeps soundly,' 'sleeps' has no object and simply describes the action. The other sentences contain verbs acting on direct objects. Merriam-Webster
Which sentence contains a direct object?
They laughed at the joke.
She arrived early.
He reads books every day.
The sun rose at dawn.
A direct object receives the action of a transitive verb. In 'He reads books every day,' 'books' is the direct object of 'reads.' The other verbs do not act on direct objects. Britannica
In the sentence 'They celebrated all night,' what type of verb is 'celebrated'?
Transitive
Intransitive
Linking
Auxiliary
Here 'celebrated' does not take a direct object; it simply describes the action of partying. Therefore, it's used intransitively. When used with an object (e.g., 'celebrated her birthday'), it becomes transitive. Oxford Learner’s Dictionaries
Choose the direct object in the sentence: She provided the students with feedback.
the students
feedback
with feedback
provided
The direct object answers 'what?' after the verb. In this case, 'What did she provide?' – 'feedback.' 'The students' is an indirect object. George Mason University Writing Center
Which verb can be used both transitively and intransitively?
arrive
sleep
read
exist
'Read' functions transitively when you read something (e.g., 'I read a book') and intransitively when no object follows (e.g., 'I read yesterday'). The others cannot follow both uses. The Blue Book of Grammar
Which sentence features a di-transitive verb construction?
She kicked the ball.
She danced gracefully.
She sent him a postcard.
She sleeps early.
A di-transitive verb takes two objects: a direct and an indirect object. In 'She sent him a postcard,' 'him' is the indirect object and 'a postcard' is the direct object. EnglishClub
In 'They laughed loudly,' why is 'laughed' considered intransitive?
It has no auxiliary verb.
It does not take a direct object.
It describes a continuous action.
It links the subject to a complement.
An intransitive verb does not require or allow a direct object. 'Laughed' here stands alone without acting on anything else. The other options do not define intransitive verbs. Grammar Monster
In which pair of sentences does the verb function transitively in the first and intransitively in the second?
"The ice melted quickly." / "They melted the ice."
"She opened the door." / "The door opened."
"He sleeps well." / "They sleep him."
"They ate lunch." / "Lunch ate them."
In 'She opened the door,' 'opened' takes the direct object 'the door' (transitive). In 'The door opened,' 'opened' has no object (intransitive). This alternation is a common ergative pattern. Cambridge Grammar
Why can the verb 'arrive' not be used transitively?
Because it cannot appear in passive voice.
Because it does not permit a direct object.
Because it is always an auxiliary verb.
Because it changes meaning in the past tense.
'Arrive' describes an action of movement toward a destination and never takes a direct object. It always occurs intransitively (e.g., 'They arrived late'). Grammarly
Identify the direct object in the sentence: "The committee elected Martin president."
The committee
Martin
president
elected
In this sentence, 'elected' is transitive and takes 'Martin' as its direct object. 'President' is an object complement describing the role given to Martin. EnglishClub
Which of the following verbs cannot form a grammatically correct passive voice sentence?
break
enjoy
melt
know
Only transitive verbs with direct objects can be passivized. 'Enjoy' is transitive but rarely takes a concrete object for passive construction (e.g., *'was enjoyed by him' is awkward). The others form standard passives. Cambridge Grammar
Consider the verb 'melt' in the sentences 'She melted the wax' and 'The wax melted.' What syntactic process changes the verb’s transitivity?
Passivization
Ergative shift
Causativization
Nominalization
The verb undergoes an ergative (or causative?inchoative) alternation, where it’s transitive in one usage and intransitive in the other without adding a separate auxiliary. This is known as an ergative shift. Wikipedia
In the sentence 'I believe that she lied,' what is the grammatical function of the clause 'that she lied'?
Subject
Direct object
Indirect object
Adverbial
The clause 'that she lied' answers 'What do I believe?' making it the direct object of 'believe.' It’s a subordinate noun clause functioning as the verb’s object. English Forums
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Study Outcomes

  1. Identify Verb Types -

    Understand how to spot transitive and intransitive sentences by recognizing when verbs require direct objects and when they stand alone.

  2. Classify Sentences Accurately -

    Analyze given sentences to determine whether each verb functions transitively or intransitively in context.

  3. Apply Grammar Rules -

    Use your knowledge in transitive and intransitive verbs exercises to select the correct verb type in interactive questions.

  4. Analyze Real Examples -

    Examine real-world sentences that illustrate the difference between transitive and intransitive sentences for deeper comprehension.

  5. Self-Assess and Improve -

    Receive instant feedback on exercise transitive and intransitive verbs practice to reinforce your skills and track your progress.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Understanding Transitive vs Intransitive Verbs -

    Transitive verbs require a direct object to complete their meaning - "She reads books" (Cambridge Dictionary). Intransitive verbs stand alone and don't take objects, like "He sleeps" (Purdue OWL). Recognizing this distinction is your grammar foundation.

  2. Spotting the Direct Object -

    Ask "what?" or "whom?" after the verb to find the object: "They built a house" answers "built what?" with "a house" (Oxford English Dictionary). If no answer emerges, the verb is likely intransitive: "She laughed" has no object. This simple question trick works every time.

  3. Verbs That Play Both Roles -

    Certain verbs like "run," "eat," and "read" can be transitive or intransitive: compare "They run daily" (intransitive) vs "They run a business" (transitive) (Merriam-Webster). Context determines if an object follows. Practicing sentences with these will sharpen your skills quickly.

  4. Mnemonic Magic: TT - Transitive Takes -

    Remember "TT" - Transitive Takes (an object), Intransitive Is Independent (no object). This catchy phrase helps you instantly recall that transitive verbs "take" something and intransitive ones stand alone (University of Michigan Grammar Guide). Use it before every quiz question to boost accuracy.

  5. Boosting Writing Clarity -

    Proper use of transitive and intransitive verbs prevents dangling constructions and ambiguous meanings (Purdue OWL). For example, avoid "He put" without "what" - always ensure your verb's need for an object is met. Clear verb-object pairing leads to powerful, precise sentences.

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