Transitive and intransitive worksheet worksheet - Free Printable

Let's solve this step by step. The task is to identify whether the underlined verb in each sentence is transitive or intransitive.

🔹 Definitions:

- Transitive Verb: A verb that requires a direct object (the receiver of the action).
- Example: *She kicked the ball.* → "kicked" is transitive because it has a direct object ("the ball").
- Intransitive Verb: A verb that does not take a direct object.
- Example: *He sleeps.* → "sleeps" is intransitive; no object receives the action.

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Now, let’s go through each sentence:

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1. When he arrived, nobody was there to greet him.
- Underlined: arrived
- "Arrived" doesn't have a direct object. It describes an action without receiving anything.
✔ Intransitive

2. I bought a bicycle so I can go to school faster.
- Underlined: bought
- "Bought" has a direct object: "a bicycle" (what was bought).
✔ Transitive

3. The boy laughed so much that milk came out of his nose.
- Underlined: laughed
- "Laughed" does not take a direct object. No one or thing is receiving the laughter.
✔ Intransitive

4. He reads books to help him fall asleep.
- Underlined: reads
- "Reads" has a direct object: "books" (what he reads).
✔ Transitive

5. Jim is sleeping so don’t be so loud.
- Underlined: sleeping
- "Sleeping" is an ongoing action with no object.
✔ Intransitive

6. When I lie down, I like to sleep on my back.
- Underlined: lie
- "Lie" here means "to recline." It does not take a direct object.
✔ Intransitive

7. In order to catch up in class, she wrote an essay.
- Underlined: catch
- "Catch up" is a phrasal verb. But note: "catch" here is part of "catch up," which is intransitive (no object).
- "She caught up" – no object.
✔ Intransitive

8. The man sneezed so hard that he fell from his chair.
- Underlined: sneezed
- "Sneezed" does not have a direct object.
✔ Intransitive

9. She sat down patiently waiting for her homework. (l)
- Underlined: sat
- "Sat" is intransitive. It does not take a direct object. "Down" is an adverbial phrase.
✔ Intransitive

10. For about an hour, they passed the ball back and forth.
- Underlined: passed
- "Passed" has a direct object: "the ball" (what was passed).
✔ Transitive

11. The family turned off the light and went to sleep.
- Underlined: turned
- "Turned off" is a phrasal verb. "The light" is the object being turned off.
✔ Transitive

12. We moved the tables next to each other.
- Underlined: moved
- "Moved" has a direct object: "the tables".
✔ Transitive

13. He puts on his winter boots because it’s so cold outside.
- Underlined: puts
- "Puts on" is a phrasal verb. "Boots" is the object being put on.
✔ Transitive

14. They waited but nobody helped them find their room.
- Underlined: waited
- "Waited" has no direct object. It’s just the act of waiting.
✔ Intransitive

15. The train stopped abruptly.
- Underlined: stopped
- "Stopped" does not take a direct object.
✔ Intransitive

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✔ Final Answers:

| Sentence | Underlined Verb | Type |
|--------|------------------|------|
| 1 | arrived | Intransitive |
| 2 | bought | Transitive |
| 3 | laughed | Intransitive |
| 4 | reads | Transitive |
| 5 | sleeping | Intransitive |
| 6 | lie | Intransitive |
| 7 | catch | Intransitive |
| 8 | sneezed | Intransitive |
| 9 | sat | Intransitive |
| 10 | passed | Transitive |
| 11 | turned | Transitive |
| 12 | moved | Transitive |
| 13 | puts | Transitive |
| 14 | waited | Intransitive |
| 15 | stopped | Intransitive |

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📌 Summary Tips:

- Look for a direct object after the verb (usually a noun or pronoun answering *"what?"* or *"whom?"*).
- If there's no such object, the verb is intransitive.
- Some verbs (like *laugh*, *sleep*, *sneeze*) are almost always intransitive.
- Verbs like *buy*, *read*, *pass*, *move*, *put* often take objects → transitive.

Let me know if you'd like this as a printable answer key!