Let's solve the problem step by step.
Sentence:
"I worked all night on my research paper for English class."
We are asked to determine whether the
verb "worked" is
transitive or
intransitive.
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Step 1: Understand the definitions
-
Transitive verb: A verb that requires a
direct object to complete its meaning. The action is "transferred" from the subject to the object.
- Example: *She wrote a letter.* → "wrote" is transitive; "a letter" is the direct object.
-
Intransitive verb: A verb that does
not take a direct object. The action does not transfer to an object.
- Example: *He sleeps.* → "sleeps" is intransitive; no object.
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Step 2: Analyze the sentence
- Subject: *I*
- Verb: *worked*
- Phrase: *all night on my research paper for English class*
Now, ask:
Does "worked" have a direct object?
Look at the phrase *"on my research paper"* — this is a
prepositional phrase. It tells us
what the person worked
on, but it is
not a direct object.
A direct object would answer the question: *"What did I work?"*
But here, you can't say *"I worked research paper"* — that doesn’t make sense. Instead, we say *"I worked on the research paper."*
So, the verb
"worked" does
not have a direct object.
Even though there is a noun ("research paper"), it is part of a prepositional phrase and not the direct object.
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Conclusion:
The verb
"worked" is
intransitive because it does not take a direct object.
>
✔ Answer: Intransitive
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Final Answer:
Intransitive
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of transitive and intransitive verb worksheet.
