##  [Transitive and intransitive verbs](/hypergrammar-2/transitive-and-intransitive-verbs)

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[Verbs](what-is-a-verb) that express an action may be transitive or intransitive, depending on whether or not they take an object.

The meaning of a <a id="transitiveverb">transitive verb</a> is incomplete without a [direct object](objects-and-complements#directobject). For example:

| Incomplete | Complete |
|---|---|
| The shelf *holds*. | The shelf *holds* three books and a vase of flowers. |
| The committee *named*. | The committee *named* a new chairperson. |
| Joe *broke*. | Joe *broke* the plate. |

An <a id="intransitiveverb">intransitive verb</a> cannot take a direct object.

| Example | Explanation |
|---|---|
| This plant *has thrived* on the south windowsill. | The [compound verb](compound-verbs#verbcmp) *has thrived* is intransitive and takes no direct object. The [prepositional phrase](the-function-of-phrases#prepositionalphrase) *on the south windowsill* acts as an [adverb](what-is-an-adverb#whatisadv) describing where the plant thrives. |
| The sound of the choir *carried* through the cathedral. | The verb *carried* is used intransitively and takes no direct object. The prepositional phrase *through the cathedral* acts as an adverb describing where the sound carried. |
| The train from Montréal *arrived* four hours late. | The intransitive verb *arrived* takes no direct object, and the [noun phrase](the-function-of-phrases#phrsubj) *four hours late* acts as an adverb describing when the train arrived. |
| Since the company was pleasant and the coffee both plentiful and good, we *lingered* in the restaurant for several hours. | The verb *lingered* is used intransitively and takes no direct object. The prepositional phrases *in the restaurant* and *for several hours* act as adverbs modifying *lingered*. |
| The painting *was hung* on the south wall of the reception room. | The compound verb *was hung* is used intransitively, and the sentence has no direct object. The prepositional phrase *on the south wall of the reception room* acts as an adverb describing where the painting was hung. |

Many verbs can be either transitive or intransitive depending on how they are used in a sentence.

| Example | Explanation |
|---|---|
| According to my hairdresser, we must *leave* this goo in our hair for twenty minutes. | The verb *leave* is used transitively and takes a direct object, the noun phrase *this goo*. |
| We would like to stay longer, but we must *leave*. | The verb *leave* is used intransitively and does not take a direct object. |
| The critics attentively *watched* the latest production of the play. | The verb *watch* is used transitively and takes the noun phrase *the latest production of the play* as a direct object. |
| The cook *watched* while the new waiter surreptitiously picked up the shards of glass. | The verb *watched* is used intransitively and takes no direct object. |
| The crowd *moved* across the field in an attempt to see the rock star get into her helicopter. | Here the verb *moved* is used intransitively and takes no direct object. |
| Every spring, William *moves* all the boxes and trunks from one side of the attic to the other. | In this sentence *moves* is used as a transitive verb and takes the noun phrase *all the boxes and trunks* as a direct object. |

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## Liens connexes

- [HyperGrammar 2](/fr/hypergrammar-2/index-fra) (page d’accueil)
- [Outils d’aide à la rédaction](/fr/outils-tools/index-fra)
- [Navigateur linguistique](/fr/navigateur-navigator) (permet de trouver rapidement des conseils linguistiques)
- [TERMIUM Plus®](http://www.btb.termiumplus.gc.ca/tpv2alpha/alpha-fra.html?lang=fra)
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