Transitive Verb

1. Definition of Transitive Verb

A verb that takes an object (direct or indirect). Contrast with intransitive verb.

Many verbs have both a transitive and an intransitive function, depending on how they are used. The verb break, for instance, sometimes takes a direct object ("Rihanna breaks my heart") and sometimes does not ("When I hear your name, my heart breaks"). [1]

A transitive verb has two characteristics. First, it is an action verb, expressing a doable activity like kick, want, paint, write, eat, clean, etc. Second, it must have a direct object, something or someone who receives the action of the verb.

Here are some examples of transitive verbs:

Sylvia kicked Juan under the table.

Kicked = transitive verb; Juan = direct object.

Joshua wants a smile from Leodine, his beautiful but serious lab partner.

Wants = transitive verb; smile = direct object.

Cornelius painted the canvas in Jackson Pollock fashion, dribbling bright colors from a heavily soaked brush.

Painted = transitive verb; canvas = direct object. [2]

2. Sub-types of Transitive verb

Among transitive verbs there are three sub-types:

• Monotransitive verbs have only a direct object.

-He bought a book.

• Ditransitive verbs have a direct object and an indirect or benefactive object.

-He gave her the book.

• Complex-transitive verbs have a direct object and an object attribute.

-She found the book interesting. [2]


3. Some examples of sentences with transitive verbs

• Alicia wrote a love poem on a restaurant napkin.
• Antonio eats lima beans drenched in brown gravy.
• Pinky the poodle cleans the dirty supper dishes with his tongue.
• Grandma loads the "prewashed" items into dishwasher. [2]
  
• You pushed the bag.
• I hate you.I gave you the doll.
• I ate the pie.
• I tried on the shoes. [3]
  
• I know the muffin man.
• We lost a daughter but gained a meathead.
• Parents lend children their experience and a vicarious memory.
• I punched Mickey Mantle in the mouth.
• A musicologist is a man who can read music but can't hear it. [1]
  
• Randi have won the match last night.
  

[1] http://grammar.about.com/od/tz/g/tranverb02term.htm
[2] http://www.chompchomp.com/terms/transitiveverb.htm
[3] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transitive_verb