Intransitive verbs.
Deductive
"Transitive and Intransitive Verbs"
Verbs in English can be two different
types: transitive and intransitive.
Transitive verbs
Characteristics:
 are ACTION verbs (express an activity:
e.g. I bought a car)
 take a DIRECT OBJECT (that receives the
action of the verb: e.g. wash the dishes)
Intransitive verbs
Characteristics:
 are also ACTION verbs
 cannot have a DIRECT OBJECT
A sentence with an intransitive verb only
has a subject and a verb.
The baby smiled
How to find a direct object:
1.- Say the subject and verb followed by the
question "what?" or "whom?"
Formula:
SUBJECT + VERB + What/Who/Whom = DIRECT
OBJECT
David is eating a sandwich
(David is eating what? or whom? )
2.- The answer is the direct object. → The verb
is transitive.
"sandwich" is the direct object. Therefore "eating"
Inductive
"Transitive and Intransitive Verbs"
1. The teacher asks students what they would do if
they dislike a new job. Students give their
reasons why they might not like a job.
2. The teacher tells the class that they are going to
read an e-mail about Javier and his new job.
3. He pass out one worksheet to each student and
asks the students to read the whole e-mail. Give
a few minutes to read the e-mail and to put
these verbs in the order that they read them:
help, like, begins, work, arrive, need, trust,
seemed, discuss, explain, has, feel and
resign.
He then checks the task, writing the words on the
board in a list in the order they are mentioned on
the lecture.
4. The teacher asks learners to focus their
attention in the verbs and to write exactly what
Javier wrote in his e-mail.
5. The teacher draws the students ‘attention to
the form of the structure of the sentences,
underlining the verbs, draws a box around
direct object (if it exist) and explaining that
verbs in English can be two different
types: transitive and intransitive.
NOTE: There are verbs that can be both transitive
and intransitive, depending on what follows after
them in the sentence.
Tony is reading (Intransitive)
Tony is reading a book (Transitive)
A sentence with an intransitive verb only has a
subject and a verb.
The baby smiled
is transitive. You cannot have an object after an intransitive
verb .

3.- If there is no answer, there is no direct You cannot "smile something"

object.→ The verb is intransitive.
6. The teacher tells students to read the
Mike is sleeping. sentences and notice if the verb is used as a
(Mike is sleeping what or whom?) transitive or intransitive and write the sentence
in the correct column.
No answer. There is no direct object. Therefore
"sleeping" is intransitive.
Transitive Intransitive

NOTE: There are verbs that can be both transitive

and intransitive, depending on what follows after
them in the sentence.

E.g.
Tony is reading (Intransitive)
Tony is reading a book (Transitive)
Robert and Carol are playing (Intransitive)
Last night they played cards (Transitive)
To check answers, have volunteers to read the
sentence to the class.
7. He then invites the students to write an e-mail
about themselves using different verbs. Ask
volunteers to share their e-mails. The rest of
the class identify the transitive and intransitive
verbs in the e-mail.

Hi everyone,
Please help me. I don’t like my new job. For one thing, the day begins very early. I arrive before 7:00
every morning. The office isn’t very comfortable. We work in a large open space. It’s too noisy. I really
need a private office. Another problem is my team leader. I don’t think I can trust her. She seemed nice
at first, but lately she’s been unfriendly. Should I discuss my concerns with my boss? I tried to explain
my feelings to a coworker, but he didn’t listen to me. I don’t think he has the same concerns. I feel
confused. Should I resign or stay? I hope you can give me some advice.
Talk to you soon, Javier

Walter Iván Reyes Lomelí