Transitive, Intransitive, and Linking Verbs

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Transitive, Intransitive, and Linking Verbs

• So, you wanna know what they are? Here goes..

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Transitive Verbs

• A transitive verb is an action verb. It requires
  a direct object to complete its meaning. In other
  words, the action of the verb is transferred to
  the object directly.

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Explanation

• To determine whether a verb is transitive, ask
  whether the action is done to someone or
  something. Does someone or something receive the
  action of the verb. If it does, then the verb is
  transitive and the person or thing that receives
  the action is the direct object.

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Examples

• In the following sentences, the transitive verb
  is bold and the direct object is underlined.
• The judge sentences the man to five years in
  prison. (The subject (the judge) applies an
  action (sentences) to a direct object (the man).

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Try these

• The attorney has revealed the bad news.
• Who is the subject?
• What is the action being performed?
• To whom or what? (the direct object)

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Lets try the next sentence

• The defendant could not provide an alibi.
• Who is the subject
• What action is transmitted?
• What is the direct object?

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To locate the direct object.

• Answer The subject did something to whom?
• Prosecutors charge people.
• The knifes sharp edge cut the chef.
• Law enforcement had previously convicted the man.
  (identify the action and the direct object.)
• Prosecutors charged him under a habitual offender
  statute.

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Locating the direct object

• Answer The subject did something to what?
• The jury deliberated the case for 48 minutes.
• The technician made a joke.
• A local woman is seeking a seat on the city
  council. ( identify action and direct object)

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Intransitive Verbs

• How is an intransitive verb different from a
  transitive verb? Arent they both action verbs????

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Intransitive Verbs

• An intransitive verb is an action verb, but it
  does not have a direct object. The action ends
  rather than being transferred to some person or
  object or is modified by an adverb or adverb
  phrase. (Typically, an adverb or prepositional
  phrase modifies an intransitive verb or the verb
  ends the sentence.

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How will I know if the verb is intransitive?

• Ask whether or not the action is done is some
  way, in some direction, or to some degree.
  (Notice, this sounds like the function of an
  adverb!)

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Examples

• The man decided against a plea bargain. (The man
  is the subject) What did he do? (decided) in what
  particular way? (against) Notice that (against a
  plea bargain) is a prepositional phrase.
• He refused because of his immaturity, not his
  lack of morals.

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More examples

• Alice complained bitterly. (Notice that this
  sentence ends with an adverb.)
• At the end of the Roaring 20s, the incarceration
  index rose slightly. (identify the intransitive
  verb and its modifier)
• When faced with the problem, the scholar paused.

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Remember

• The adverb or prepositional phrase answers a
  question about the verb
• The subject did something WHERE?
• If Charlie had run into the street, he would have
  been injured.
• In 1973, the incarceration number inched upward.

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Remember (continued)

• The subject did something WHEN?
• Thousands of cranes will return in the spring.
• The number climbed in 1974 and in 1975.
• Try this one
• Walter Payton died near the end of the century.
• The companys leader collapsed during the meeting.

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Continued.

• The subject did something HOW or TO WHAT DEGREE?
• The statistics come in any form you like.
• Politicians and the public are complaining
  loudly.
• Try these
• His blood pressure kept climbing steadily.
• She worked with care and precision.

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Yet again

• The subject did something WHY?
• Our elected officials listen because we vote.
• Danas grades improved with the help of a tutor.
• Try these
• Germanys expedition leader collapsed from the
  effort.
• Elise competed for her family.

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Finally. Linking Verbs.

• A linking verb implies a state of being or
  condition for the subject, not action. It links
  the subject to a noun, pronoun, or adjective in a
  sentence. (The subject may be linked to a
  predicate nominative a noun or pronoun, or a
  predicate adjective.) Linking verbs restate the
  subject or they may be equivalent to the subject.

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Examples

• The test indicates that Sara is a genius.
• is linking verb, genius predicate nominative
• Toni Morrison was the first African-American
  woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize.

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Try these

• Roads were a slushy mess on Monday along parts of
  the East Coast.
• It was a sad day.
• The robbery victim pointed and yelled, That is
  he.
• Before the show, Ahmad seemed nervous.

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Keep in mind.

• Sometimes the modifiers following a linking verb
  may answer the question what as a direct object
  does for a transitive verb, they do not receive
  any action.
• In federal courts nowadays, every sentence is the
  same. (We can ask Every sentence is what? and
  the answer is THE SAME. But the same is not
  receiving the action of the verb as with a
  transitive verb. Same is restating or indicating
  the state of being of SENTENCE.

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Another example

• Female inmates are the fastest-growing
  subpopulation in prison.
• (Inmates are what? Answer subpopulation. But the
  subpopulation is not being acted upon, it is
  reinstating or indicating the state of being of
  the WOMEN.)

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Common Linking Verbs
APPEAR PROVE
BECOME REMAIN
FEEL SEEM
GET SMELL
GROW SOUND
SIT TASTE
LOOK TURN
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Hold on just a minute

• Many verbs can be linking, transitive, or
  intransitive depending on their function.
• Examples
• Linking The nations mood turned sour.
• (The subject is not engaged in an action. Turned
  links mood with a state of being sour.

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Next

• More examples.
• Transitive The judge turned the pages quickly.
  
• (The subject was engaged in the action (turned)
  and that action was transferred to an object
  (pages)

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And finally.

• Intransitive
• The lawyer turned suddenly toward the back of the
  courtroom.
• The subject was engaged in an action (turned) and
  that action was done in a particular way
  (suddenly) but not to someone or something.

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Viola!

• Now lets practice.
• TURN TO PAGE 19. Complete Exercise 11.