Intransitive Verbs

The complete guide to verbs that don't require objects in English

An intransitive verb is a verb that does not require a direct object to complete its meaning. These verbs express actions or states that are complete in themselves.

Why Intransitive Verbs Matter

Intransitive verbs are essential for constructing complete sentences that don't involve action transfer. Understanding them helps avoid unnecessary objects, improves sentence variety, and is crucial for natural English usage in both speaking and writing.

Quick Examples:
  • The baby cried loudly.
  • Time passes quickly.
  • They arrived early.
  • Leaves fall in autumn.
  • She sneezed repeatedly.
Key Characteristics:
  • Do not require direct objects
  • Cannot be converted to passive voice
  • Often describe movement, change, or states
  • May be followed by adverbs or prepositional phrases
  • Essential for natural sentence construction

Core Types of Intransitive Verbs

1. Pure Intransitive Verbs

Cannot take a direct object under any circumstances:

Examples:
  • She slept peacefully.
  • He died in 2020.
  • The sun rose at 6am.
  • They disappeared suddenly.
  • Prices fell sharply.

2. Verbs of Movement

Describe physical movement without transferring action:

Examples:
  • She walked to school.
  • Birds fly south for winter.
  • The train arrived on time.
  • He ran quickly.
  • Fish swim in schools.

3. Verbs of Change

Describe transformations or state changes:

Examples:
  • The milk spoiled.
  • Leaves turn brown.
  • Ice melts at 0°C.
  • She grew taller.
  • The situation improved.

4. Verbs of Existence/State

Describe existence, appearance, or states of being:

Examples:
  • She exists.
  • He appears happy.
  • They remained silent.
  • The book lies on the table.
  • I stand corrected.

5. Verbs of Bodily Functions

Describe involuntary physical actions:

Examples:
  • He coughed.
  • She yawned sleepily.
  • The baby laughed.
  • I sneezed three times.
  • His stomach growled.

6. Weather Verbs

Describe meteorological phenomena (often with "it" as subject):

Examples:
  • It rained all day.
  • It snowed heavily.
  • It hailed yesterday.
  • It thundered loudly.
  • It drizzled all morning.

Detailed Usage Rules

1. Identifying Intransitive Verbs

To identify an intransitive verb, ask "what?" or "whom?" after the verb. If there's no logical answer, the verb is intransitive:

Example:

"She slept peacefully." (Slept what? No answer → intransitive)

"She read a book." (Read what? A book → transitive)

2. Intransitive Verbs in Different Tenses

Intransitive verbs can be used in all tenses but never take objects:

Simple Present:

He runs every morning.

Present Continuous:

He is running right now.

Simple Past:

He ran yesterday.

Past Continuous:

He was running when I saw him.

Present Perfect:

He has run three miles.

Future:

He will run tomorrow.

3. Intransitive Verbs Cannot Be Passive

Since they don't take objects, they can't be converted to passive voice:

Incorrect:

"A run was had by him." (No passive form exists)

Correct:

"He ran." (Only active voice possible)

4. Adverbs and Prepositional Phrases

Intransitive verbs are often modified by adverbs or followed by prepositional phrases:

With Adverbs:
  • She spoke eloquently.
  • He worked diligently.
  • They arrived late.
With Prepositional Phrases:
  • We traveled to Japan.
  • She listened with interest.
  • Birds migrate in winter.

5. Intransitive vs. Transitive Verbs

Intransitive:
  • Don't require objects
  • Cannot be passive
  • Example: "She slept."
Transitive:
  • Require direct objects
  • Can be passive
  • Example: "She read a book."
Ambitransitive (Both):
  • Can be used both ways
  • Example: "She ate (intransitive) vs. "She ate dinner" (transitive)

Advanced Usage: Nuances and Subtleties

1. Verbs That Are Always Intransitive

Some verbs cannot take objects under any circumstances:

  • arrive, die, disappear, exist
  • go, come, fall, rise
  • sleep, yawn, sneeze, cough
  • rain, snow, hail (weather verbs)
Incorrect Usage:

✖ "She arrived the station." (Cannot take object)

✔ "She arrived at the station." (Prepositional phrase)

2. Ergative Verbs (Both Transitive and Intransitive)

Verbs where the subject of the intransitive version corresponds to the object of the transitive version:

Transitive:

"She broke the vase."

Intransitive:

"The vase broke."

More Examples:
  • open, close, start, stop
  • melt, freeze, boil, burn
  • change, increase, decrease

3. Intransitive Phrasal Verbs

Verb + particle combinations that don't take objects:

  • She showed up late.
  • He passed away last year.
  • The plane took off on time.
  • We got together for coffee.
  • They fell apart after the scandal.

4. Cognate Objects (Special Cases)

Some intransitive verbs can take objects that repeat the verb's meaning:

  • She dreamed a strange dream.
  • He lived a full life.
  • They fought a good fight.
  • She died a peaceful death.
Note:

These are exceptions rather than standard transitive constructions

5. Unaccusative Verbs

Special intransitive verbs where the subject is semantically like an object:

  • The glass broke.
  • The ship sank.
  • The door opened.
  • Her face reddened.
  • The population grew.

Intransitive Verbs in Academic Writing

1. Describing Processes

  • Prices fluctuated during the study period.
  • Interest rates rose steadily.
  • The reaction occurred spontaneously.

2. Reporting Changes

  • Market conditions deteriorated.
  • Public opinion shifted dramatically.
  • Temperature decreased by 5°C.

3. Describing Natural Phenomena

  • Earthquakes occur along fault lines.
  • Species evolve over time.
  • Galaxies expand continuously.

4. Abstract Processes

  • Cultural norms change gradually.
  • Economic systems develop differently.
  • Political alliances shift frequently.

Common Errors and How to Avoid Them

1. Adding Unnecessary Objects

Incorrect:

"She arrived the station."

Correct:

"She arrived at the station."

2. Trying to Make Passive Forms

Incorrect:

"A run was had by him."

Correct:

"He ran."

3. Confusing Similar Verbs

Incorrect:

"She lay the book down." (transitive 'lay' vs. intransitive 'lie')

Correct:

"She laid the book down." OR "She lay down."

4. Misusing Prepositions

Incorrect:

"We discussed about the problem."

Correct:

"We discussed the problem." (transitive) OR "We talked about the problem." (intransitive + preposition)

5. Overusing Intransitive Verbs in Academic Writing

Weak:

"The temperature went up."

Stronger:

"The temperature increased."

Standardized Test Focus (IELTS, SAT, GRE, GMAT, etc.)

1. Error Identification Questions

Identify the error:

"The patient (A) was died (B) by (C) the doctor (D)."

Answer: (B) - "die" is intransitive and cannot be passive

2. Sentence Completion Questions

Choose the correct verb:

"After months of preparation, the spacecraft finally _____ into orbit."

  • A) put
  • B) launched
  • C) rose
  • D) placed

Answer: C) "rose" (only intransitive option)

3. Writing Section Tips

  • Use intransitive verbs for variety in Task 1 (trend descriptions)
  • Ensure intransitive verbs aren't given unnecessary objects
  • Use precise intransitive verbs for natural flow
  • Balance with transitive verbs for full score in lexical resource

4. Speaking Test Tips

  • Use natural intransitive verbs in Part 1 (daily activities)
  • Demonstrate range in Part 2 (describing events/experiences)
  • Use academic intransitive verbs in Part 3 (abstract discussion)
  • Ensure no objects are added unnecessarily

Practice Activities

1. Fill-in-the-Blank

Complete with appropriate intransitive verbs:

  1. The sun _____ at 6:45 this morning.
  2. She _____ suddenly during the meeting.
  3. Stock prices _____ dramatically yesterday.
Possible Answers:
  1. rose
  2. left/yawned/sneezed
  3. fell/rose/fluctuated

2. Error Correction

Correct these sentences:

  1. She arrived the airport at noon.
  2. The accident was happened last night.
  3. We discussed about the project.
Answers:
  1. She arrived at the airport at noon.
  2. The accident happened last night.
  3. We discussed the project. OR We talked about the project.

3. Sentence Transformation

Rewrite these transitive sentences as intransitive (where possible):

  1. Someone broke the window.
  2. The chef melted the butter.
  3. They increased the prices.
Possible Answers:
  1. The window broke.
  2. The butter melted.
  3. The prices increased.

Comprehensive Reference Table

Category Basic Verbs Intermediate Verbs Advanced Verbs
Movement go, come, run migrate, travel fluctuate, circulate
Change become, grow transform, evolve metamorphose, transmute
Existence be, exist persist, subsist abide, inhere
Bodily sleep, cough perspire, shiver convulse, palpitate
Weather rain, snow drizzle, hail precipitate, sleet

Final Checklist for Mastery

  • ✓ Can identify intransitive verbs and their characteristics
  • ✓ Understand different types of intransitive verbs
  • ✓ Know they cannot be made passive
  • ✓ Can use intransitive verbs correctly in all tenses
  • ✓ Recognize common errors with intransitive verbs
  • ✓ Apply knowledge to test questions
  • ✓ Use varied intransitive verbs in speaking/writing
Pro Tip:

When in doubt about whether a verb is intransitive, try adding an object. If it sounds wrong ("She arrived the station"), the verb is likely intransitive and needs a preposition instead ("She arrived at the station").