Transitive Verbs

Definition
y A transitive verb is a verb that has an object.

What or whom?

Explanation
y Transitive verbs  Need an object after them.  Can take direct or indirect objects.  The meaning of a transitive verb is incomplete without an object.

Transitive Verbs

Intranitive Verbs

Definition
y An intransitive verb is a verb that does not have an

object.

Explanation
y Intransitive verbs  Do not need an object.  Can be followed by a complement, usually an adjective or adverb.

The food smells good.

Intransitive Verbs

Linking Verbs

Definition
y Linking verbs do not express action. Instead, they

connect the subject of the verb to additional information about the subject.
 

Keila is a shopaholic. I am a soldier.

Explanation
y The following verbs are true linking verbs:  Any form of the verb be [am, is, are, was, were, has been, are being, might have been, etc.].  Become, and seem.  Then you have a list of verbs with multiple personalities: appear, feel, grow, look, prove, remain, smell, sound, taste, and turn. Sometimes these verbs are linking verbs; sometimes they are action verbs.

What is the difference?

y How do you tell when they are action verbs and

when they are linking verbs?



If you can substitute am, is, or are and the sentence still sounds logical, you have a linking verb on your hands.
Veronica tasted the stew. The stew tasted good.

Verb Phrases

Definition
y Verb phrase consists of a main verb and al its

auxiliary verbs.


She has gone crazy.

Explanation
y Forms of be:  Am, is, are, was, were, being, been y Forms of have:  Has, have, had y Other auxiliaries:  Can, could, may, might, shall, will, do, does, did, must, should, would.

Explanation
y The most common are:  Be and Have y The others are used to express time.  Maria should arrive soon.

Examples
y She may look normal. y Alicia could stay. y Did she listen to the story?