Transitional Verbs, Definition and 20 Example Sentences
The Transitive Verb
Every sentence we use to communicate has a verb. These verbs fall into two different categories. These are transitive verbs and intransitive verbs. The realization of this distinction is determined by the bond between verb and object. If the verb can bind one or more objects to itself, this verb is a transitive verb. Verbs that do not have their object are intransitive verbs. The subject we will be talking about here is transitive verbs. Briefly the verb with its object. This means that the effects of the transitive verb gain meaning with an object. The word transition here means to affect something.
Understanding that a Verb is Transitive
When we ask what and who questions to the verb in the sentence, if we can get an answer to the question, that verb is transitive. Let’s examine the examples now.
- I bought flowers for my father today.
- The predicate here is the verb “bought”. And what is bought is a flower. The verb “Bought” affected the flower object. Let’s ask the “what” question for the verb, “What I bought?” Since it is possible to answer this question as “flower”, this verb is transitive.
- I saw my old friend in the cafe.
- The verb in this sentence is “saw”. The object affected by this verb is “my old friend”. The person seen is specified in the sentence. Now let’s ask the “who” question, “Who did I see?” The verb is transitive in this sentence since the answer to this question will be “my old friend.”
- I would like coffee with milk.
- When we look at this sentence, we see the verb “would like”. It is the object “coffee with milk” that is affected by the verb in the sentence. Now ask the verb “what” question, “What would I like?” The answer to this question is given as ” coffee with milk. For this reason, the verb in the sentence is transitive.
- I buy vegetables at the supermarket every Sunday.
- The word “buy” in the sentence is a verb. When we read the sentence, we realize that the object affected by the verb “buy” is “vegetables.” Now let’s make sure of this by asking the verb “what” question, “What do I buy?” We see that the answer to this question is “vegetables”. Thus, we can say that the verb “buy” is transitive.
Not Every Sentence May Have an Object!
Some sentence structures may not contain an object. This does not mean that the verb in the sentence is not transitive (ie intransitive). The verb can also be transitive without an object in the sentence. We will use the “what” and “who” questions here as well. There will not be a specific answer as an answer or something should be able to answer “he/she/it’’ or “his / her / its’’. This means that even if there is no object in the sentence, the verb must be prone to affect an object.
- Please take.
- As seen in this example, the object does not exist. But let’s still ask a “what” question, “Take what?” The answer to this question can be given as “it” and replaces this object. Thus, the verb “take” in this sentence is a transitive verb.
- You should love.
- As can be seen in this example, the verb of a sentence without an object can be transitive. Let’s be sure of this sentence now. The verb in the sentence is “love”. The sentence does not contain any objects. Now let’s ask the verb the question, “Who should you love?” The answer to this sentence will be “feel / her / its”. This is how we understand that the verb here is transitive.
Continue to Examples of Transitive Verbs
- Cargo arrived home today.
- In the morning, the phone rang.
- I baked a cake for your birthday.
- I am making potatoes for dinner.
- I am looking for a jacket.
- My favorite song plays in the car.
- The products in this market are spoiled.
- I watched a great movie last night.
- I made fresh orange juice for you.
- I designed a very nice toy for children.
