Transitivity (grammar)

Transitivity in grammar is about whether a verb has an object or not. A transitive verb has an object; an intransitive verb does not.^[1]p1051 Examples:

• Transitive:

  We really enjoyed the trip.

  She read the book.

  What did you throw?

• Intransitive:

  She relaxed.

  She travels.

  She slept.

A transitive verb is an action verb. It expresses something doable (something possible to do).^[2] The direct object is something or someone who is the receiver of the action (verb).^[2] In the first two examples above, the 'trip' and the 'book' are the direct objects. 'Enjoyed' and 'read' are the transitive verbs.

1. ↑ McArthur, Tom (ed) 1992. The Oxford companion to the English language. Oxford University Press.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Robin L. Simmons. "The Transitive Verb". Grammar Bytes!. Retrieved 13 September 2015.