An ELT Glossary : Transitive and Ditransitive Verbs

• Definition : A transitive verb is a verb which must be followed by an object.

• Examples :   like - I like horses;  borrow - Can I borrow your pen?

• Some verbs, like those in the examples, are always transitive. Others can be used either transitively or intransitively  (without an object) - eg study: He studies linguistics (transitive) or He studies every evening (intransitive).

• Verbs which take both a direct and an indirect object are known as ditransitive verbs - eg 

           I gave John the book  :  John =  indirect object; the book = direct object

           I bought my grandmother some chocolates.  
                        my grandmother = IO; some chocolates = DO 

• In English, ditransitive verbs can be used with a S-V-IO-DO structure as in the example above, or can be used transitively together with a prepositional phrase acting as adverbial  :

        I gave the book to John    /    I bought some chocolates for my grandmother

• This means that two alternative passive structures are also possible :

        John was given the book  / The book was given to John

• Most ditransitive verbs must include the direct object - eg: 

        I gave John the book   but never in any context     *I gave John