An ELT Glossary : Intransitive verbs




  • Definition : An intransitive verb is a verb which is not followed by an object.
  • Examples : arrive / complain - He arrived yesterday / He complained all the way home
  • Some verbs, like those in the examples, are always intransitive. Others can be used either transitively (with an object) or intransitively - eg  study -  He studies linguistics (transitive) or He studies every evening (intransitive).