Transitive verbs

Transitive verbs can only be used in a sentence with an object. For instance, ‘hit’ is a transitive verb. Let’s try using it without an object:

I hit.

The sentence doesn’t really work - it needs an object. Let’s put one in:

I hit the ball.

Now the sentence has an object - the ‘ball’. Because ‘hit’ is a transitive verb, it only makes sense with an object. I like to think of the word ‘transit’ when remembering what a transitive verb is. The verb is only in transit on its way to an object - it needs an object in the sentence with it.

Click here to move on to the next topic: Intransitive verbs