A transitive verb is one that is used with an object: a noun, phrase, or pronoun that refers to the person or thing that is affected by the action of the verb
For example:
- My friend read the newspaper.
- The teenager earned a speeding ticket.
A way to identify a transitive verb is to invert the sentence, making it passive.
For example:
- The newspaper was read by my friend.
- A speeding ticket was earned by the teenager.”
Table of Contents
Transitive Verbs Video
This is a good explanation about what transitive verbs are
Transitive Verbs List: A to F
These are some transitive verbs which start with letters from the O to the W
| accept | dazzle |
| acknowledge | deceive |
| admit | define |
| aggravate | describe |
| answer | destroy |
| ask | discover |
| avoid | distinguish |
| beat | drag |
| bend | dress |
| bless | dunk |
| bother | edify |
| break | embarrass |
| brush | embrace |
| build | enable |
| cancel | encourage |
| capture | entertain |
| carry | execute |
| catch | enlist |
| change | fascinate |
| chase | finish |
| chastise | follow |
| clean | flick |
| collect | forget |
| comfort | freeze |
| contradict | frighten |
| convert | forgive |
| crack | furnish |
Transitive Verbs List: G to N
These are some transitive verbs which start with letters from the G to the N
| gather | keep |
| grab | key |
| grasp | kill |
| grip | kiss |
| grease | knock |
| handle | lag |
| hang | lay |
| head | lead |
| highlight | lean |
| honour | leave |
| hurry | lighten |
| hurt | limit |
| help | link |
| imitate | load |
| impress | love |
| indulge | lower |
| insert | maintain |
| interest | marry |
| inspect | massage |
| interrupt | melt |
| intimidate | mock |
| involve | munch |
| irritate | murder |
| join | notice |
| judge | number |
Transitive Verbs List: O to W
These are some transitive verbs which start with letters from the O to the W
| offend | strike |
| order | surprise |
| page | swallow |
| paralyze | switch |
| persuade | teach |
| petrify | taste |
| pierce | tickle |
| place | tighten |
| please | toast |
| poison | transform |
| possess | tweak |
| prepare | twist |
| promise | turn |
| protect | toss |
| purchase | try |
| punch | understimate |
| puzzle | understand |
| question | unlock |
| quit | unload |
| raise | use |
| reassure | untie |
| recognise | upgrade |
| refill | vacate |
| remind | vilify |
| remove | viplate |
| repel | videotape |
| research | wake |
| retard | want |
| ring | warm |
| run | wash |
| satisfy | warn |
| scold | watch |
| select | widen |
| slap | wear |
| smell | win |
| soften | wipe |
| specify | wrack |
| spell | wrap |
| spit | wreck |
| spread | weep |
Transitive and Intransitive Verbs
Many verbs can be transitive or intransitive.
For example:
Sing
- Motivated by the others, she sang.
- She sang the national anthem
Leave
- After he ate, he left.
- He left the gift on the table.
