Transitive and Intransitive Verb Quiz

Level: Intermediate 

In this transitive and intransitive verb quiz you have to choose which of the two given sentences fits which verb type. 

Transitive verbs are verbs that have to take a direct object and may also have an indirect object while intransitive verbs do not take a direct (or indirect) object. 

Check out this transitive and intransitive verb lesson before you take the quiz if you are unsure.

Transitive and Intransitive Verb Quiz

Instructions

Decide whether the verb(s) in the sentence is transitive or intransitive.

1. I've got your parcel at my house.
Transitive.
Intransitive.
Correct!
Wrong!

The verb has an object (parcel) and so it is transitive. The sentence will not make sense if you take away the direct object.

2. I couldn't sleep anymore so I got up (two verbs: 'sleep' and 'got up').
Transitive.
Intransitive.
Correct!
Wrong!

The verb 'sleep' does not have a direct object (noun) and neither does 'got up' so they are intransitive.

3. He listened to loud music all night.
Transitive.
Intransitive.
Correct!
Wrong!

The verb 'listened' has an object (music) and so it is transitive. There may be modifiers in the sentence (an adjective 'loud' in this case) but 'music' is still the object of 'listened'.

4. John sat on the table.
Transitive.
Intransitive.
Correct!
Wrong!

'on' is a preposition, so 'on the table' is a prepositional phrase that describes where John sat; The noun 'table' is not the receiver of the verb 'sat'. It is just completing the prepositional phrase.

5. The bus finally arrived.
Transitive.
Intransitive.
Correct!
Wrong!

There is no noun after the verb 'arrived'. The sentence makes sense with no object.

6. I left her a message
Transitive.
Intransitive.
Correct!
Wrong!

This is a transitive verb with a direct (message) and indirect (her) object.

7. Shall I make lunch?
Transitive.
Intransitive.
Correct!
Wrong!

Lunch is the direct object.

8. They migrated south because of the war.
Transitive.
Intransitive.
Correct!
Wrong!

South is a direction (an adverb) that tells you where the migrants went; it is not the object of the verb 'migrated'. 'The war' is not relevant as it's not the object of 'migrated' - that part of the sentence is giving a reason why.

9. He drank from the bottle.
Transitive.
Intransitive.
Correct!
Wrong!

We don't know what was drunk. The phrase 'from the bottle' is a prepositional phrase, not an object.

10. He drank his beer from the bottle.
Transitive.
Intransitive.
Correct!
Wrong!

In this case we know what he drank, the 'beer', which is the object of 'drank'.

11. She seemed happy.
Transitive.
Intransitive.
Correct!
Wrong!

'Seem' is an intransitive linking verbs. 'Happy' is an adjective, not a noun.

12. The flowers are growing quickly.
Transitive.
Intransitive.
Correct!
Wrong!

There is no noun after the verb 'are growing'.

More on Transitive/Intransitive Verbs:



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