Transitive and Intransitive

Transitive verbs
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. In the following sentences, admire maintain, face, raise and love are transitive verbs:

I admire your courage.

We need to maintain product quality.

I couldn’t face him today.
They will raise a statue here.

She loves animals.

Some transitive verbs can be used with a direct object and an indirect object:

  Intransitive verbs

An intransitive  verb does not have an object. In the following sentences, cry  work, laugh, rise and talk are intransitive verbs:

The baby was crying.

I work for a large firm in Paris.

They laughed uncontrollably.
The sun sises at 5 am tomorrow.
We talked for hours.
 

Transitive and intransitive verbs

Many verbs can be transitive or intransitive. For example:

The choir sang carols. [transitive]

Pete always sings in the bath.   [intransitive]

She left London on June 6. [transitive]

I want to leave early. [intransitive]

Discrimination: RAISE/RISE, SET/SIT, LAY/LIE

raise - rise
raise-raised-raised (transitive - trs)
He raised his hand.
rise-rose-risen (intransitive - intrs)
The sun rises in the east.
set - sit
set - set - set (trs)
She sets the book on the desk.
sit - sat - sat (intrs)
Jack sits in the front row.
lay - lie
lay - laid - laid (trs)
I am laying the book on the desk.
lie - lay - lain (intrs)
Tom is lying on his bed.
* notes: lie - lied - lied (intrs) means to say or write something that you know is not true.