WREN & MARTIN's English grammar-10 MCQs on Transitive and Intransitive Verbs

 

10 MCQs on Transitive and Intransitive Verbs, Their Usage, Intransitive Verbs Used as Transitives and Transitive Verbs Used as Intransitives

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1. "The enthusiastic audience applauded loudly at the end of the breathtaking performance." — Identify the nature of the verb "applauded" in this sentence.

• A) Transitive verb — it has a direct object "loudly"
• B) Intransitive verb — it does not have a direct object and the action does not pass to any object
• C) Transitive verb — it has an indirect object "the audience"
• D) Linking verb — it connects the subject to its complement

Answer: B) Intransitive verb — it does not have a direct object and the action does not pass to any object ("Applauded" is used here without a direct object — "loudly" is an adverb modifying the verb not an object — an intransitive verb is one whose action does not pass to any object and which makes complete sense without requiring a direct object — the verb simply describes the action performed by the subject.)

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2. "She read an inspiring novel about courage and perseverance during her long train journey." — Identify the nature of the verb "read" in this sentence.

• A) Intransitive verb — it does not require a direct object
• B) Linking verb — it connects the subject to the object
• C) Transitive verb — "an inspiring novel" is its direct object
• D) Intransitive verb — "during her long train journey" is its direct object

Answer: C) Transitive verb — "an inspiring novel" is its direct object ("Read" is used here as a transitive verb because its action passes directly to the object "an inspiring novel" — a transitive verb is one that requires a direct object to complete its meaning — the direct object answers the question "what did she read" and receives the action of the verb.)

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3. "The baby slept peacefully in the cot while the mother worked quietly in the next room." — Identify the nature of the verb "slept."

• A) Transitive verb — "peacefully" is its direct object
• B) Linking verb — it connects "the baby" to "peacefully"
• C) Transitive verb — "in the cot" is its direct object
• D) Intransitive verb — it makes complete sense without a direct object

Answer: D) Intransitive verb — it makes complete sense without a direct object ("Slept" is an intransitive verb that makes complete sense without requiring a direct object — "peacefully" is an adverb modifying the manner of sleeping and "in the cot" is an adverbial phrase of place — neither of these is a direct object — some verbs like "sleep" "arrive" "die" and "fall" are always intransitive.)

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4. "The coach ran the players through a rigorous training session before the championship match." — Identify the nature of the verb "ran."

• A) Intransitive verb — "ran" does not require a direct object
• B) Transitive verb — "the players" is its direct object
• C) Linking verb — it connects the coach to the training session
• D) Intransitive verb — "through a rigorous training session" is an adverbial phrase

Answer: B) Transitive verb — "the players" is its direct object ("Ran" is used here as a transitive verb — this is an example of an intransitive verb "run" being used as a transitive verb with a direct object "the players" — "run" is normally intransitive as in "she runs every morning" but here it is used transitively meaning "to put through" or "to subject to" making it a transitive use.)

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5. "She spoke fluently and confidently during the international conference held in the capital city." — Identify the nature of the verb "spoke."

• A) Transitive verb — "fluently" is its direct object
• B) Linking verb — it connects the subject to the complement
• C) Intransitive verb — it is used without a direct object
• D) Transitive verb — "the international conference" is its direct object

Answer: C) Intransitive verb — it is used without a direct object ("Spoke" is used here intransitively without a direct object — "fluently and confidently" are adverbs modifying the verb and "during the international conference" is an adverbial phrase of time — however "speak" can also be used transitively as in "she spoke the truth" making it a verb that functions both transitively and intransitively.)

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6. "The chef tasted the soup carefully before adding more seasoning and spices to it." — Identify the nature of the verb "tasted."

• A) Intransitive verb — "carefully" is its direct object
• B) Transitive verb — "the soup" is its direct object
• C) Intransitive verb — it does not require a direct object to complete its meaning
• D) Linking verb — it connects "the soup" to "more seasoning"

Answer: B) Transitive verb — "the soup" is its direct object ("Tasted" is used here as a transitive verb with "the soup" as its direct object — the action of tasting passes directly to the soup — however "taste" can also be used intransitively as a linking verb as in "the soup tastes delicious" where it connects the subject to its complement without a direct object.)

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7. "She grew beautiful roses in her garden that won first prize at the annual flower exhibition." — Identify the nature of the verb "grew."

• A) Intransitive verb — "beautiful roses" is an adverbial phrase
• B) Linking verb — it connects "she" to "beautiful roses"
• C) Transitive verb — "beautiful roses" is its direct object
• D) Intransitive verb — it does not pass its action to any object

Answer: C) Transitive verb — "beautiful roses" is its direct object ("Grew" is used here as a transitive verb with "beautiful roses" as its direct object — this is an example of a verb that can function both transitively and intransitively — "grow" is normally intransitive as in "the plants grew rapidly" but here it is used transitively meaning "to cultivate" making "beautiful roses" the direct object.)

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8. "The news of his sudden and unexpected promotion spread quickly throughout the entire organisation." — Identify the nature of the verb "spread."

• A) Transitive verb — "quickly" is its direct object
• B) Linking verb — it connects "the news" to "the organisation"
• C) Transitive verb — "throughout the entire organisation" is its direct object
• D) Intransitive verb — it is used without a direct object

Answer: D) Intransitive verb — it is used without a direct object ("Spread" is used here intransitively because the action does not pass to any direct object — "quickly" is an adverb and "throughout the entire organisation" is an adverbial phrase of place — however "spread" can also be used transitively as in "she spread butter on the bread" where "butter" is the direct object.)

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9. "The experienced doctor examined the patient thoroughly before recommending any treatment." — Identify the nature of the verb "examined" and explain the transitive usage.

• A) Intransitive verb — "thoroughly" is the direct object of "examined"
• B) Transitive verb — "the patient" is the direct object receiving the action of the verb
• C) Linking verb — it connects the doctor to the patient
• D) Intransitive verb — "before recommending any treatment" is the direct object

Answer: B) Transitive verb — "the patient" is the direct object receiving the action of the verb ("Examined" is a transitive verb whose action passes directly to "the patient" — the patient is the direct object that receives the action of being examined — a transitive verb must have a direct object to complete its meaning — without "the patient" the sentence "the doctor examined" would be incomplete and require further information.)

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10. "Which of the following sentences correctly illustrates an intransitive verb being used as a transitive verb?"

• A) She walked slowly along the deserted beach at sunset.
• B) The baby slept soundly throughout the entire night without waking.
• C) The general marched his soldiers through the town in a grand parade.
• D) The bird flew gracefully over the calm and still waters of the lake.

Answer: C) The general marched his soldiers through the town in a grand parade. ("March" is normally used intransitively as in "the soldiers marched" where the action does not pass to any object — in this sentence however "march" is used transitively with "his soldiers" as the direct object — the general is causing the soldiers to march making the verb transitive — this is a classic example of an intransitive verb being used transitively by adding a causative meaning.)