Page 102 - Just Enough English Grammar Illustrated Book

A transitive verb has a direct object.

Expanded Sentence with a Direct Object

Subject + Verb + Direct Object

Jake swims a lap.

Transitive
Verb

The direct object is the noun a lap that receives the action
expressed by the verb swims. Jake swims is a basic sentence
that can stand alone. If you add the direct object, a complete
unit is formed by the subject, verb, and direct object, as
indicated above. The verb swims takes the noun a lap as
a direct object, and it is labeled as a transitive verb.

! Hint: A verb is transitive when an object is necessary to
complete its meaning in the sentence. The action of the verb
is transferred to the object.

Some verbs can be either transitive or intransitive, depending
on the meaning of the sentence. The next example illustrates
the verb swims as an intransitive verb.

An intransitive verb does not have a direct object.

Expanded Sentence with a Prepositional Phrase

Subject + Verb + Preposition + Object of Preposition

in
Jake swims the
pool.
Intransitive Verb

Here, the verb swims does not have a direct object completing
the sentence. Again, Jake swims is a basic sentence that
can stand alone, but it can also be extended to include a
prepositional phrase: in the pool. The noun pool is the object

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