Lesson 120 - Parts of the Sentence - Transitive and Intransitive Verbs

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Transitive verbs are verbs that have subjects or objects that receive the action. They are either active voice or passive voice.  

 

Transitive active verbs are the verbs in sentences with a direct object. The subject is the doer and the direct object is the receiver of the action.

 

Example: 

The boy kicked the ball.   

 

Transitive passive verbs have the subject receiving the action with the doer in a prepositional phrase or omitted in the sentence. The verb in the transitive passive voice always has is, am, are, was, were, be, being, or been as an auxiliary or helping verb.

 

Examples: 

The ball was kicked by the boy. 

The ball was kicked hard.

Intransitive verbs have no receiver of the action. They are classified as intransitive complete or intransitive linking. 

 

Intransitive linking are sentences with a predicate nominative or predicate adjective. 

 

Examples: 

The girl is Mary. (predicate nominative) 

The girl is cute. (predicate adjective) 

 

Intransitive complete are all the verbs that don't fit one of the other kinds of transitive or intransitive verbs. 

 

Examples: 

The bell rang suddenly. 

The girl knitted all evening. (There is no receiver of the action.) 

They were here. (no action or predicate nominative or predicate adjective)

 

Instructions: Tell whether the verbs in the following sentences are transitive active, transitive passive, intransitive linking, or intransitive complete.

1. The radio was my favorite gift at Christmas.

2. Jay will be the winner of the most games.

3. The meal tasted wonderful to everyone.

4. The furniture should be early American style for this room.

5. Gomer Pyle's favorite expression was "Golly!".

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. The radio was my favorite gift at Christmas.

    - intransitive linking (gift is a predicate nominative)

2. Jay will be the winner of the most games.

    - intransitive linking (winner is a predicate nominative)

3. The meal tasted wonderful to everyone.

    - intransitive linking (wonderful is a predicate nominative)

4. The furniture should be early American style for this room.

    - intransitive linking (style is a predicate nominative)

5. Gomer Pyle's favorite expression was "Golly!".

    - intransitive linking (Golly is a predicate nominative)

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Lesson 320 - Mechanics - Capitalization

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Capitalize epithets (a word or phrase accompanying or occurring in place of the name of a person or a thing). 

 

Example: 

the Lone-Star State 

 

Capitalize personifications (giving human attributes to inanimate objects). (Authors disregard this rule often.) 

 

Example: 

The Computer thought hard about the problem.

Instructions: Capitalize each word that needs a capital letter.

1. The lone-star state is texas.

2. florence nightingale is called the lady of the lamp.

3. The bears of colorado are being starved by nature.

4. The cruel hunger looked up from all the empty shelves.

5. In every face happiness smiled.

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. The Lone-Star State (epithet) is Texas.

2. Florence Nightingale is called the Lady of the Lamp (epithet).

3. The bears of Colorado are being starved by Nature (personification).

4. The cruel Hunger (personification) looked up from all the empty shelves.

5. In every face Happiness (personification) smiled.

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Lesson 119 - Parts of the Sentence - Transitive and Intransitive Verbs

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Transitive verbs are verbs that have subjects or objects that receive the action. They are either active voice or passive voice.  

 

Transitive active verbs are the verbs in sentences with a direct object. The subject is the doer and the direct object is the receiver of the action.

 

Example: 

The boy kicked the ball.   

 

Transitive passive verbs have the subject receiving the action with the doer in a prepositional phrase or omitted in the sentence. The verb in the transitive passive voice always has is, am, are, was, were, be, being, or been as an auxiliary or helping verb.

 

Examples: 

The ball was kicked by the boy. 

The ball was kicked hard.

Intransitive verbs have no receiver of the action. They are classified as intransitive complete or intransitive linking. 

 

Intransitive linking are sentences with a predicate nominative or predicate adjective. 

 

Examples: 

The girl is Mary. (predicate nominative) 

The girl is cute. (predicate adjective) 

 

Intransitive complete are all the verbs that don't fit one of the other kinds of transitive or intransitive verbs. 

 

Examples: 

The bell rang suddenly. 

The girl knitted all evening. (There is no receiver of the action.) 

They were here. (no action or predicate nominative or predicate adjective)

 

Instructions: Tell whether the verbs in the following sentences are transitive active, transitive passive, intransitive linking, or intransitive complete.

1. Mother looked for her lost shoes.

2. The sea waves lapped at the levy.

3. There are many desserts for the party.

4. Rebecca hunted for her baby sister.

5. Duty calls.

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. Mother looked for her lost shoes.

    - intransitive complete (no receiver of action)

2. The sea waves lapped at the levy.

    - intransitive complete (no receiver of action)

3. There are many desserts for the party.

    - intransitive complete (no receiver of action, no predicate nominative or adjective)

4. Rebecca hunted for her baby sister.

    - intransitive complete (no receiver of action)

5. Duty calls.

    - intransitive complete (no receiver of action)

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Lesson 319 - Mechanics - Capitalization

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Capitalize only school subjects that (a) come from the name of a country or a language, and (b) are actual titles of the course. 

 

Examples: 

French, English literature, typing, Typing II, history

Instructions: Capitalize each word that needs a capital letter.

1. I used to teach latin, history, and english.

2. In college I took algebra i and american history.

3. Mary loved her time in journalism and russian.

4. The hardest classes were geometry ii, psychology, and greek.

5. I didn't like chinese history or economics.

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. I used to teach Latin, history, and English.

2. In college I took Algebra I and American history.

3. Mary loved her time in journalism and Russian.

4. The hardest classes were Geometry II, psychology, and Greek.

5. I didn't like Chinese history or economics.

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Lesson 118 - Parts of the Sentence - Transitive and Intransitive Verbs

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Transitive verbs are verbs that have subjects or objects that receive the action. They are either active voice or passive voice.  

 

Transitive active verbs are the verbs in sentences with a direct object. The subject is the doer and the direct object is the receiver of the action.

 

Example: 

The boy kicked the ball.   

 

Transitive passive verbs have the subject receiving the action with the doer in a prepositional phrase or omitted in the sentence. The verb in the transitive passive voice always has is, am, are, was, were, be, being, or been as an auxiliary or helping verb.

 

Examples: 

The ball was kicked by the boy. 

The ball was kicked hard.

Intransitive verbs have no receiver of the action. They are classified as intransitive complete or intransitive linking. 

 

Intransitive linking are sentences with a predicate nominative or predicate adjective. 

 

Examples: 

The girl is Mary. (predicate nominative) 

The girl is cute. (predicate adjective) 

 

Intransitive complete are all the verbs that don't fit one of the other kinds of transitive or intransitive verbs. 

 

Examples: 

The bell rang suddenly. 

The girl knitted all evening. (There is no receiver of the action.) 

They were here. (no action or predicate nominative or predicate adjective)

 

Instructions: Tell whether the verbs in the following sentences are transitive active, transitive passive, intransitive linking, or intransitive complete.

1. Yesterday Grandma was hit by a car.

2. My former classmates were seen at the reunion.

3. The lamp for the study was broken on the way home.

4. At camp taps had been blown every night.

5. The dirty clothes will be sent to be cleaned.

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. Yesterday Grandma was hit by a car.

    - transitive passive (passive voice, Grandma receives the action, car is the doer)

2. My former classmates were seen at the reunion.

    - transitive passive (passive voice, classmates receives the action, doer omitted)

3. The lamp for the study was broken on the way home.

    - transitive passive (passive voice, lamp receives the action, doer omitted)

4. At camp taps had been blown every night.

    - transitive passive (passive voice, taps receives the action, doer omitted)

5. The dirty clothes will be sent to be cleaned.

    - transitive passive (passive voice, clothes receives the action, doer omitted)

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Lesson 318 - Mechanics - Capitalization

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Capitalize the official names of governmental officers, offices, and bodies. When referring to the President of the United States, always capitalize President, and capitalize names of other officers when used in place of specific individuals. 

 

Examples: 

He works for the State Department. 

The Secretary of State will visit here tomorrow. 

I am not guilty, Judge!

Instructions: Capitalize each word that needs a capital letter.

1. mr. speaker, i will yield to the senator from utah.

2. The attorney general and the president are meeting now.

3. He was a county judge after leaving the senate.

4. The secretary of agriculture is speaking to congress at noon.

5. It has been a pleasure to serve you, president.

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. Mr. Speaker, I will yield to the Senator from Utah.

2. The Attorney General and the President are meeting now.

3. He was a county judge after leaving the Senate.

4. The Secretary of Agriculture is speaking to Congress at noon.

5. It has been a pleasure to serve you, President.

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Lesson 117 - Parts of the Sentence - Transitive and Intransitive Verbs

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Transitive verbs are verbs that have subjects or objects that receive the action. They are either active voice or passive voice.  

 

Transitive active verbs are the verbs in sentences with a direct object. The subject is the doer and the direct object is the receiver of the action.

 

Example: 

The boy kicked the ball.   

 

Transitive passive verbs have the subject receiving the action with the doer in a prepositional phrase or omitted in the sentence. The verb in the transitive passive voice always has is, am, are, was, were, be, being, or been as an auxiliary or helping verb.

 

Examples: 

The ball was kicked by the boy. 

The ball was kicked hard.

Intransitive verbs have no receiver of the action. They are classified as intransitive complete or intransitive linking. 

 

Intransitive linking are sentences with a predicate nominative or predicate adjective. 

 

Examples: 

The girl is Mary. (predicate nominative) 

The girl is cute. (predicate adjective) 

 

Intransitive complete are all the verbs that don't fit one of the other kinds of transitive or intransitive verbs. 

 

Examples: 

The bell rang suddenly. 

The girl knitted all evening. (There is no receiver of the action.) 

They were here. (no action or predicate nominative or predicate adjective)

 

Instructions: Tell whether the verbs in the following sentences are transitive active, transitive passive, intransitive linking, or intransitive complete.

1. The hikers reached the mountain by nightfall.

2. They prepared their own meals that night.

3. Last week the family painted the house.

4. Jane spent her vacation in the Grand Tetons.

5. The apricot tree spread its branches over the fence.

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. The hikers reached the mountain by nightfall.

    - transitive active (mountain receives action and is the direct object)

2. They prepared their own meals that night.

    - transitive active (meals receives action and is the direct object)

3. Last week the family painted the house.

    - transitive active (house receives action and is the direct object)

4. Jane spent her vacation in the Grand Tetons.

    - transitive active (vacation receives action and is the direct object)

5. The apricot tree spread its branches over the fence.

    - transitive active (branches receives action and is the direct object)

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Lesson 317 - Mechanics - Capitalization

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Capitalize the abbreviations Jr., Sr., and Esq. following names; the abbreviations A.M., P.M., B.C., and A.D.; and abbreviations of academic degrees.

Instructions: Capitalize each word that needs a capital letter.

1. What happened in a.d. 1492?

2. Be here promptly at 9:45 a.m.

3. This is Kraig Jenson, m.d., my doctor.

4. John Jones, jr. is my neighbor.

5. At 2:00 p.m. richard wiget, sr. and c. elliott, esq. will be with us.

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. What happened in A.D. 1492?

2. Be here promptly at 9:45 A.M.

3. This is Kraig Jenson, M.D., my doctor.

4. John Jones, Jr. is my neighbor.

5. At 2:00 P.M. Richard Wiget, Sr. and C. Elliott, Esq. will be with us.

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Lesson 116 - Parts of the Sentence - Transitive and Intransitive Verbs

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Transitive verbs are verbs that have subjects or objects that receive the action. They are either active voice or passive voice.  

 

Transitive active verbs are the verbs in sentences with a direct object. The subject is the doer and the direct object is the receiver of the action.

 

Example: 

The boy kicked the ball.   

 

Transitive passive verbs have the subject receiving the action with the doer in a prepositional phrase or omitted in the sentence. The verb in the transitive passive voice always has is, am, are, was, were, be, being, or been as an auxiliary or helping verb.

 

Examples: 

The ball was kicked by the boy. 

The ball was kicked hard.

Intransitive verbs have no receiver of the action. They are classified as intransitive complete or intransitive linking. 

 

Intransitive linking are sentences with a predicate nominative or predicate adjective. 

 

Examples: 

The girl is Mary. (predicate nominative) 

The girl is cute. (predicate adjective) 

 

Intransitive complete are all the verbs that don't fit one of the other kinds of transitive or intransitive verbs. 

 

Examples: 

The bell rang suddenly. 

The girl knitted all evening. (There is no receiver of the action.) 

They were here. (no action or predicate nominative or predicate adjective)

 

Instructions: Tell whether the verbs in the following sentences are transitive active, transitive passive, intransitive linking, or intransitive complete.

1. The stadium roared with the cheers of the fans.

2. Bill was the captain of the ship.

3. A new dress will be needed for the dance.

4. Did Rulon forget his new title?

5. Chris has a new digital camera!

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. The stadium roared with the cheers of the fans.

    - intransitive complete (no receiver of the action)

2. Bill was the captain of the ship.

    - intransitive linking (captain - predicate nominative)

3. A new dress will be needed for the dance.

    - transitive passive (passive voice, dress receives the action, doer omitted)

4. Did Rulon forget his new title?

    - transitive active (title receives the action and is the direct object)

5. Chris has a new digital camera!

    - transitive active (camera receives the action and is the direct object)

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Lesson 316 - Mechanics - Capitalization

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Capitalize titles preceding personal names, abbreviations of those titles used with proper names, initials, or titles when used alone in place of the name or person. 

 

Examples: 

Mr., Miss, Rev., Dr., W. C. Johanson, Captain

Instructions: Capitalize each word that needs a capital letter.

1. Have you met the rev. mr. ryan, mrs. hubbard, and dr. peterson?

2. This is supt. e. r. wing who was a captain during combat.

3. mr. and mrs. jones with miss smith will accompany you tomorrow.

4. Did you serve, colonel, in india?

5. I am to dine with cardinal corolucci tonight.

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. Have you met the Rev. Mr. Ryan, Mrs. Hubbard, and Dr. Peterson?

2. This is Supt. E. R. Wing who was a captain during combat.

3. Mr. and Mrs. Jones with Miss Smith will accompany you tomorrow.

4. Did you serve, Colonel, in India?

5. I am to dine with Cardinal Corolucci tonight.

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Quiz for Lessons 111-115 - Parts of the Sentence - Review

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Instructions: Find the subjects, verbs, predicate nominatives, direct objects, interjections, and introductory there in these sentences.

1. Both the lady and the gentleman had proper manners and good etiquette.

2. My wife dusted the furniture and cleaned the floors.

3. There is no reason for this mess.

4. Where is the white tablecloth for the table?

5. Well, there are no more candles for sale.

6. The actress was still a very beautiful and lovely person.

7. My mother wanted both flour and sugar from the neighbor.

8. The student knew the answer and was sure of it.

9. The snow storm raged during the night and all day.

10. Jim caught and cleaned both fish quickly.

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. lady, gentleman = subjects / had = verb / manners, etiquette = direct objects

2. wife = subject / dusted = verb / furniture = direct object // cleaned = verb / floors = direct object

3. There = introductory there / reason = subject / is = verb

4. tablecloth = subject / is = verb

5. well = interjection / there = introductory there / candles = subject / are = verb

6. actress = subject / was = verb / person = predicate nominative

7. mother = subject / wanted = verb / flour, sugar = direct objects

8. student = subject / knew = verb / answer = direct object // was = verb

9. storm = subject / raged = verb

10. Jim = subject / caught, cleaned = verbs / fish = direct object

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Quiz for Lessons 311 - 315 - Mechanics - Capitalization

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Instructions: Capitalize each word that needs a capital letter.

1. The industrial era was important to the development of america.

2. The national league is older than the american league as a baseball league.

3. He attended amity high school and the university of wisconsin.

4. I want to ride the zepher and the heber creeper.

5. The league of women voters will meet in the wiswell building.

6. Is the eiffel tower in paris, france?

7. The future farmers of america is an old organization.

8. I tried palmolive soap and crest toothpaste.

9. The hub for delta airlines is in utah.

10. The empire state building is taller than the chrysler building.

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. The Industrial Era was important to the development of America.

2. The National League is older than the American League as a baseball league.

3. He attended Amity High School and the University of Wisconsin.

4. I want to ride the Zepher and the Heber Creeper.

5. The League of Women Voters will meet in the Wiswell Building.

6. Is the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France?

7. The Future Farmers of America is an old organization.

8. I tried Palmolive soap and Crest toothpaste.

9. The hub for Delta Airlines is in Utah.

10. The Empire State Building is taller than the Chrysler Building.

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Lesson 115 - Parts of the Sentence - Review

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A simple sentence is a group of words expressing a complete thought, and it must have a subject and a verb (predicate - some grammar books use the word predicate, but I will use verb).  A verb shows action or state of being.  The subject tells who or what about the verb.  When finding the subject and the verb in a sentence, always find the verb first and then say who or what followed by the verb.

     Example:
     The bell rang.
     Find the verb - rang
     Who or what rang?
     The bell rang, so bell is the subject.
     The bell rang.

A predicate nominative or predicate noun completes a linking verb and renames the subject.  It is a complement or completer because it completes the verb.  The verb in a sentence having a predicate nominative can always be replaced by the word equals.

     Example:
     Mr. Johanson is a teacher.
     Mr. Johanson equals a teacher.

A direct object receives the action performed by the subject. The verb used with a direct object is always an action verb. Another way of saying it is that the subject does the verb to the direct object. To find the direct object, say the subject and verb followed by whom or what. If nothing answers the question whom or what, you know that there is no direct object.

 

     Example: 

     The car hit the tree. 

     The car hit whom or what? 

     Tree answers the question, so tree is the direct object.

     The car hit the tree. 

Instructions: Find the subjects, verbs, predicate nominatives, and direct objects in these sentences.

1. Mutt and Jeff were old comic characters.

2. Ila scraped and rubbed the old tub for hours.

3. He hit the ball hard and ran to first base.

4. Do you have the ticket or the money?

5. Well, the television program had too much violence and gore.

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. Mutt, Jeff = subjects / were = verb / characters = predicate nominative

2. Ila = subject / scraped, rubbed = verbs / tub = direct object

3. He = subject / hit = verb / ball = direct object // ran = verb

4. you = subject / do have = verb / ticket, money = direct objects

5. program = subject / had = verb / violence, gore = direct objects

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