Transitive and Intransitive Verbs
In this lesson, you'll learn what the difference is between transitive and intransitive verbs in the English language.
Some pairs of verbs in English sound very similar, but one verb is transitive and the other verb is intransitive. These verbs can be confusing and are often used incorrectly. Examples of these verbs include sit, set, lie, lay, rise, and, raise. In this lesson, you'll learn how to use these verbs correctly.
Introduction
This lesson covers transitive and intransitive verbs. The transitive and intransitive forms of some verbs in English are slightly different, which can cause confusion as to which is the correct one to use. In this lesson you'll learn how to use the verbs sit, set, lie, lay, rise and raise correctly.
Transitive and Intransitive Verbs
The subject of a sentence is the noun or pronoun that performs the action in the sentence. Some sentences also have an object. This is the noun or pronoun that is impacted by the action in the sentence.
Some verbs require an object to make a complete sentence. Verbs that have an object are called transitive verbs. In the sentence I wash the dishes, I is the subject of the sentence and the dishes is the object of the sentence. Since the dishes is the object of the verb wash, wash is a transitive verb. One way to remember this is that transitive verbs take an object.
Verbs that do not require an object to make a complete sentence are called intransitive verbs. In the sentence I sleep., sleep is an intransitive verb.
Some verbs can be either transitive or intransitive, but other verbs are only transitive or intransitive. The next few sections will go over some verbs that have different forms when they are used as transitive and intransitive verbs.
Sit and Set
Sit is an intransitive verb and means "be seated" or "be situated," for example:
The cabin sits beside the beach. | La cabina se encuentra junto a la playa. |
He sat down on the blanket. | Se sentó en la manta. |
I have sat at that table before. | Me he sentado en esa mesa antes. |
Sit
The verb sit is irregular.
Present participle: sitting
Past Participle: sat
Present Tense | Past Tense |
---|---|
I sit | I sat |
he sits | he sat |
she sits | she sat |
it sits | it sat |
we sit | we sat |
you sit | you sat |
they sit | they sat |
Set
The verb set means to cause to sit. For example:
She set the cup on the table. | Ella dejó la taza sobre la mesa. |
I already set the table. | Ya a poner la mesa. |
I have set the table many times before. | He puesto la mesa muchas veces antes. |
The verb set is also irregular.
Present participle: setting
Past Participle: set
Present Tense | Past Tense |
---|---|
I set | I set |
he sets | he set |
she sets | she set |
it sets | it set |
we set | we set |
you set | you set |
they set | they set |
Lie and Lay
Lie
The verb lie is actually two different verbs, which used to be pronounced differently. Over time the pronunciation changed so that they now sound the same in the present tense. One version means "tell a fib", the other means "recline", "spread out", or "be placed".
Lie meaning to tell a fib is a regular verb, except for the present participle.
Present participle: lying
Past Participle: lied
Present Tense | Past Tense |
---|---|
I lie | I lied |
he lies | he lied |
she lies | she lied |
it lies | it lied |
we lie | we lied |
you lie | you lied |
they lie | they lied |
The verb lie meaning to recline is irregular.
Present participle: lying
Past Participle: lain
Present Tense | Past Tense |
---|---|
I lie | I lay |
he lies | he lay |
she lies | she lay |
it lies | it lay |
we lie | we lay |
you lie | you lay |
they lie | they lay |
Some examples of the verb lie are:
He lied to me. | El me mintio. |
They have lied too many times. | Han mentido demasiadas veces. |
Lie down on the sofa. | Tumbarse en el sofá. |
She lay on the beach yesterday afternoon. | Se tumbó en la tarde de ayer la playa. |
She got a sunburn from lying on the beach for an hour. | Ella tiene una quemadura de sol de la mentira en la playa durante una hora. |
She lies on the beach every Monday morning. | Ella se encuentra en la playa todos los lunes por la mañana. |
We have lain on that beach so many times this summer. | Hemos permanecido en la playa tantas veces este verano. |
Lay
The verb lay means "to cause to lie". The past tense of lie and the present tense of lay are the same which can cause confusion.
Present participle: laying
Past Participle: laid
Present Tense | Past Tense |
---|---|
I lay | I laid |
he lays | he laid |
she lays | she laid |
it lays | it laid |
we lay | we laid |
you lay | you laid |
they lay | they laid |
The following are some examples of the verb lay:
Lay the book on the desk. | Coloque el libro sobre la mesa. |
He laid the money on the table and walked away. | El puso el dinero sobre la mesa y se alejó. |
She laid the newspapers all over the table. | Ella puso los periódicos por toda la mesa. |
Rise and Raise
Rise
The verb rise means "go up" or "stand up". Rise is an irregular verb.
Present participle: rising
Past Participle: risen
Present Tense | Past Tense |
---|---|
I rise | I rose |
she rises | she rose |
he rises | he rose |
it rises | it rose |
we rise | we rose |
you rise | you rose |
they rise | they rose |
The following are some examples of the verb rise:
Rise up. | Levántate. |
Hot air rises. | El aire caliente se eleva. |
The balloon slowly rose up into the air. | El globo se elevó lentamente. |
Raise
the verb raise means to cause to rise. It can also mean to bring up children or other animals.
Present participle: raising
Past Participle: raised
Present Tense | Past Tense |
---|---|
I raise | I raised |
she raises | she raised |
he raises | he raised |
it raises | it raised |
we raise | we raised |
you raise | you raised |
they raise | they raised |
The following are some examples of the verb raise:
He raised the volume of the stereo. | Él aumentó el volumen del equipo de música. |
She raises the cup off of the table. | Ella levanta la taza fuera de la mesa. |
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