In this lesson, we will focus on some intransitive verbs and what comes after these verbs. An intransitive verb is a verb that does require an object to complete its meaning. These verbs can express the action of a subject without the action passing to a receiver or object.
There are a variety of word or phrase which can immediately follow an intransitive verb: prepositions, adverbs, conjunctions, gerunds or infinitives. These words that follow the intransitive verb can indicate “When, Where, How, or Why” regarding the action.
When: He left at 2 o’clock. (preposition) Where: He left in a taxi. (preposition)
Why: He left because he had an appointment. (conjunction) How: He left early . (adverb)
Most intransitive verbs can also be used as transitive verbs. The meaning of the verb usually stays the same, but it sometimes changes.
Same meaning: She reads until 1 o’clock. (intransitive) AND She reads the newspaper. (transitive)
Different meaning: Our team always loses. (intransitive) AND He always loses his umbrella . (transitive)
The verbs in bold below can also be transitive verbs.
| # | Verb | # | Verb | # | Verb | # | Verb | # | Verb | # | Verb |
| 1. | ache | 31. | cough | 61. | forget | 91. | lose | 121. | seem | 151. | swing |
| 2. | act | 32. | count | 62. | get | 92. | manage | 122. | set | 152. | take off |
| 3. | adapt | 33. | cover | 63. | give | 93. | march | 123. | shout | 153. | talk |
| 4. | age | 34. | crawl | 64. | go | 94. | matter | 124. | shudder | 154. | teach |
| 5. | appear | 35. | cry | 65. | grow | 95. | meet | 125. | shy | 155. | think |
| 6. | apply | 36. | dance | 66. | happen | 96. | mourn | 126. | sign | 156. | travel |
| 7. | arrive | 37. | decrease | 67. | hear | 97. | move | 127. | sing | 157. | tremble |
| 8. | ask | 38. | demonstrate | 68. | hide | 98. | need | 128. | sit | 158. | trip |
| 9. | bark | 39. | depart | 69. | immigrate | 99. | oblige | 129. | sizzle | 159. | try |
| 10. | begin | 40. | deteriorate | 70. | impose | 100. | obsess | 130. | skip | 160. | turn |
| 11. | behave | 41. | die | 71. | inch | 101. | panic | 131. | sleep | 161. | twist |
| 12. | believe | 42. | digress | 72. | increase | 102. | party | 132. | slide | 162. | use |
| 13. | belong | 43. | diminish | 73. | jog | 103. | pause | 133. | smell | 163. | vote |
| 14. | blow | 44. | distribute | 74. | jump | 104. | pay | 134. | smile | 164. | wait |
| 15. | blush | 45. | drill | 75. | kneel | 105. | pray | 135. | snarl | 165. | wake |
| 16. | carry | 46. | drive | 76. | know | 106. | put | 136. | sneeze | 166. | walk |
| 17. | catch | 47. | drop | 77. | laugh | 107. | rain | 137. | snow | 167. | wander |
| 18. | change | 48. | drown | 78. | lead | 108. | read | 138. | soak | 168. | want |
| 19. | check | 49. | economize | 79. | lean | 109. | recline | 139. | speak | 169. | wave |
| 20. | chop | 50. | enter | 80. | leap | 110. | relax | 140. | spin | 170. | wiggle |
| 21. | click | 51. | erupt | 81. | learn | 111. | remain | 141. | sprint | 171. | wish |
| 22. | climb | 52. | escape | 82. | leave | 112. | reply | 142. | squeak | 172. | work |
| 23. | collapse | 53. | explode | 83. | lie | 113. | report | 143. | stagger | 173. | worry |
| 24. | collide | 54. | fade | 84. | like | 114. | respond | 144. | stand | 174. | write |
| 25. | come | 55. | fail | 85. | limp | 115. | rise | 145. | start | 175. | yell |
| 26. | complain | 56. | fall | 86. | listen | 116. | roll | 146. | stop | ||
| 27. | continue | 57. | feel | 87. | live | 117. | run | 147. | study | ||
| 28. | cook | 58. | fill | 88. | lock | 118. | rush | 148. | subside | ||
| 29. | correspond | 59. | float | 89. | look | 119. | sail | 149. | succeed | ||
| 30. | cost | 60. | fly | 90. | loop | 120. | scream | 150. | swim |