Example of Intransitive Sentences

Intransitive sentences are what they speak of an action of the subject that only affects him, that is, it does not happen or are exercised on another person, animal or thing. Intransitive verbs are those that express this type of action that can only be performed by the subject. For example, the verbs to be born, to live, to run, are intransitive verbs, since the action can only be performed by the subject, and does not fall on an object or person (on a direct object).

For example, in the following transitive sentence:

• Ana lives on that street.

In this sentence, we have a subject: Ana, which performs an action: it lives that only she can perform, that is, that action is not exercised on someone or something. In that street it is a circumstantial complement, which in this case tells us where it lives, but as we can see, it is not a direct object.

Intransitive sentences can carry circumstantial complements, that is, those that speak to us of the place, time or way in which the action takes place, but the action of the verb always falls on the subject:

• Mary ran on Monday (Circumstantial complement of time)
• Juan walked to school (Circumstantial complement of place)
• Alberto sleeps placidly (Circumstantial complement of mode)

Intransitive sentences can also be formed with Transitive verbs, when they only express the action, without it falling on an object, sometimes expressing circumstantial complements:

• The table was taken apart on Monday.
• Juan eats slowly.

In the case of passive sentences, it is necessary to observe if the complement is an agent, that is, if it says who performs the action, since this determines whether the action is transitive or intransitive. For example, in the sentence:

• The cookies were cooked by my mom.

The action “they were cooked” falls on the subject “the cookies”, however, the subject's complement is the agent, that is, the person who performs the action “my mother”. This sentence can be rewritten as: "my mom cooks cookies", so both are transitive sentences.

If instead we have the sentence:

• The cookies were cooked in the kitchen.

So the sentence is not transitive, because the agent (the person doing the action) is not mentioned, but a circumstantial complement that says where they were cooked. It is an intransitive sentence.

Intransitive sentences are also formed when transitive verbs are used, but only the action of the subject is expressed, but without a direct object on which it is performed:

• Juan eats.
• Mariana cooks.

It should also be borne in mind that when intransitive verbs are added a direct object, then transitive sentences are formed:

• Juan lived an adventure.
• My cousin ran marathon.

• Follow with: Transitive sentences

50 examples of transitive sentences:

1. My sister runs three days a week.
2. Juan studies.
3. Rebecca works.
4. The girls play in the yard.
5. We are listening.
6. My cousins ​​play in the park.
7. The cat sleeps on the couch.
8. The plane flies over my house.
9. The computer burned down.
10. The technician will return on Monday.
11. Carmen learned quickly.
12. Monica traveled to the station.
13. My mom cooked in the morning.
14. My grandfather celebrated yesterday.
15. Only Abel returned.
16. My friends came alone.
17. The girls came back tanned.
18. The condiments are sold in the store.
19. Tools are heavy.
20. We train during the week.
21. The dentist finished early.
22. The truck moved slowly.
23. Yesterday we came back late.
24. The cat sleeps in the window.
25. The bells ring out loud.
26. The teacher teaches in two schools.
27. Napoleon died on the Isle of Elba.
28. The chef will be back on Monday.
29. The refrigerators work.
30. Hair grows fast.
31. Time passes indolent.
32. The sun shines.
33. The music lulls.
34. The bottle broke.
35. The printer failed.
36. My uncle rests.
37. The hotel looks radiant.
38. Yesterday we played late.
39. That boy drives.
40. The motor works properly.
41. Gloves heat up.
42. Students study hard.
43. Angels approved.
44. The maid woke up early.
45. That lady writes.
46. The workers went on vacation.
47. Gerardo dances.
48. Yesterday I practiced a lot.
49. We travel twice a year.
50. The river roars at night.

You are interested in:

• Transitive sentences
• Transitive verbs