An intransitive verb is a type of verb that does not require a direct object to complete its meaning. In other words, the action expressed by an intransitive verb does not act upon a direct object; instead, the action is confined to the subject or affects the environment in a way that does not require an object to receive the action.

Characteristics of Intransitive Verbs:

No Direct Object:

An intransitive verb does not have a direct object, which is a noun or pronoun that receives the action of the verb. The meaning of the verb is complete without needing to specify what is being acted upon.

Self-contained Meaning:

The meaning of the verb is clear and complete without additional information. The verb itself provides all the necessary details about the action.

Examples:

Sleep: “She sleeps.” (No direct object; the sentence is complete with just the subject and the verb.)

Arrive: “The train arrived.” (No direct object; the sentence indicates that the action happened, but nothing is acted upon.)

Laugh: “They laughed.” (No direct object; the verb “laughed” doesn’t require an object to make sense.)

Sometimes with Adverbial Phrases:

Intransitive verbs can be accompanied by adverbial phrases or prepositional phrases that provide additional information about how, when, where, or to what extent the action occurs, but these are not direct objects.

For example: “She sleeps soundly.” (The adverb “soundly” describes how she sleeps, but there is still no direct object.)

Contrasts with Transitive Verbs:

In contrast, a transitive verb requires a direct object to complete its meaning. For example, in “She reads a book,” “reads” is a transitive verb, and “a book” is the direct object that receives the action.

Summary

In summary, an intransitive verb is a verb that does not take a direct object. It can stand alone in a sentence and still convey a complete idea. Understanding the distinction between transitive and intransitive verbs helps in constructing grammatically correct sentences and clarifying the action being described.