Visual Action Verbs vs. Mental Action Verbs

An action verb tells what action someone or something is performing.

The boy ran from the dog. Grandma poured me some lemonade.

The PERSON or THING that performs the action is called the SUBJECT of the verb.

Action verbs show MENTAL action as well as VISIBLE action.

VISIBLE ACTION: We bought two books about vampires. MENTAL ACTION: Lilly hopes Travis will ask her to the dance.

Transitive vs. Intransitive Verbs

Transitive verb: an action verb that directs action toward someone or something named in the sentence. Intransitive verb: an action verb that does NOT direct action toward someone or something named in the sentence. Most action verbs can be transitive in one sentence and intransitive in another.

Transitive verb: Michelle drove the car to school. Bill reads a book every night at bed Intransitive verb: Michelle drove to school. Bill reads every night at bedtime.

To find out if a verb is transitive or intransitive, ask yourself “Whom?” or “What?” after the verb. If you can find the answer in the sentence, the verb is transitive. If not, the verb is intransitive.