Grammar Notes - Transitive and Intransitive Verbs

Transitive Intransitive Test Yourself!

Transitive

Verbs which have a Direct Object are called Transitive. Here are just a few examples - you'll find plenty more as you go along:

Have you seen these?	Haben Sie diese gesehen?
I'll explain the Maier contract to you	Ich erkläre Ihnen den Maiervertrag
What are you doing tomorrow evening?	Was machen Sie morgen abend?
At the same time we'll visit Dispatch	Gleichzeitig besuchen wir den Versand
You know Reception already	Die Rezeption kennen Sie ja schon
Well, may I introduce my wife	Also, darf ich Ihnen meine Frau vorstellen
So, check in the luggage first	So, erst das Gepäck abgeben
I'm glad	Das freut mich

Intransitive

When Verbs do not take a Direct Object they are called Intransitive. Here are some examples:

Does it (the dog) belong to your son?	Gehört er Ihrem Sohn?
The chain is nice too.	Die Kette gefällt mir auch
Can I help you?	Kann ich Ihnen helfen?
Follow me	Folgen Sie mir
Does it taste good (to you)?	Schmeckt es dir?
I'm going straight to Lost Property	Ich gehe gleich zum Fundbüro
I'm here relatively often	Hier bin ich relativ oft
Let's get to the business	Kommen wir zur Sache
He's separated now	Er lebt jetzt in Trennung

Test yourself!

Try the following:

Study the explanations and examples.

Print out the table for the grammar point you are working on and fold it into 2 vertically. You will then be able to check your recall of the English and German examples by folding and unfolding the paper.

Created for ULTRALAB trial June 1999 Copyright ULTRALAB at Anglia Polytechnic University