Verb Transitivity Answer Key
About This Worksheet
This Grade 7 Language Arts worksheet helps students decide whether an action verb is transitive or intransitive. A transitive verb passes its action to a direct object, while an intransitive verb does not need a direct object to complete the sentence. For example, in “The chef chopped the vegetables,” chopped is transitive because it answers “chopped what?” In “The baby laughed loudly,” laughed is intransitive because there is no direct object receiving the action.
Learning Goals
The main goal is to help students connect action verbs with direct objects. Students should already know how to locate the main verb and recognize a noun or pronoun that receives the action. This activity moves them toward using the “what?” or “whom?” test to determine whether a verb is transitive. It supports CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.7.1 by strengthening students’ understanding of verb function and sentence structure.
Student Tasks
On this worksheet, students will read fifteen sentences and decide whether each action verb is transitive or intransitive. They will write T or I on the answer line. If the verb is transitive, students must underline the direct object and write the answer to the “what?” or “whom?” question. The sentences include actions such as chopping, kicking, laughing, applauding, recording, flying, painting, stopping, cheering, explaining, carrying, melting, choosing, sleeping, and asking.
Common Challenges
Some students may confuse an adverb or prepositional phrase with a direct object. For example, loudly tells how the baby laughed, but it does not receive the action. Others may assume that every sentence with a noun after the verb has a direct object, even when that noun follows a preposition. Encourage students to ask the verb question directly: “Verb what?” or “Verb whom?” If the sentence gives a clear answer without a preposition, the verb is probably transitive.
Teaching Suggestions
A teacher can model the test with two short examples: “The reporter asked a question” and “The children slept peacefully.” In the first sentence, “asked what?” leads to question. In the second, “slept what?” does not make sense, so the verb is intransitive. At home, a parent can have the child say the verb aloud followed by “what?” If no logical answer appears, there is likely no direct object.
Worksheet Features
The worksheet includes fifteen sentences with a balanced mix of transitive and intransitive verbs. Students do more than label the verb type because they must also locate the direct object when one is present. The examples include people, animals, sports, science, and school situations, giving the practice useful variety. This page works well for direct-object review, verb study, homework, or independent assessment.