Transitive vs Intransitive verbs and How to Use Them

Introduction

Welcome back! Today we’re going to be covering a tricky topic, so I hope you brought your grammar pants! You’ve already learned about the が and を particles, and now it’s time to put them to work. Namely, we’re going to cover transitive and intransitive verbs. Ready, set, go! 😁

Who’s Doing That Verb!?

Structure:

• 

  をTransitive Verb
  Example:
  → ピザを食たべた。
  ”I ate pizza.”

• 

  (が)Intransitive Verb
  Example:
  → ヘッドライトが点ついた。
  ”The headlight turned on.”

My Friend, Transitive Verb

You may remember from your を lesson, that transitive verbs are verbs that require a direct object; their actions require a “recipient”. So, if I say “I raised the ball”, the verb “raise” is acting on the object (recipient) “ball”. Transitive verbs follow the を particle.