Here's a breakdown:
Verb: The action word in a sentence.
Direct Object: The thing that receives the action of the verb.
Examples:
* "She read the book."
* Verb: read
* Direct Object: book (The action of reading is done to the book.)
* "The dog chased the ball."
* Verb: chased
* Direct Object: ball (The action of chasing is done to the ball.)
* "He wrote a letter."
* Verb: wrote
* Direct Object: letter (The action of writing is done to the letter.)
Here's how to identify a transitive verb:
1. Ask "What?" or "Whom?" after the verb. If you can answer the question with a noun or pronoun, the verb is likely transitive.
2. Look for a direct object. The object receives the action of the verb.
Contrast with Intransitive Verbs
Intransitive verbs do *not* require a direct object. They express a complete action without needing something to receive it.
* "The sun shines." (The verb "shines" does not need an object.)
* "The baby slept." (The verb "slept" does not need an object.)
In summary:
Transitive verbs act *on* something, while intransitive verbs act *without* needing something to act upon.