Here's a breakdown:
* Transitive verbs express an action that is directed toward a recipient or target. This recipient is called the object.
* Intransitive verbs express an action that is not directed toward a recipient. They don't need an object.
Examples:
* Transitive:
* "She wrote a letter." (The object is "letter")
* "They built a house." (The object is "house")
* Intransitive:
* "The baby slept." (No object needed)
* "The birds sang." (No object needed)
Tips for identifying transitive verbs:
* Ask "What?" or "Whom?" after the verb: If you can answer these questions, it's likely a transitive verb.
* "She wrote what?" – A letter.
* Look for a direct object: A direct object directly receives the action of the verb.
Let me know if you'd like more examples or have any other questions!