German Grammar
Transitive and Intransitive Verbs
A verb is transitive if it has a direct object or is used in a passive sentence. Else it is intransitive. The direct object is nearly always in accusative. The rest of this page explains all the details you need to know about transitive and intransitive verbs.
Examples:
- • Ich lese das Buch. (I read the book.) (Transitive)
- • Ich schlafe. (I sleep.) (Intransitive)
Direct vs. Indirect Objects
A direct object is the same as a accusative object - it receives the action of the verb directly. In contrast, an indirect object is a dative object - it indicates to whom or for whom the action is done.
Examples:
- • Ich lese das Buch. (I read the book.)
- • Ich helfe dem Kind. (I help the child.)
- • Ich gebe dem Kind das Buch. (I give the book to the child.)
Transitive Verbs
Transitive verbs require a direct object to complete their meaning. The subject does something directly to the object. In dictionaries, transitive verbs are marked as vt (verb transitiv).
Common examples:
- • Ich lese ein Buch. (I read a book.)
- • Sie kauft einen Computer. (She buys a computer.)
Transitive verbs can form the passive voice with werden and the verbs participle. The direct object becomes the subject, and the original subject can be expressed with von (in dative):
| Verb | Active Voice | Passive Voice |
|---|---|---|
| lesen | Ich lese das Buch. | Das Buch wird (von mir) gelesen. |
| bauen | Sie bauen ein Haus. | Ein Haus wird (von ihnen) gebaut. |
| fragen | Der Lehrer fragt die Schüler. | Die Schüler werden (vom Lehrer) gefragt. |
→ Learn more about Passive Voice
→ Learn more about Participles
In the perfect tenses (Perfekt, Plusquamperfekt, Futur II) all transitive verbs use haben as their auxiliary verb:
Examples:
- • Ich habe das Buch gelesen. (I have read the book.)
- • Sie hat einen Brief geschrieben. (She has written a letter.)
Intransitive Verbs
Intransitive verbs do not take an direct object. They may stand alone, take a dative object, or be followed by prepositional phrases. It is often hard to know if a verb is transitive or intransitive. To help you decide, here is a list of indicators of intransitive verbs.
| Indicator | Example Verb | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| No object | schlafen (to sleep) | Das Baby schläft. |
| Movement verbs | gehen (to go) | Sie geht zur Schule. |
| Change of state | wachsen (to grow) | Die Blume wächst schnell. |
| Dative verbs | helfen (to help) | Ich helfe dir. |
| Reflexive verbs | sich freuen (to be happy) | Er freut sich. |
Verbs That Can Be Both
Some verbs can function as either transitive or intransitive with different meanings. Note that you can still use the same methods to tell if it is transitive or intransitive. Transitive verbs will have a direct object while intransitive verbs do not. Because the difference between the transitive use and the passive voice (with werden + participle) is subtle, the passive voice is also included:
| Transitive Use | Intransitive Use | Passive |
|---|---|---|
| Er fährt das Auto. (He drives the car.) | Er fährt nach Berlin. (He drives to Berlin.) | Das Auto wird gefahren. (The car is being driven.) |
| Sie bricht den Stock. (She breaks the stick.) | Der Stock bricht. (The stick breaks.) | Der Stock wird gebrochen. (The stick is being broken.) |
| Ich koche die Suppe. (I cook the soup.) | Das Suppe kocht. (The soup boils.) | Die Suppe wird gekocht. (The soup is being cooked.) |