Teaching knowledge wiki

The teaching knowledge wiki is a collection definitions of ELT terminology. Each entry includes a definition, an example illustrating the concept and information about how the concept can be applied in the classroom context.

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Teaching English

  
Intransitive

Intransitive verbs do not have a direct object. They can be compared to transitive verbs, which need one.

For example:
'I lied', 'She is crying', 'We left on Tuesday' are all examples of intransitive verbs.

In the classroom
Students can explore which verbs can be both transitive and intransitive; they are verbs that are often used to talk about some kind of change. E.g. 'The door opened' and 'He opened the door'. Other examples include; empty, increase, shut, spoil.

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