Question

Identify whether the verb used in the given sentence is transitive or intransitive:
You need not pay for it, I have already made the payments in advance.

a) Transitive
b) Intransitive
c) Both A and B
d) None of these

Answer 1

Hint: An action verb that is used with a direct object after it is called a transitive verb while an action verb that is not used with a direct object after it is called an intransitive verb.

Complete answer:
We know that a verb is an action word. A verb can be described as transitive or intransitive based on whether it requires an object to express a complete thought or not. A transitive verb is one that only makes sense if it exerts its action on an object. An intransitive verb will make sense without one.

Let us have a look at examples of each category for a better understanding. If we have ‘write’ as our root verb, ‘Write your name here.’ is a sentence with a transitive verb, and ‘Salim can not read or write’ is a sentence with an intransitive verb. Moreover, we should remember that transitive verbs always ask ‘for what?’ or ‘for whom?’
In the sentence given, there is no object/ subject following the verb 'pay'. This clearly makes the verb in the sentence to be intransitive.
Hence, option a is incorrect and So, the correct answer is “Option b”.
Since we now know that option b is the correct answer, option c and option d can not be the right alternatives.

Note:
In this question, understanding the concept of transitive and intransitive verbs is very important, and the major takeaway is the cue of the two questions asked by transitive verbs.