French Intransitive Verbs No Object. Grammar Glossary

An intransitive verb doesnt need, and cant take, a direct object to complete its meaning. While transitive verbs have an object, either direct or indirect, intransitive verbs may never have any kind of object.   Verbs of Motion Intransitive verbs are generally verbs of being or motion (coming and going) that do not require an object to complete them. Intransitive verbs (mourir, dormir, neiger, planer) should not be confused with transitive verbs that take an indirect object (aller, parler). Meanwhile, certain transitive verbs (manger) can be used intransitively without an object (il mange), and certain intransitive verbs can be followed unconventionally by a direct object (Il pense lunivers).   Intransitive verbs, like transitive verbs, may be modified by adverbs or prepositional phrases (Il dort souvent au volant. He often sleeps at the wheel.) There are several cases where a verb that may be transitive or intransitive in English must be translated by two different verbs in French: to return (retourner, rendre), to  leave  (partir, laisser, quitter).   tre Verbs The most common intransitive verbs are those that require à ªtre as the auxiliary verb in the passà © composà © and other compound tenses. They are verbs of motion such as aller, arriver, partir, sortir and tomber, that require  no direct object. Some à ªtre  verbs  can be used transitively (with a direct object), and when this happens, these verbs need  avoir  instead of à ªtre  as the helping verb. When this happens, there is a slight change in meaning. On the other hand, there are many intransitive verbs of motion that use avoir, such as marcher (to walk) and courir   (to run). Additional Resources Être verbsDirect objectsTransitive verbFrench verbs