be
belong
hang
lie
live
be located
remain
sit
be situated
stand
stay
Verbs such as extend or stretch are followed by adverbs or phrases relating to extent.
…an area stretching from London to Cambridge.
There are a few verbs that are always followed by other types of adverb or phrase.
It behaves rather like a squirrel.
My brother agreed to act as a go-between.
I hoped that the absorption of poison hadn’t progressed too far.
Here is a list of verbs that are always followed by other types of adverb or phrase:
act
behave
campaign
progress
verbs that are occasionally transitive
3.13 There are a few verbs that are usually intransitive but that can be transitive when they are used with one particular object. The object is usually directly related to the verb. For example, smile is usually used without an object, but you can use it with the noun smile. For example, He smiled a patient smile is a literary alternative to saying He smiled patiently. The focus is on the type of smile rather than on the act of smiling.
Steve smiled his thin, cruel smile.
He appears to have lived the life of any other rich gentleman.
Alice laughed a scornful laugh.
I once dreamed a very nice dream about you.
Here is a list of verbs that can only be used with an object when the object is directly related to the verb:
dance (a dance)
die (a death)
dream (a dream)
laugh (a laugh)
live (a life)
sigh (a sigh)
smile (a smile)
A more common way of focusing on the noun phrase is to use a delexical verb such as give, take, or have, as in Mary gave him a really lovely smile. See paragraphs 3.32 to 3.45 for more information about the use of delexical verbs.
Transitive verbs: involving someone or something other than the subject
3.14 Many verbs describe events that must, in addition to the subject, involve someone or something else. Some of these verbs can only be used with a following object.
The extra profit justifies the investment.
He had committed a disgraceful action.
They are employing more staff.
This means that they are followed by a direct object.
She had friends.
Children seek independence.
The trial raised a number of questions.
different types of object
3.15 Many verbs that are only used with an object can take a large range of objects. For example, there are many things you can want: money, a rest, success, and so on.
She wanted some help.
I put my hand on the door.
She described her background.
I still support the government.
He had always liked Mr Phillips.
Japan has a population of about a hundred million.
Some transitive verbs have a restricted range of objects, because of their meaning. For example, the object of the verb kill must be something that is alive. The object of the verb waste must be something you can use, such as time, money, or food.
They killed huge elephants with tiny poisoned darts.
Why waste money on them?
3.16 Here is a list of verbs that are transitive:
achieve
address
admire
affect
afford
avoid
bear
believe
blame
build
buy
calm
carry
catch
claim
commit
complete
concern
consider
control
convince
correct
cover
create
cut
damage
defy
demand
describe
design
desire
destroy
discover
discuss
display
do
dread
enjoy
equal
exchange
expect
experience
express
favour
fear
fill
find
free
get
give
grant
guard
handle
hate
have
hear
heat
hire
hit
include
influence
introduce
issue
justify
keep
kill
know
lack
like
list
love
lower
maintain
make
mean
mention
name
need
own
plant
please
prefer
prevent
process
produce
pronounce
protect
provide
raise
reach
receive
recommend
record
release
remember
remove
rent
report
respect
reveal
risk
see
seek
sell
shock
specify
spot
support
take
tease
test
threaten
trust
upset
use
value
want
waste
wear
welcome
Note that do and have are also very often used as auxiliaries. See the Reference Section for this use.
Have got and has got are often used instead of the present tense of have when talking about possession. The forms of have behave like auxiliaries when used like this before got.
I’ve got an umbrella.
She’s got a degree.
Measure and weigh are sometimes considered to be transitive verbs when used to state measurements and weights. This use is explained in paragraph 2.252. Cost is used to state the cost of something, as in An adult ticket costs 90p.
human objects
3.17 When you are talking about something that affects a person rather than a thing, it is normal in English to say who that person is. Therefore, verbs such as anger, thank, and warn, which involve affecting people, usually have a human object.
I tried to comfort her.
Her sudden death had surprised everybody.
Blue suits you.
Money did not interest him very much.
Lebel briefed Caron on the events of the afternoon.
3.18 Here is a list of verbs that usually have a human object:
anger
brief
comfort
contact
frighten
interest
suit
surprise
tease
thank