Intransitive verb: Subject, verb, no object. I do something. Transitive verb: Subject, verb, object. I do something TO something. Quite a lot of verb can be used either way, as a transitive or an intransitive verb. Intransitive verb: I ate an hour ago. I'm not hungry now. Transitive verb: I ate a hamburger an hour ago. (I did something TO a hamburger). Intransitive verb: I drink. Transitive verb: I drink water. Intransitive verb: I hear. My ears are fine. I'm not deaf. Transitive verb: I hear music.

A transitive verb takes a direct object and from which the passive form/voice can be formed. For example: tell the truth, deny something. An intransitive verb, on the other hand, indicates a complete action without a direct object. For example, be born, die, sit. I hope this helps.

Just explaining it a third way... Transitive verbs need an object for the action. Something needs to receive the action. For example, we can't say "I like," or "I enjoy," because the question is always "like what?" and "enjoy what?" Verbs which don't take an object are intransitive. "I look," "We talk," and "She listens" are all complete sentences. If we want to add more information, we use a preposition: "I look at the clock," "We talk to our friends," and "She listens to music." As in Dan's examples, some verbs can be transitive or intransitive. You will see which form, based on the sentence. Some synonyms are different because one verb is transitive and the other is intransitive. Discuss a topic vs. Talk about a topic Answer an email vs. Reply to an email See the sea vs. Look at the sea This online dictionary shows which verbs are transitive (v.tr) or intransitive (v.intr), with examples: http://www.thefreedictionary.com/

1. Transitive verbs, active voice generally apply to a direct object. 2. Transitive verbs, passive voice apply to the subject. 3. Intransitive verbs always apply to the subject, never to a direct object. Therefore, there is NO passive voice. Transitive: Can take a direct object. Has a passive voice form. Some verbs require a direct object; some don't. I think. (no direct object) I think thoughts. (direct object; noun) I think that he is tired. (direct object; noun clause) He was thought to be tired. (passive voice) Intransitive: Action always applies to the subject. Therefore, it has NO passive voice form. I lie (recline) down. (I cannot "lie something". It is I who is lying down. "Down" is an adverb, not a direct object) I ache (hurt). (I cannot "ache something". It is I that is aching.)