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Transitive and Intransitive Verbs

Instructions:

Knowing whether a verb is transitive or intransitive will save you time when looking up a translation. Transitive verbs are used with a direct object: they do something to the object that follows them. Intransitive verbs do not have an object: they stand on their own.

Decide what kind of verb is used in the following sentences ('transitive', 'intransitive' or 'reflexive'), and then select the correct translation. 
Question 1a
Verb: donner
Sentence: Donnez-moi cinq poires.
a) transitive verb
b) intransitive verb
c) reflexive verb
 
Question 1b
Translate: Donnez-moi cinq poires.
a) Give me five pears.
b) Give me five peaches.
c) Give me five sails.
 
Question 2a
Verb: donner
Sentence: La chambre donne, malheureusement, sur la cour.
a) transitive verb
b) intransitive verb
c) reflexive verb
 
Question 2b
Translate: La chambre donne, malheureusement, sur la cour.
a) Unfortunately, the room gives onto the court.
b) The room gives unfortunately over the courtyard.
c) Unfortunately, the room overlooks the courtyard.
 
Question 3a
Verb: placer
Sentence: Si on me place près du radiateur, j'aurai trop chaud.
a) transitive verb
b) intransitive verb
c) reflexive verb
 
Question 3b
Translate: Si on me place près du radiateur, j'aurai trop chaud.
a) If they give me a seat by the radiator, I'll be too hot.
b) If one places me near the radiator, I will have too much heat.
c) If they had placed me near the radiator, I would have been too hot.
 
Question 4a
Verb: placer
Sentence: Alors je me suis placée près de la fenêtre.
a) transitive verb
b) intransitive verb
c) reflexive verb
 
Question 4b
Translate: Alors je me suis placée près de la fenêtre.
a) So I sat by the window.
b) I placed myself near the window.
c) Well, I sat near the window.
 
Question 5a
Verb: grossir
Sentence: Elle a grossit de 10 kilos!
a) transitive verb
b) intransitive verb
c) reflexive verb
 
Question 5b
Translate: Elle a grossit de 10 kilos!
a) She's fattened up by 10 kilos!
b) She's grossed out by 10 kilos!
c) She's put on 10 kilos!
 
Question 6a
Verb: grossir
Sentence: C'est sa nouvelle robe qui la grossit.
a) transitive verb
b) intransitive verb
c) reflexive verb
 
Question 6b
Translate: C'est sa nouvelle robe qui la grossit.
a) It's her new robe which is fattening her up.
b) It's her new dress that makes her look fat.
c) It's her new dress that has made her fat.
 
Question 7a
Verb: lever
Sentence: Il ne se lève pas avant neuf heures.
a) transitive verb
b) intransitive verb
c) reflexive verb
 
Question 7b
Translate: Il ne se lève pas avant neuf heures.
a) He doesn't get up until nine o'clock.
b) He doesn't rise after nine.
c) He doesn't lift anything until nine o'clock.
 
Question 8a
Verb: lever
Sentence: Il n'y aura pas de pain; la pâte n'a pas levé.
a) transitive verb
b) intransitive verb
c) reflexive verb
 
Question 8b
Translate: Il n'y aura pas de pain; la pâte n'a pas levé.
a) There won't be any bread; the paté didn't lift.
b) There won't be any bread; the dough didn't rise.
c) There wasn't any bread; the pastry didn't rise.
 
Question 9a
Verb: lever
Sentence: Lève la vitre! Il se met à pleuvoir!
a) transitive verb
b) intransitive verb
c) reflexive verb
 
Question 9b
Translate: Lève la vitre! Il se met à pleuvoir!
a) Wind the window up! It's starting to rain!
b) Lift up the window! It's starting to rain!
c) Put up your umbrella! It's starting to rain!
 
Question 10a
Verb: respirer
Sentence: Lorsque je suis enrhumé, je respire toujours par la bouche.
a) transitive verb
b) intransitive verb
c) reflexive verb
 
Question 10b
Translate: Lorsque je suis enrhumé, je respire toujours par la bouche.
a) When I have rheumatism, I always breathe through my mouth.
b) When I've got a cold, I always breathe through my mouth.
c) When I've got a cold, I always breathe through my nose.
 
Question 11a
Verb: respirer
Sentence: Elle respire le bonheur.
a) transitive verb
b) intransitive verb
c) reflexive verb
 
Question 11b
Translate: Elle respire le bonheur.
a) She breathes in happiness.
b) She lives and breathes goodness.
c) She radiates happiness.
 

 

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