2

DEVELOPING SKILLS Set B
Unit 2 Transitive & intransitive verbs Grammar & Usage
Grammar & Usage

Unit 2 Transitive & intransitive verbs
2.1 Transitive & intransitive verbs
2.2 Prepositions
2.3 Reflexive pronouns
Grammar Practice
Part A Part B Part C Part D Part E
Language Practice
Part A Part B
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1
2.1 Transitive & intransitive verbs

• There are two kinds of verbs:
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A transitive verb needs an object – the thing

or person that is affected by the action of the
verb.
direct object
We reached our destination.
transitive
They reached a decision.
(subject + verb +
object ) ‘Can you reach the book on the top
shelf?’
Teacher’s notes
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3
An intransitive verb does not need an object.

subject verb
Heavy rain fell.
The baby cried.
intransitive The action involves only one thing or person.
(subject + verb) Intransitive verbs are often
accompanied by prepositions/adverbial
phrase. This gives more details about the
action.
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A car collided with a bus.

A car crashed into a tree.
A car plunged off the flyover.
intransitive Intransitive verbs often describe physical

(subject + verb) movements/behaviours:
She cried.
I ran.
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• Many verbs can be both transitive and intransitive and

retain the same meaning, because the object is obvious,
e.g. to finish.
I can’t go now. I haven’t Take your time. We’ll

finished my dinner. go after you finish.
transitive intransitive
verb verb
the object =
‘your
dinner’
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• Some verbs have a different meaning depending on if

they are used with or without an object, e.g. to manage.
with an object He managed the business after

the death of his father.
(= ran the business)
with no object ‘That’s okay. I can manage.’

(= cope)
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• Some verbs are always transitive while others are always

intransitive.
verbs that are always …

transitive intransitive
We’ll discuss the plan We’re talking about the
later. plan.
I’ve heard the news. I’m listening to the news.
She hasn’t found her key. She is looking for her key.
Some residents opposed Some residents objected
the plan. to the plan.
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2.2 Prepositions
When we use the nouns related to some transitive verbs, we
often need a suitable preposition to go with them.
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investigate (v.) Police are investigating the case.

investigation (n.) Compare: Police are carrying out
an investigation into
the case.
discuss (v.) They discussed ways to improve

their English.
discussion (n.)
Compare: They had a discussion
on/about ways to
improve their English.
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2.3 Reflexive pronouns

Some transitive verbs take reflexive pronouns: myself,
ourselves, yourself, yourselves, himself, herself, itself,
themselves, when the subject and object of the verbs are the
same person.
They enjoyed themselves at the party last night.
Compare: They enjoyed the party very much.
We hurt ourselves on the sharp stones.
Compare: The sharp stones hurt our feet.
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12
Grammar Practice
Choose one of the given words to complete each of the
sentences below. The first one has been done for you as an
example.
P.16
13
1 ‘Who broke the window?’ ‘Tom (1) did/broke
_______________
did .’
(2) contains/
2 consists
The committee _________________ of consists
teachers, students and parents.
(3) suffered/
3 suffered
The driver _________________ serious
suffered from
injuries in the accident.
(4) suffering/
4 suffering from
Those children are ___________________
suffering from
a rare disease.
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5 looking
Police are _______________ into the case. (5) investigating
/looking
6 rising
Rentals are ________________ as the (6) rising
/raising
economy improves.
(7) rise/raise
7 The bus company has promised not to
raise
_______________ its fares.
(8) because he
8 He found it difficult to handle the situation
lacked/for lack
because he lacked
_________________________ experience.
P.16
15
Complete the following statements using the prepositions in

the box below. Each preposition can be used more than once.
Some may not be used at all. The first one has been done for
you.
P.16
16
1 I think the waiter was impolite. We should complain

to
_________ the manager.
Teacher’s notes
2 I don’t like seafood. It doesn’t agree ___________

with me.
3 on
The meeting was great. We finally agreed ___________
a plan.
BOX P.16
17
4 The principal thought my proposal was excellent and he

to
agreed _________ my suggestions. Teacher’s notes
5 I’m afraid I don’t agree _________

with you.
Teacher’s notes
6 There’s someone knocking _________

on/at the door. I’ll get it.
BOX P.16
20
7 I miss Mum. I can’t stop thinking _________

about her.
8 for
Mrs Chan is looking _________ her keys. Have you seen
them?
9 It’s very warm in here. Why don’t you take _________

off
your coat?
on
10 Have you decided _________ the date of the picnic?
BOX P.16-17
24
Decide if the underlined prepositions in the following

sentences are necessary. Put a tick ‘’ against those that are
correct. Cross them out if they aren’t. The first two have
been done for you.
P.17
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1 They haven’t replied to my application letter. 
2 How many people attended 

to the meeting?
3 Why are you here? Who are you waiting for? 
4 The suspect finally confessed to the crime. 
5  he cheated.
He admitted to
P.17
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6 Do you believe in ghosts? 
7 Do you believe 
in his story?
8 My grandmother has been suffering from cancer for a long 

time.
9 Peter couldn’t bear with

 another loss.
10 He burst out laughing when he heard the joke. 
P.17
28
Read the sentences below. Tick those that are correct and
put a cross ‘X’ next to those that need a preposition. Write the
missing words, as shown in the examples.
P.17
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1  Have you considered accepting my offer?
for
2  I’ve been waiting him for over an hour.
^
3  No one told me about the science assignment.
4  Mr Chan requested a loan from the bank.
P.17
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for
5  Is this the book you’re looking?
^
about Teacher’s notes
6  I don’t like him. He’s always bragging his successes.
^
to/with
7  ‘Who did you speak?’ Jane asked her son.
^
8  Why did Ada marry George?
P.17
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Follow the instructions given in brackets and rewrite the

sentences below. Keep the meaning of the original
sentences. The first one has been done for you.
P.18
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1 The man admitted selling pirated VCDs. ( Rewrite using

confessed.)
The man confessed to selling pirated VCDs.

________________________________________________
________________________________________________
2 The match was cancelled because of heavy rain.

( Rewrite using called.)
The match was called off because of (the) heavy

________________________________________________
rain.
________________________________________________
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3 Why did they postpone the meeting? ( Rewrite using

put.)
Why did they put off the meeting?
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
4 He did not agree to my proposal. ( Rewrite beginning

with the given words.)
to my proposal.
He objected ______________________________________
________________________________________________
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5 She had a bad headache last night. ( Begin with the given
words.)
from a bad headache last night.
She suffered _____________________________________
________________________________________________
6 Some salespeople visited us last week. ( Rewrite using

called.)
Some salespeople called on us last week.
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
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7 He removed his jacket and hung it over the back of the chair.
( Rewrite using took.)
He took off his jacket and hung it over the back
________________________________________________
of chair.
________________________________________________
8 She’s interested in research work. ( Begin with the given

words.)
interests her.
Research work ___________________________________
________________________________________________
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9 Your proposal has the committee’s approval. ( Begin

of your proposal.
The committee approves ____________________________
________________________________________________
10 The cook used fresh spices to enhance the dish. ( Begin

(to) enhance the dish.
Fresh spices helped ________________________________
________________________________________________
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Language Practice
Read the information in the following box. Then complete
each of the blanks in the conversation below with a suitable
word. Make sure that your answers are grammatically
correct. The first one has been done for you.
Teacher’s notes
P.19
39
Ann Did you (1) that Sam is in hospital? know

(1) ____________
Jack What happened?
Ann He woke up in great (2) on Tuesday pain

(2) ____________
morning and an ambulance was (3) for. sent

(3) ____________
The doctors checked him and found

that he was suffering (4) acute from
(4) ____________
appendicitis, so they operated (5) on

(5) ____________
him straight away.
INFORMATION P.19
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Jack Poor Sam!
Ann I ran (6) his sister this morning on my into

(6) ____________
way to school. She said Sam is (7) fast recovering

(7) ____________
and the doctors hope he can be

discharged in a few days.
Jack That’s great news. I think I’ll (8) him pay

(8) ____________
a visit before he returns home.
INFORMATION P.19
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Ann Can I (9) too? come

(9) ____________
Jack Sure - (10) about this Saturday? how/what

(10) ____________
Ann I’m afraid I’m (11) my uncle at the meeting

(11) ____________
airport.
Jack When are you meeting (12) ? (12) ____________

him
Ann 2.25 in the afternoon.
INFORMATION P.19
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Jack That’s all right. We can go in the

evening, if that (13) you better. suits
(13) ____________
Ann That’d be great. I’ll (14) you a give

(14) ____________
ring when I get home from the airport.
Jack No problem.
INFORMATION P.19
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Read the following news clipping and use the information to

complete Rano’s diary entry below. Use ONE word for each
blank. Two have been done for you as examples.
Teacher’s notes
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I was at the beach with members of my group

when the tsunami (1) Phuket. People hit
(1) ____________
screamed and were running (2) all directions in

(2) ____________
as the huge waves swept up the beach. ‘Don’t

panic,’ I shouted (3) my group. ‘Stay close to
(3) ____________
together and (4) me.’ I (5) them inland towards follow

(4) ____________
higher ground, not far from the beach. led

(5) ____________
NEWS CLIPPING P.20

51
There were several elderly people and

children in my group. As we ran, I noticed
some of them were falling behind. ‘They
won’t (6) it to the hill,’ I thought. ‘I must help make
(6) ____________
them.’ ‘Keep going,’ I said to a young man, as

I dashed back to (7) the eldest member of the help/assist
(7) ____________
group.
NEWS CLIPPING P.20

54
Other local people and tourists who were also

heading for higher ground (8) the elderly and helped
(8) ____________
small children. When we at last (9) to the top got

(9) ____________
of the hill, I (10) heads. No one was (11) . What counted

(10) ____________
a relief! In times of difficulty we are not alone missing

(11) ____________
- there is always someone ready to (12) . help

(12) ____________
NEWS CLIPPING P.20

57

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DEVELOPING SKILLS Set B

Unit 2 Transitive & intransitive verbs Grammar & Usage

Grammar & Usage

2.1 Transitive & intransitive verbs

A transitive verb needs an object – the thing

An intransitive verb does not need an object.

A car collided with a bus.

intransitive Intransitive verbs often describe physical

• Many verbs can be both transitive and intransitive and

I can’t go now. I haven’t Take your time. We’ll

• Some verbs have a different meaning depending on if

with an object He managed the business after

with no object ‘That’s okay. I can manage.’

• Some verbs are always transitive while others are always

verbs that are always …

investigate (v.) Police are investigating the case.

discuss (v.) They discussed ways to improve

2.3 Reflexive pronouns

Compare: They enjoyed the party very much.

We hurt ourselves on the sharp stones.

Compare: The sharp stones hurt our feet.

1 ‘Who broke the window?’ ‘Tom (1) did/broke

Complete the following statements using the prepositions in

1 I think the waiter was impolite. We should complain

2 I don’t like seafood. It doesn’t agree ___________

4 The principal thought my proposal was excellent and he

5 I’m afraid I don’t agree _________

6 There’s someone knocking _________

7 I miss Mum. I can’t stop thinking _________

9 It’s very warm in here. Why don’t you take _________

Decide if the underlined prepositions in the following

1 They haven’t replied to my application letter. 

2 How many people attended 

3 Why are you here? Who are you waiting for? 

4 The suspect finally confessed to the crime. 

6 Do you believe in ghosts? 

8 My grandmother has been suffering from cancer for a long 

9 Peter couldn’t bear with

10 He burst out laughing when he heard the joke. 

1  Have you considered accepting my offer?

3  No one told me about the science assignment.

4  Mr Chan requested a loan from the bank.

8  Why did Ada marry George?

Follow the instructions given in brackets and rewrite the

1 The man admitted selling pirated VCDs. ( Rewrite using

The man confessed to selling pirated VCDs.

2 The match was cancelled because of heavy rain.

The match was called off because of (the) heavy

3 Why did they postpone the meeting? ( Rewrite using

4 He did not agree to my proposal. ( Rewrite beginning

6 Some salespeople visited us last week. ( Rewrite using

8 She’s interested in research work. ( Begin with the given

9 Your proposal has the committee’s approval. ( Begin

10 The cook used fresh spices to enhance the dish. ( Begin

Ann Did you (1) that Sam is in hospital? know

Jack What happened?

Ann He woke up in great (2) on Tuesday pain

morning and an ambulance was (3) for. sent

The doctors checked him and found