3.3 intransitive verbs

If an action or event involves only one person or thing, you mention only the performer of the action (the subject) and the action (the verb).

• The girl screamed.
• I waited.
• An awful thing has happened.

Clauses of this kind are called intransitive clauses. Verbs which occur in intransitive clauses are called intransitive verbs.

However, you can then mention another person or thing which is involved using a prepositional phrase.

• She walked across the street.

Intransitive verbs are explained in paragraphs 3.9 to 3.14.