Практическая грамматика

§ 5. As has been stated above a verb can be transitive and intransitive. Transitive verbs take a direct object, i.e. they express an action that passes on to a person or thing directly. A direct object answers the questions What? or Whom? Only action verbs can be transitive. Here belong such verbs as to take, to give, to send, to make, to see, to show, to bring, to love, etc.
She could order dinner with judgement and select proper wines for each course. (Hilton)
I saw Evelyn at the conference.
There are some transitive verbs, which are hardly ever used without a direct object, such as to take, to make, to give, to have.
Arthur signed the receipt, took his papers and went out
in dead silence. (Voynich)
There are other verbs which can be used either with or without a direct object, such as to read, to write, to hear, to see.
On Friday night about eleven he had packed his bag and was leaning out of his window... when he heard a tiny sound, as of a finger-nail, tapping on his door (Galsworthy)
The starch, as he soon heard, was valued at ten dollars a barrel and it only brought six. (Dreiser)
Any verb that does not take a direct object is intransitive. That is, the verb does not express an action that passes on to a receiver. Here belong such verbs as to stand, to sleep, to laugh, to think, to lie, to swim, etc.
He shrugged without answering (Hilton)
Helen’s smile widened (Hilton)
Helen Avery flushed angrily (Hilton)
There are verbs whose primary meaning is transitive and whose secondary meaning is intransitive. Here" belong such verbs as to sell, to read, to add, to act, etc.
This book sells well.
Though Dora tried hard the figures would not add.
There are verbs whose primary meaning is intransitive and whose secondary meaning is transitive. Here belong such verbs as to work, to starve, to walk, to run, etc.
For that man, I've been running people through the front line! (Heym)