Verbs with and without objects

Some verbs (e.g. see, describe) are followed by an object. These are called transitive verbs.
Other verbs that are transitive in their most common meanings include arrest, avoid, do, enjoy, find, force, get, give, grab, hit, like, pull, report, shock, take, tell, touch, want, warn.
Some verbs (e.g. arrive, cough) are not followed by an object. These are called intransitive verbs.
Other verbs that are intransitive in their most common meanings include appear, come, fall, go, happen, matter, sleep, swim, wait.
If a verb can't be followed by an object, it can't be made passive.
Some verbs can be both transitive and intransitive. Compare:
• I closed the door. and • The door closed.
Verbs like this are often used to talk about some kind of change. Other examples are break, burn, empty, increase, open, shut, spoil.
Some transitive verbs can have their objects left out when the meaning is clear from the context:
• He has smoked (cigarettes) since he was 10.
• She plays (the saxophone) beautifully.
Other verbs like this include answer, ask, cook, dance, drink, eat, fail, phone, read, sing, wash, win, write.
After some verbs we typically or always add a completion - a phrase which completes the meaning of the verb - which can be an adverb or prepositional phrase.
Compare:
• He paused for a few moments. or
• He paused, (no completion needed)
• The disease originated in Britain, (not The disease originated.) (completion needed)
Some verbs which are typically or always followed by a completion are intransitive in their most common meanings:
• I'm sure that blue car belongs to Matthew.
• We had to contend with hundreds of complaints, (not We had to contend.)
Here are some more examples together with prepositions that commonly begin the completion:
alternate between, aspire to, care for, culminate in, object to.
Other verbs which are typically or always followed by a completion are transitive in their most common meanings:
• I always associate red wine with France. (Not I always associate red wine.)
• She put the report on the floor. (Not She put the report.)
Here are some more examples together with prepositions that commonly begin the completion:
base...on, compare...with, interest...in, lend...to, mistake...for, prevent...from, regard...as, remind...of, supply...with.