Some verbs can be used only as a transitive verbs, but other verbs can be used both transitively and intransitively, depending on the meaning. An example of a verb that can be either transitive or intransitive is "to study" and its Spanish equivalent, estudiar. In the sentence "Tomorrow I am going to study" (Mañana voy a estudiar), the verb is intransitive; it indicates only the action without indicating the recipient of the action. But in the sentence "I studied the history books" (yo estudiaba los libros de historia), the verb is used transitively.

