Which of the following best describes a transitive verb?

A transitive verb is best described as a verb that requires a direct object to complete its meaning. In grammatical terms, transitive verbs are action verbs that require someone or something to receive the action. For example, in the sentence "She reads a book," "reads" is a transitive verb because it needs the direct object "a book" to clarify what is being read.

The other options describe verb types that do not convey the specific requirement of a transitive verb. The first option refers to intransitive verbs, which do not take a direct object. The third option relates to verbs that can stand alone, which applies to intransitive actions. The fourth option speaks more broadly about verbs that convey completed actions, which is applicable to both transitive and intransitive verbs. Thus, the definition of a transitive verb focusing on its need for a direct object makes the second choice the most accurate description.