Hmm, I think this is hard to translate properly in english.
I'll just give some tips that covers partially for recognition, mostly from the late Dolly-sensei.
Japanese verbs can be divided into two:
1. to be (to exist) in ある/いる verbs mostly ending in "ru" and う-sound ending, except す
2. to do (to action) する verbs mostly ending in "su"
The aru/iru verbs of "to be" are intransitive as it refers back to the speaker/subject using が (or implied, mostly with only は) without needing a target object. (Common exception: You'll find confusion in translation of japanese "like" 好き because literal japanese is not the english "I like apples" but "apples are pleasant")
e.g.
* 出る (でる) deru - to exit or come out.
Example sentence: ６ 。
* 乗る (のる) noru - to board/ride (a bike/car) (common exception: uses target referencing に but refers to the subject doing the action).
Example sentence: 。 I board a plane.
* 上がる (あがる) - self/subject to rise, (uses the あ-sound column, が)
Example sentence:
I spring up with a start.
The suru verbs are transitive as they need a target, generally targetted with wo を , some exceptions with ni に.
e.g.
* 出す (だす) dasu - to take out something (the something is the targetを)
Example sentence:
He quickly take out his hand.
* 乗せる (のせる) noseru - to put an object, targetted using を, into riding/boarding something, targetted using に. (common exception)
Example sentence: 。
I'll put the baby in the baby seat.
* 上げる (上げる) ageru - to raise object (uses the え-sound column, げ)
Example sentence:
Here's a list from the Monash University, you can look at it and see the general rules above.
Then, there are the rest of the transitive/intransitive pairs that are not so obvious. Pairs of う-sound ending verbs and えう-sound ending verbs which need memorization.
Check renshuu's sentence dictionary for examples.
Hope this helps!
Edit: Didn't understand what the acronym "ELI5" meant "Explain like I am a 5-year old". Now that I do, this answer is not fit for basics, but for the next level in the japanese context. Added specific japanese-english sentence to supplement.
