LoginMono-transitive Verbs
What are Mono-transitive Verbs?
Mono-transitive verbs are those that take a single verb complement, and show that the subject is performing the action of the verb on the complement.
Transitive Verbs: Complements
The complement of a transitive verb is either a direct object or an object of preposition which is necessary for the sentence to make sense.
Direct Object
The direct object can be a pronoun, noun (phrase), or noun clause that shows who or what receives the action of the verb. Here are some examples:
I saw him yesterday.
a pronoun
We watched an action movie.
a noun phrase
I believe that he is honest.
a noun clause
Objects of Prepositions
Objects of prepositions are those that need a preposition to connect to the verb, but still receive the action of the verb. The verb is called an indirect transitive and the object is called oblique in such cases. For example:
The board approved of the plan.
He referred to my book in his speech.
Warning!
There is some ambiguity regarding the nature of such verbs in English. Some resources consider them intransitive and the object of preposition as a non-core complement. We consider them transitive since the object of preposition receives the action of the verb and occupies the subject position in the passive voice, similar to the direct object in normal transitive structures.
What Does Not Count as Complement?
Not everything that appears after a verb makes it transitive. Complements must be distinguished from adjuncts, which add extra information to the sentence, but are not essential to its structure and meaning, as opposed to complements which are essential components of the sentence. Adverbs and prepositional phrases are common adjuncts that might cause confusion in identifying transitive verbs.
Adverbs
Adverbs are commonly used in sentences to provide more information about where, when, or how something happened. These adjuncts can be removed from the sentence without causing any significant change in its meaning. Here are some examples:
The cat was sleeping peacefully.
This sentence is intransitive, "peacefully" is an adjunct and does not constitute an essential complement of the verb.
I went to the store yesterday.
This sentence is transitive because of the direct object "the store." "Yesterday" is a just an adverb of time offering extra information.
Prepositional Phrases
Like adverbs, prepositional phrases provide additional information about the time, place, or manner of an action, but are not essential for the sentence to make sense. Do not confuse these with objects of preposition which are essential for the verb to express a complete meaning. Compare the examples:
I deeply cared for her.
Here, "for her" is an object of preposition because the object receives the action of the verb "care."
I swim for fun.
Here, "for fun" is an adjunct expressing the reason for the action. The verb is intransitive and expresses a full meaning without the adjunct: "I swim."
Transitive Verbs: Passivization
One of the most common criteria for identifying a transitive verbs is to test if it can be made passive. But this test is not always reliable. In general, transitive verbs can be categorized into three groups based on how they undergo passivization:
Direct Object as the Subject of Passive Voice
This is the most natural case of passives with transitive verbs. The direct object becomes the subject of the passive verb. For example:
They opened the door. → The door was opened.
The teacher explained the rules. → The rules were explained by the teacher.
Object of Preposition as the Subject of Passive Voice
Naturally, this is how indirect transitive verbs undergo passivization. The object of preposition becomes the subject of the passive voice. The preposition typically stays stranded after the verb. Here are some examples:
They looked after her. → She was looked after.
Notice how the pronoun changes when its role changes from the object to the subject.
The community counted on John. → John was counted on by the community.
No Passive
Some verbs are transitive and do have a direct object, but cannot be made passive. This typically happens with stative verbs and symmetric verbs which show a reciprocal relation between the subject and the object. It's also possible if the subject does not have an agentive role. Look at the examples below:
The car costs $20,000.
A stative verb.
She resembles her father.
A symmetric verb.
He missed the bus.
A subject without an agentive role.
Overlap with Intransitive Verbs
Some verbs can be used both transitively and intransitively without significant change in meaning. Such verbs can be categorized into two groups:
Ambitransitive verbs
Ambitransitive Verbs
Ambitransitive verbs can be both transitive and intransitive without significant change in meaning or structure. The difference between the two forms is that the transitive usage provides more information by specifying who or what is receiving the action of the verb.
She was singing.
She was singing her favorite song.
Ergative Verbs
Ergative verbs can be transitive or intransitive as well, but they are different from ambitransitive verbs in that the object of the transitive form and the subject of the intransitive form are the same.
The glass broke.
She broke the glass.
Review
Transitive verbs require one verb complement which is either a direct object or an object of preposition. The complement receives the action of the verb and must be distinguished from adjuncts that add non-essential information.
When it comes to the passive voice, transitive verbs can be categorized into three groups:
Transitive verbs where the direct object of the active voice becomes the subject of the passive voice
Transitive verbs where the object of preposition in the active voice becomes the subject of the passive voice
Transitive verbs that cannot be made passive
Quiz:
Sort the words to make a sentence with an object of preposition and an adjunct.
Match each sentence with its correct description.
Which transitive sentence cannot be made passive?
The children completed the project.
He looked after the children.
John married Anna in a beautiful ceremony.
Sarah was standing by the door.
Choose True or False for each statement.
Mono-transitive verbs can take more than one complement. | |
Transitive stative verbs can be passivized. | |
Adjuncts such as adverbs and prepositional phrases are necessary complements for transitive verbs. | |
With ergative verbs the object in the transitive form becomes the subject in the intransitive form. |
Which sentence uses an ergative verb?
The glass broke.
She was singing her favorite song.
They left the door open.
We watched an action movie.
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