LoginTransitivity
Dive into transitive verbs (e.g., 'write' a letter) and intransitive verbs (e.g., 'fall'). Detailed explanations and a quiz to test your knowledge.
What is Transitivity?
Verbs are categorized into five groups based on the type of verb complements they need to express a complete meaning: intransitive verbs, linking verbs, mono-transitive verbs, ditransitive verbs, and complex transitive verbs.
Intransitive Verbs
A sentence that has an intransitive verb does not need any verb complements. It is complete with only a subject and a verb.
Karen is sleeping.
'Karen' is the person doing the action which is 'sleeping.' Therefore, the verb 'sleep' is an intransitive verb.
The kid smiled.
'The kid' is the person doing the action of 'smiling.' So, the verb 'smile' is an intransitive one.
Normally, verbs that describe physical actions or types of movement are categorized as intransitive verbs.
I was laughing.
Here in the example, 'laughing' is a physical action that is intransitive.
The bus arrived.
Here, 'Arrived' is a movement and is intransitive.
Warning!
Intransitive verbs are often followed by prepositional phrases or adverbs that provide additional information about the verb. But do not confuse these with objects. They are adjuncts that provide additional information, while objects receive the action of the verb.
The bus arrived at the station.
'At the station' is a prepositional phrase that follows an intransitive verb.
Linking Verbs
Linking verbs (also called complex intransitive verbs), have no object. Rather, they need a subject complement in order to have a complete meaning. They link the subject to a noun or an adjective that describes or renames it.
They looked angry.
He became famous.
Transitive Verbs
A transitive verb must have at least a direct object in order to convey a complete meaning. There are three types of transitive verbs in English:
mono-transitive verbs
ditransitive verbs
complex transitive verbs
Mono-transitive Verbs
Mono-transitive verbs are verbs that take a single direct object or object of preposition as their complement. For example:
Karen bit the pizza.
'Karen' is the person doing the action which is 'biting.' 'A pizza' is the direct object, because the subject does an action to it.
He ate the cake.
Here, 'he' is the subject and the direct object is 'the cake.'
Identifying the Object
To check if the verb has a direct object or object of preposition and is transitive, follow these steps:
If there is an answer to this question, the verb is transitive and if there is no answer to the question, the verb is intransitive. For example:
She ate the pizza.
Find the verb: 'ate.' Ask 'Ate what?' the pizza. So, 'the pizza' is the direct object and 'eat' is a transitive verb.
Melanie is laughing.
Identify the verb: 'is laughing.' Ask 'laughing what?' Since there is no answer to this question, the verb 'laughing' is intransitive.
Ergative Verbs
Ergative verbs (also known as labile verbs) can function as both transitive and intransitive verbs depending on whether they take a direct object or not. These verbs express the same meaning in both structures, but with a shift of perspective that conveys an active meaning with the transitive form and a passive meaning with the intransitive structure. Compare the examples:
The car stopped at the traffic lights.
Here, the verb 'stopped' is followed by a prepositional phrase and NOT a direct object. Therefore, 'stop' is an intransitive verb.
She stopped the car in front of the school.
Here, after the verb 'stop' we have a direct object. Therefore, 'stop' is transitive.
Ditransitive Verbs
Ditransitive verbs are special kinds of transitive verbs. They can take two objects. The second object is called indirect object or secondary object which is indirectly affected by the action of the verb. Here are some of the most common ditransitive verbs in English.
pass
give
tell
show
buy
bake
read
Jake gave Sean a gift.
Asking the question 'Jake is giving what?' a gift. So 'a gift' is the direct object. The thing or person receiving 'a gift' is 'Sean.' So 'Sean' is the indirect object.
Sam is baking Alex a cake.
Ask the question 'Sam is baking what?' a cake. So 'a cake' is the direct object. The thing or person receiving 'a cake' is 'Alex.' So 'Alex' is the indirect object.
Ditransitive verbs can further be categorized into three groups based on their usage patterns:
Ditransitive verbs that can be converted to mono-transitive verbs with 'to'
Have you paid him the money? → Have you paid the money to him?
Can you pass me the salt? → Can you pass the salt to me?
Ditransitive verbs that can be converted to mono-transitive verbs with 'for'
Will you buy me some candies? → Will you buy some candies for me?
Could you do me a favor? → Could you do a favor for me?
Ditransitive verbs that cannot be converted to mono-transitive without sounding unnatural.
She asked me several questions.
I struck the gate a heavy blow.
Complex Transitive Verbs
A complex transitive verb (also called an attributive ditransitive verb) is a verb that requires a direct object and an object complement in order to have a complete meaning. These verbs can further be categorized into four categories:
verbs with a direct object + a noun/phrase/clause as the object complement
You can call it what you want.
They elected him chairman.
verbs with a direct object + an adjective as the object complement
He couldn't push the door open.
They set the prisoners free.
verbs with a direct object + a prepositional phrase or an adverb as the object complement
I consider myself above others.
Did you find her inside?
verbs with a direct object + a past participle as the object complement
I couldn't make my voice heard.
The boss wanted the project finished quickly.
Warning
Be careful not to confuse adjuncts with object complements. Object complements are necessary elements for the sentence to be complete, while adjuncts can typically be removed without damaging the structure or meaning of the sentence.
She wrote a letter on her laptop.
Here, 'on her laptop', is an adjunct which provides additional information, but it is not necessary for the sentence to make complete sense.
she put the letter on the table.
Here, 'on the table' is a complement which completes the meaning of the verb "put". Without the complement, the sentence would lack essential information.
Phrasal Verbs and Transitivity
Transitivity of phrasal verbs follows the same rules as other verbs. In other words, if the phrasal verb takes a direct object, it is transitive, and if it expresses a complete meaning without any kind of complement, it is intransitive. Check out the examples:
Could you please, stay over? → intransitive
In this example, the question ''stay over what?" has no answer, so we do not have a direct object and the phrasal verb is intransitive.
He was looking for his keys. → transitive
Here, the answer to the question "looking for what?" is 'his keys,' so we have a direct object and the phrasal verb is transitive.
Tip!
Remember, some phrasal verbs have two or more different meanings. In such cases, one sense of the phrasal verb can be transitive while the other is intransitive. Check out the examples:
The plane took off at 9 p.m.
The phrasal verb is an intransitive verb in this example.
Maria took off her socks and put them in the washing machine.
In this example, 'her socks' is the direct object for the same phrasal verb with another definition. So, it is a transitive verb.
Separable Transitive Phrasal Verbs
Some transitive phrasal verbs are separable and the direct object can be placed between the main verb and the particle (preposition or adverb). However, if the direct object is a pronoun and not a noun, it must always be placed between the main verb and its particle. Check out the examples:
✓ They want to blow up the building.
✓ They want to blow the building up.
✓ They want to blow it up.
✗ They want to blow up it.
In this example, the direct object is a pronoun, so, it cannot be placed after the transitive phrasal verb.
Review
Verbs are divided into five groups based on the kind of verb complements they take:
Intransitive Verbs | Linking verb | Transitive Verbs | Ditransitive Verbs | Complex Transitive Verbs | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Verb complement | No complement | Only subject complement | Only a direct object | Direct object + Indirect object | Direct object + Object complement |
Example | The kid smiled. | The sky looked beautiful. | She ate the pizza. | Jake gave Sean a gift. | They called him a genius. |
To find the direct object of the verb, you can ask question like 'what' or 'whom'. For example to find the object in "She had a nice car." ask:
What did she have?
The answer is 'a nice car.'
'A nice car' is the direct object.
Quiz:
Which of the following sentences contains a ditransitive verb?
She smiled at the picture.
The kid laughed loudly.
He bought me a flower.
He worked on the project.
Sort the words to make a correct sentence with a complex transitive verb.
Match each sentence to the correct type of verb it uses.
Complete the table by identifying the verb complements of each verb. Choose "No complement" when one or more rows need no complement. The first one is done as an example.
| Sentence | Complement 1 | Complement 2 |
|---|---|---|
He ate the cake. | Direct object | No complement |
Sarah gave Tom a present. | ||
The flowers smell nice. | ||
The dog barked loudly. | ||
Liam fixed the bike. | ||
They made her team captain. |
Which sentence uses a transitive and separable phrasal verb correctly?
She turned off the lights before leaving the room.
She turned off them before leaving the room.
She turn offed the lights before leaving the room.
She turn the lights offed before leaving the room.
Comments
(0)
Recommended
