What is a Transitive Verb?
In English grammar, a transitive verb is a verb that requires both a subject
and one or more objects. Some examples of sentences with transitive verbs:
- Mary sees John. (John is the direct object of “sees”)
- You lifted the bag. (bag is the direct object of “lifted”)
- I punished you. (you are the direct object of “punished”)
- I give the book to you. (book is the direct object of “give” and you are
the indirect object of “give”)
Those transitive verbs that are able to take both a direct object and an indirect object
are called ditransitive; an example is the verb give above. Verbs that require
a single object are called monotransitive.
Verbs that don't require an object are called
intransitive, for example
the verb to sleep. Since you cannot “sleep” something, the verb acts
intransitively. Verbs that can be used in a transitive or intransitive way are called ambitransitive;
an example is the verb eat, since the sentences I am eating (with an intransitive form)
and I am eating an apple (with a transitive form that has an apple as the
object) are both grammatical.
There are languages which distinguish verbs based on their transitivity, which suggests
that this is a salient linguistic feature.
It is very important to emphasize that the definition of transitive verbs as these which
have one object is not universal and is not used in grammars of most languages. For example,
it is generally accepted in Polish grammar that transitive verbs are these which:
- accept a direct object (in accusative in the positive form, and in genitive in the negative form), OR
- undergo passive transformation.
Both conditions are fulfilled in many instances of transitive verbs, ex. Maria widzi
Jana (Mary sees John; Jana is the accusative form of Jan) - Jan jest
widziany przez Marie (John is seen by Mary). There are two types of exceptions:
- verbs which govern genitive or instrumental (in both positive and negative forms) but with
possible passive transformation, ex. Król rzadzi tym krajem (A king rules this country;
tym krajem is in instrumental) - Ten kraj jest rzadzony przez króla (This country
is ruled by a king).
- verbs which govern accusative in the positive form and genitive in the negative form but
with no pasasive transformation, ex. Jan ma ksiazke (John has a book; ksiazke is
the accusative form of ksiazka), Jan nie ma ksiazki (John has not a book;
ksiazki is genitive).
And if a verb accept an object which is not in accusative and does not undergo passive
transformation, it is considered intransitive, ex. Jan handluje kwiatami (John deals
in flowers; kwiatami is in instrumental). In other words, verbs with one or even two
objects may also be intransitive.
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