Transitive and intransitive verbs additional information. How to identify transitive and intransitive verbs in Russian
Traditionally, the verb as a part of speech is studied at the end of grade 4, and repetition and deepening of the topic continues in grades 5-6.
This topic is of practical importance, as it helps students distinguish between the forms of the nominative and accusative cases, not to confuse direct objects with subjects, and to correctly form participles and gerunds.
Let's try to clearly explain to students what a transitive or intransitive verb is.
It is usually determined whether a verb combines with a noun in the accusative case without a preposition. Transitive verbs require the accusative case (who? what?) to express the direct object in affirmative sentences: And somehow I felt sorry for both the sparrow and the fly. Mom shortened the trousers herself.
But students, when they encounter the same verb in different sentences, often ask: “Which verb is this - transitive or intransitive?”
Consider, for example, the verb WRITE: Ivan writes well. Ivan writes a letter. In the first sentence, the verb “writes” is related to the subject, in the second sentence the verb actualizes the object. The first sentence refers to compatibility potential, and in the second sentence real. Conclusion: the verb WRITE in these sentences is transitive. Do not forget that the verbal category of transitivity/intransitivity is a constant feature and is always determined during morphological analysis.
Let's return to the question: can a verb be considered transitive if it does not have a direct object without a preposition in the sentence? Of course, it all depends on the context. In context, a transitive verb can acquire such shades of meaning that turn it into intransitive: I can hear well(that is, I have good hearing). Petya draws well and plays the guitar(that is, he can draw pictures, play music).
In such cases, verbs have the meaning “to be able to do what is expressed by the verb,” that is, they do not denote specific actions, but the properties (characteristics, abilities) of objects in relation to certain actions. With such verbs there is not and cannot be an addition, otherwise the indicated shade will disappear.
If the context conditions allow not to name the object to which the action is transferred, then it is possible to substitute a noun in the accusative case without changing the meaning: I listened (to his father’s story) and did not understand anything. We remember that in context, a transitive verb can be used without a direct object.
A transitive verb is involved in the creation, transformation, movement or destruction of some object ( build a house, fry meat, burn straw). This presupposes the presence of a “tool” that provides contact and increases the effectiveness of action. The body, an active part of the body, or a man-made tool can act as a tool: I dig the earth with a shovel, brush my teeth with a brush.
A small group of transitive verbs has the meaning of recognizing, feeling, perceiving, endowing an object with a sign, opening/closing, establishing contacts, possessing, communion ( find out the news, love music, hear singing, dress your brother, open your coat, glue the sheets of paper, steal money, pick an apple).
The verb will also be transitive in the genitive case when indicating a part of the object or when negating the action itself: drink juice, buy bread; didn't read newspapers, didn't receive money.
Let us now turn to intransitive verbs. They require an object only in oblique cases with or without prepositions: go to school, help a friend. Typically, intransitive verbs denote movement and position in space, physical or moral state: fly, get sick, suffer. A distinctive feature of intransitive verbs is the suffixes -SYA, -E-, -NICHA-(-ICHA-): to make sure, to become weak, to be greedy.
Will the verbs WEIGH, LIE, LIVE be transitive in the examples: weighs a ton, lies for a minute, lives for a week? We reason like this: nouns are in the Accusative case without a preposition, but are not direct objects, but adverbs of measure and time. Conclusion: these verbs are intransitive.
Some prefixes (re-, pro-, from-, obez-/obes-) are capable of turning intransitive verbs into transitive ones: work in an office - process a part, harm a neighbor - neutralize a neighbor.
To check your understanding of the topic, try completing several tasks.
Exercise 1.
Match the verbs with dependent nouns and determine their case:
Pour ______, recognize ______, enjoy ______, dilute ______, distribute ______, belittle ______, get carried away ______, shudder ______, be irritated ______, teach ______, expose ______, absorb ______, unite ______, bless ______, fly ______, jump ______, look out ______ .
Which of these verbs are combined with a noun in Vin.p. without an excuse?
Task 2.
Identify transitive or intransitive verbs. Place the letter P above transitive verbs, and the letter N above intransitive verbs.
Seeing a wolf means being afraid of a wolf; cut off bread - eat without bread; find out from a friend - meet a friend; to be afraid of an opponent - to defeat an opponent - to win against an opponent; know the rules - don't know the rules - stick to the rules; want water - drink water; collect mushrooms - not notice a mushroom - love mushrooms - read about mushrooms; measure the depth - beware of the depth - dive into the depths.
Task 3.
Transform phrases of intransitive verbs with indirect objects into phrases of transitive verbs with direct objects according to the example: take the elevator - use the elevator.
Do physics, get involved in sports, speak a language, get pigeons, talk about a trip, talk about a book.
How did you manage to do this?
Task 4.
Correct errors in the use of nouns:
insist on reconsidering the case, call for help, resign yourself to failure, explain the dangers of smoking, give all your strength to work, bow to his authority.
Task 5.
Correct errors in the use of verbs:
I put on my coat and hat and went for a walk. The students met the new teacher only during class. Mom cleaned the room and did the laundry. The kids were playing on the playground.
Literature
1. Ilchenko O.S. Aspects of studying the topic “Transitive and intransitive verbs” in grade VI / Russian language at school. - 2011. - No. 12.
2. Shelyakin M.A. Handbook of Russian grammar. - M.: Russian language, 1993.
One more important grammatical category remains undisclosed - transitive and intransitive verbs in English. What kind of phenomenon this is and what its importance is expressed in, we will find out in today’s material.
What is the category of transitivity responsible for?
The meaning of this grammatical point is hidden in its very name. If the verb is transitive, then the action it denotes refers to the complement, i.e. the predicate is directed not at the subject (subject), but at a foreign object. Without a direct object, constructing statements with such verbs impossible ! In some cases, an indirect object is also added.
In contrast, intransitive verbs do not transfer their meaning to indirect persons/objects, i.e. The action is meaningfully connected precisely with the subject. Such predicates can be used alone or with an object attached by a preposition.
Thus, transitive and intransitive verbs in English form different word orders in a sentence. The former must have a direct object, while the latter do not require it at all. In addition, it is the presence of transitivity that allows the use of verbs in the passive voice. Otherwise, the formation of a passive construction is impossible.
It is worth mentioning that the transitive verbs of English and Russian do not always coincide. To avoid mistakes, we advise you to memorize the properties of verbs immediately when learning words.
Transitive and intransitive verbs in English - lists of popular verbs
In some dictionaries, next to verbs, the presence or absence of transitivity is immediately indicated. For this we use the notation v.t. ( verbtransitive – transitive verb) and v.i. ( verbintransitive - Ch. intransitive). To simplify things, we made two tables: intransitive and transitive verbs in English.
| Intransitive verbs | |
| arrive | arrive |
| depart | go |
| bark | bark |
| boggle | get scared |
| exist | exist |
| die | die |
| collapse | fall apart |
| fall | fell |
| go | go, head |
| sit | sit |
| stand | stand |
| lie | lie |
| sleep | sleep |
| happen | happen, happen |
| rise | get up |
| set | install |
| sneeze | sneeze |
| laugh | laugh |
| think | think |
| swim | swim |
| weep | cry |
| belong | belong |
| look | look |
| remain | stay |
| stay | stay |
| wait | wait |
| Transitive verbs | |
| bring | bring |
| carry | carry |
| want | want |
| have | have |
| give | give |
| take | take |
| take off | take off |
| send | send |
| interest | be interested |
| invite | invite |
| offer | suggest |
| promise | promise |
| love | be in love |
| admire | admire |
| follow | follow |
| help | to help |
| support | support |
| put on/off | put on/put off |
| buy | buy |
| cost | cost |
| pay | to pay |
| lend | lend |
| get | receive |
| suit | correspond |
| fill | fill |
| make | do |
| show | show |
| watch | look |
| tell | tell |
| teach | teach |
And everything would be easy and simple if English verbs weren’t so polysemantic. The meanings of a verb influence its properties, making it either transitive or intransitive. We'll talk more about these words in the next section.
Mixed verbs
So, some verbs are characterized by duality. To make it easier to understand the reasons for this phenomenon, let's draw an analogy with Russian verbs. Let's take the floor cover.
- She covered child with a blanket - the action switches to the addition (she covered the child).
- She took cover blanket - an intransitive verb, the action is directed at the subject.
In Russian, when changing the meaning of a word, you can often find the additional suffix –sya. In English grammar, the verb remains unchanged: changes appear in the word order of the sentence.
In the first case, we cannot leave anything unsaid, because the sentence will turn out meaningless: Jane opened(What?) shop. And in the second everything is clear without additions: The store has opened.
The questions “ whom? What?" If they are appropriate, then we most likely have a transitive verb.
To make this topic easier to understand, we have created another table. It lists frequently used verbs, which, depending on the context, can be either transitive or intransitive.
| Polysemous verbs | |
| read | read |
| write | write |
| sing | sing |
| hear | hear |
| see | see |
| eat | eat |
| call | call, call |
| begin | start off |
| burn | burn |
| improve | improve |
| grow | grow, raise |
| enter | enter |
| move | move |
| change | change |
| drop | reset |
| open | open |
| turn | to turn |
| walk | go on foot, walk |
| run | run |
So, we have studied all the frequently used transitive and intransitive verbs in modern English. Do not forget that transitivity does not always coincide with its Russian counterparts, and also that some verbs have unstable properties. In case of difficulties, try to check the dictionary and remember the words that caused difficulties. Good luck and see you in new classes!
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Transitivity/intransitivity is a category on the basis of which the relationship between the subject and object of an action can be distinguished. The meaning of this category is that the subject performs a certain action, and its result may or may not “appear” (not transfer) to the subject. Therefore, verbs in Russian are divided into transitive and intransitive.
Transitive and intransitive verbs. Lexical meaning
To determine transitivity, it is necessary to identify a key feature that acts as an addition to the verb and has a certain case marking.
A transitive verb is a verb that has the meaning of an action that is aimed at an object and changes or produces it (check the work, dig a hole).
Intransitive verb - denotes movement or position in space, or a moral state, or a physical state.
So-called labile verbs are also distinguished. They can act as both transitive and intransitive (the editor edits the manuscript - the world is ruled by the person himself).
Syntactic difference
The syntactic difference between transitive and intransitive verbs is associated with lexical meaning. Transitive and intransitive verbs are usually combined:
In addition, the object of action with transitive verbs can also be expressed in the genitive case, but only in the following cases:
- when designating part of an object: buy water, drink tea;
- if the verb has a negation: I have no right, I haven’t read the book.
Transitive and intransitive verbs (table) have the following basic differences.
Morphological characteristics
As a rule, these verbs do not have special But still, certain types of word formation act as indicators of the transitivity or intransitivity of the verb. So, a transitive verb is:
- all verbs with the suffix -sya (make sure);
- denominative verbs in which the suffix -e- or -nicha-(-icha-) stands out: to be picky, to become weak, to be greedy.
Transitive verbs include verbs that are formed from adjectives using the suffix -i-: green, blacken.
There are some cases when, by attaching a prefix to intransitive unprefixed verbs, transitive verbs are formed. Examples: harm and neutralize.
If there is no object in the sentence, then the transitive verb performs the function of an intransitive verb: The student writes well (the property inherent in this person is indicated).
Intransitive verbs contain a special group of reflexive verbs; their formal sign is the suffix -sya (to wash, to return).
Reflexive verbs. Peculiarities
Reflexive verbs are studied in the school curriculum, just like transitive verbs (grade 6).
A reflexive verb denotes an action directed towards oneself. It is formed using the particle (postfix) -sya (-s).
The following main features of these verbs can be identified:
- Firstly, they can come from both transitive verbs (dress - dress) and intransitive verbs (knock - knock). But still, reflexive verbs (transitive verbs after adding the postfix -sya (-sya)) in any case become intransitive (to dress - to dress).
- Secondly, these postfixes are added: -sya - after consonants (washed, washed, washed), -sya - after vowels (dressed, dressed). It is worth noting that participles are always written with the postfix -sya (dressing, washing).
- Thirdly, reflexive verbs are formed in three ways: suffixal-postfixal - by adding a suffix and a postfix to the stem (res+vi(t)sya), prefixal-postfixal (na+drink_sya), postfixal (wash+sya).
Formation of derivatives in -sya and passive participles
Since the main morphological properties of transitive verbs are the formation of derivatives in -sya and which is not typical for intransitive verbs, let’s take a closer look at this process.
In most cases, a transitive verb is one that forms a passive participle or derivatives with the ending -sya, which can have a reflexive (hurry up), passive (create), or decausative (break up) meaning.
Exceptions are the verbs add (in weight), cost, weigh, and most semelfactives in -nu (pick). In addition, these verbs do not form passive and reflexive derivatives.
But still, there are intransitive verbs that can form passive constructions. For example, the verb expect. He forms a passive from an intransitive construction with the addition in I expect the arrival of Vasily - the arrival of Vasily is expected.
Correlation of verb transitivity
While transitivity does not have a single formal expression, there are still tendencies that connect the category of transitivity with the formal properties of the verb, for example, with verbal prefixes:
- The overwhelming majority of non-reflexive verbs with the prefix raz- are transitive (to blur, to push apart). The exceptions are: verbs denoting movement with the suffix -va- / -iva- / -a- (waving, driving around); verbs expressing spontaneous changes in the properties of an object, in particular those containing the suffix -nu-, formed from intransitive verbs (soak, melt, swell); verbs containing thematic vowels -e-, which denote a change in properties (get rich, get rich); including calling, thinking about it.
- Almost all containing the prefix iz-, are transitive (exceptions: get wet, run out, deign and others).
Semantic properties of transitive verbs
The Russian language has a large class. In addition to those that are significantly affected by the situation, the verb may have a direct object that plays another semantic role (for example, see, have, create - with these transitive verbs nothing happens to the object, it is not destroyed, does not change).
So it turns out that contrast by transitivity should not be strictly connected with the semantic class of the verb. This means that a transitive verb does not necessarily have to denote an agential-patient situation. But still, some trends can be noted.
So, a transitive verb is:
Semantic properties of intransitive verbs
Having identified the semantic properties of transitive verbs, we can determine the properties of all the others, that is, intransitive ones:
- Verbs are one-place, without objects, that is, characterizing a change in the state of the patient (direct object, significantly affected by the situation), which was not caused by the agent. Or a case is possible when the agent plays an insignificant role: die, rot, fall, get wet.
- Doubles with an indirect addition. That is, verbs of help (with the exception of support): promote, help, condone, assist.
- Verbs that are used with an object that is an integral part of the agentive participant of the verb (to move, move, wave).
- Verbs of perception of a fictitious situation (count on, expect (what), rely on, hope for).
Non-canonical types of direct objects
It has already been said more than once that the key property of transitive verbs is the ability to interact with the direct object in the accusative case. But there are classes of verbs that are used not only with nouns and pronouns in the accusative case, but also with a word or phrase of another part of speech that is semantically identical to it to one degree or another. It can be:
- prepositional phrase (I scratched his ear);
- genitive group (grandfather did not read this newspaper);
- adverbial group (he drinks a lot, I decided so);
- sentential actant (infinitive phrase - I like to go to the theater; subordinate clause used together with the conjunction - so that or - that - I understood that he will go to the sea; subordinate clause together with the conjunction - when - I don’t like it when it rains).
Some of the listed constructions can not only replace the direct object used with transitive verbs, but also be used to express a similar function with intransitive verbs. Namely:
Analogues of the above complements in the accusative case have, to varying degrees, the prototypical properties of direct complements.
Let's sum it up
Despite the fact that this topic is one of the difficult ones, we were able to determine what a transitive verb means. We also learned to distinguish it from the intransitive and distinguish reflexive ones from the latter. And to prove this, let us give as an example phrases with transitive verbs, with intransitive and reflexive verbs:
- transitional: paint the walls, treat a patient, read a book, sew a suit, widen a sleeve, buy tea, drink water, has no right, rock a child;
- intransitive: walk the streets, believe in goodness, walk in the park, become exhausted from fatigue;
- reflexive: achieve a goal, disagree, get closer to each other, obey the boss, think about existence, vouch for a brother, touch on an issue.
Verbs in can be divided into 2 large semantic types:
1) denoting an action that passes to an object and changes it;
2) denoting an action that is closed in itself and does not transfer to an object.
The first type includes verbs of creation, destruction, many verbs of speech and thought, for example: build, grow, educate; break, break, destroy; say, think, feel.
The second type combines verbs that express a certain state. Examples: lie, sit, sleep, feel.
Similar semantics of verbs in the form domain using the category of transitivity.
Verbs that denote an action that transfers to an object and are combined with a case form without are called transitive.
Verbs that are unable to denote an action passing to an object and cannot be combined with without a preposition are intransitive.
Examples: Tatyana wrote a letter to Onegin. The verb “wrote” is transitive.
He writes and translates well. The verbs “writes”, “translates”, denoting the ability to perform some action, are intransitive.
Transitivity is a lexico-grammatical category, therefore the category is determined strictly by formal features, and not by context.
The central part of transitive verbs includes verbs with negation, combined with the genitive case, for example: not to like literature.
Indirect transitive verbs
Indirect transitive verbs are also distinguished, which can be combined with an object not in the genitive or accusative cases, for example: govern the state.
The criterion for distinguishing transitive verbs is their ability to be transformed into passive participles. Examples: build a house - a built house, drink water - drunk water.
The division of verbs into transitive and intransitive is based on their meaning.
Transitional verbs denote an active action that is directed or transferred to an object (subject). Pointing to an object clarifies the meaning of the verb, makes it more specific ( break a glass - break an enemy, build a house - make plans). The meaning of transitivity is expressed syntactically: the name of the object with transitive verbs is in the form V.p. without pretext (write a poem, love a friend, feel joy).
!!! In the form of R.p. an object can stand in 4 main cases:
1) if the verb has a negation ( don't receive letters);
2) if the object is not used to its full extent ( drank milk, ate bread);
3) if the object is undefined ( We were looking for shelter);
4) if R.p. indicates that the object is taken for temporary use ( Let the car go to town).
Instead of a noun, some equivalent of it can act as a direct object in a sentence:
a) indefinite form of the verb ( I asked him show book);
b) subordinate explanatory clause ( I love, when the day goes out across the river );
c) direct speech ( He said: "I'll come tomorrow" ) ;
d) substantivized unchangeable word ( I bet you Fine ).
NOTES:
1. There is a small group of transitive verbs that, as a rule, are used without an object. With them, the object is thought of as the only possible one and therefore is easily restored: plow (land), sow (grain), eat, heat, pay, smoke, drink. Such verbs are called absolute.
2. The accusative case of the object should be distinguished from the accusative circumstance. Vinit. The case of circumstance, denoting a certain period of time or space, does not express an object. In this case, it denotes the measure of action, that is, it acts as a circumstance, and in that case, questions cannot be asked from the verb whom? What?, to which the direct object answers ( sit all day, sleep all the way).
Intransitive verbs denote an action that does not transfer to an object, and therefore they cannot have a direct object.
In addition, there is a group of indirect-transitive verbs, that is, those verbs that control an obligatory indirect object (a noun in the indirect case with and without a preposition, except V. p.). These verbs denote the attitude towards an object or the state of the subject, but do not express the transition of action to the object: be afraid of the dark, be proud of your brother, think about victory.
It should be noted that the meaning of transitivity is closely related to the LZ of the verb. Often the same verb in one literal phrase is transitive, and the other is intransitive (Compare: He reads the letter. – The child is four years old, and he is already reading.).
Entire semantic groups of verbs can be transitive or intransitive. For example, verbs of creation or destruction, destruction of an object, as a rule, are transitive ( sew a coat, break a glass).
TO intransitive relate
Verbs of movement ( run, swim), position in space ( sit, hang), sound ( rattle, hiss), states ( be silent, be sick)
Verbs in – to act, -to sit, -it, denoting the occupation of the person named in the producing basis ( to be a hero, to idle, to carpenter)
Verbs to –xia(rejoice, wash)
Verbs formed from adjectives and nouns using a suffix -e- (turn white, cool down).