Intransitive verb
A grammatical verb that does not take a direct object: definitions, types (unergative/unaccusative), examples, contrasts with transitive verbs, usage in grammar and notable cross-linguistic facts.
Overview
An intransitive verb is a verb that does not take a direct object. In simple terms, the action or state expressed by the verb relates to the subject alone rather than being transferred to a separate direct object. Examples in English include sentences such as "She sleeps," "They arrived," and "The vase broke." These contrast with transitive verbs, which require a direct object: for example, "She opened the door."
Primary characteristics
Intransitive verbs typically cannot be followed by a noun phrase functioning as a direct object. They can, however, be modified by adverbial phrases or followed by prepositional phrases and subject complements. For example, "He laughed loudly," and "The team is confident" show how intransitive verbs combine with adjuncts or complements without taking an object.
Types and linguistic distinctions
Linguists often distinguish subtypes of intransitive verbs. Unergative verbs denote actions performed intentionally by an agent (e.g., "run," "talk"). Unaccusative verbs describe events where the subject undergoes or experiences a change of state (e.g., "fall," "break"). Some verbs are ambitransitive or ergative: they can be used either intransitively or transitively without changing form, as in "The door opened" (intransitive) versus "She opened the door" (transitive). For further technical discussion see a general linguistics resource.
Uses and examples
- Pure intransitives: "She sleeps."
- Unaccusative example: "The glass broke."
- Ambitransitive/ergative example: "The book fell" / "He fell the book" (note: the latter is nonstandard in English but illustrates alternation in some languages).
- Weather verbs: "It rains," "It snowed."
History, terminology and practical notes
The terms originate in traditional grammar: "transitive" (literally carrying across) and "intransitive" (not transitive). Dictionaries and grammars often label entries with abbreviations such as "intr." or "intrans." to indicate this property. In many languages the intransitive/transitive distinction affects case marking, agreement, and voice-like constructions.
Notable facts
Not all verbs fit neatly into one category: some are strictly intransitive, others strictly transitive, and many shift category depending on context or morphology. Recognizing intransitive verbs helps in parsing sentence structure, teaching grammar, and understanding how different languages encode participant roles.
Questions and answers
Q: What is an intransitive verb in English?
A: An intransitive verb in English is an action that involves the object or person doing the action by itself.
Q: Can you give an example of an intransitive verb?
A: Yes, for example: "The door opened." (by itself)
Q: What is the contrast between an intransitive verb and a transitive verb?
A: The contrast between an intransitive verb and a transitive verb is that in an intransitive verb, the action is done by the object or person doing the action by itself, while in a transitive verb, the action is done by someone or something else.
Q: Can you give an example of a transitive verb?
A: Yes, for example: "The person opened the door." In this case, someone else (the person) is doing the action (opening the door).
Q: Is "The door closed." an example of an intransitive verb?
A: Yes, "The door closed." is an example of an intransitive verb.
Q: What is the difference between "The door opened." and "The door was opened."?
A: "The door opened." is an example of an intransitive verb, whereas "The door was opened." is an example of a passive voice sentence.
Q: Can a verb be both intransitive and transitive?
A: Yes, some verbs can function as both intransitive and transitive, depending on the context.
Author
AlegsaOnline.com Intransitive verb Leandro Alegsa
URL: https://en.alegsaonline.com/art/47874