Questions tagged [transitivity]

Questions about verbs that take direct, or both direct and indirect, objects.

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Does using a preposition phrase instead of a direct object change the transitivity of a verb?

A textbook I'm using to refresh some basic grammar states that indirect objects can be identified by it's answering of questions such as 'to whom', 'to what' etc. (fair enough) and they always come ...
Jos's user avatar
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5 votes
4 answers
942 views

Why use "break out" instead of "broken out"?

I had my purse stolen during my stay in London. In this sentence, "stolen" is used insted of "steal". In my childhood, I had a fire break out. In this sentence, "break out&...
souma's user avatar
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3 answers
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middle voice vs passive voice

Many verbs can be both transitive and intransitive. The glass broke. The glass was broken. The door opened/closed. The door was opened/closed. And I was told there is a semantic difference in the ...
Englishy's user avatar
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3 votes
5 answers
378 views

What is the function of "their way" in "they went their way"?

Go is clearly an intransitive verb. This source {Chomp Chomp_Robin L. Simmons} says: Some verbs, such as arrive, go, lie, sneeze, sit, and die, are always intransitive; it is impossible for a logical ...
fev's user avatar
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4 votes
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'To lie' and 'to lay' / 'to rise' and 'to raise' / 'to fall' and 'to fell' <-- Did English used to have more pairs like this?

My understanding is that there aren't many pairs of intransitive and transitive verbs in modern English. Off-hand, I know of three (though I think there are more): lie vs lay rise vs raise fall vs ...
Sweet Sheep's user avatar
1 vote
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97 views

Is it possible to put an intransitive verb in passive voice? [closed]

My teacher told me that we can't convert intransitive verbs like 'walk' into passive voice when there is no object present. For example: He walks every day. But I think we can convert this by saying:...
Righter's user avatar
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Analyzing the verb “to head”

This is both a usage question and a grammatical analysis question. I am familiar with complex transitive verbs, such as "to place", where one has to have at least one complement, besides the ...
pablodf76's user avatar
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What kind of complementation for "be regarded"?

I'm trying to find where the passive form "be regarded" belongs in terms of transitivity. In the sentence: Only a minority of countries would be regarded as part of the third world. Is the verb would ...
Nel's user avatar
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1 answer
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Is "agree" an ordinary transitive verb?

We choose evidence that everyone can agree shows him being out of touch with reality. Is this sentence grammatically correct? To me it only sounds correct when it’s modified to We choose evidence ...
Sungwoo Lee's user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
213 views

Impinge: transitive or intransitive?

The OED states that the verb "impinge" is intransitive. However, example sentences such as the following have (as I see it) the verb taking a direct object (highlighted in bold): Several ...
Badgerer's user avatar
-1 votes
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She wrote to/ him a letter in France

She wrote him a letter in France She wrote to him a letter in France The second sentence is found in Oxford Learners Dictionary. I think there is some ambiguity in the sentences. ...
Jvlnarasimharao's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
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intransitive verbs which become transitive if their "goal/purpose" is accomplished

I've realized many verbs follow an interesting transitive pattern, which I illustrate with an example: Webster's defines wrangle as either intransitive dispute, argue or transitive to obtain by ...
GJC's user avatar
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1 vote
2 answers
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The semantic role of an object of a verb

I've posted a question in English Language Learners as to this sentence: Mom made me a sandwich. The intended meaning was "Mom made a sandwich, intending it for me." There, I came to realize that ...
listeneva's user avatar
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3 votes
2 answers
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Intransitive use of the verb to trigger

The Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary of English states that "to trigger" is a transitive verb. Therefore it would be incorrect to state "An alarm triggers". We have to say "X triggers the alarm" or ...
Nico Vertriest's user avatar
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2 answers
568 views

Is “bescumber” transitive or intransitive?

Behold! Did my lawn mower bescumber my neighbor's fence (transitive), or did it bescumber on my neighbor's fence (intransitive)? Or should I switch to passive voice and say my neighbor's fence was ...
rojo's user avatar
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Why isn’t a verb’s transitivity considered only a matter of meaning, not one of grammar?

After reading some examples of intransitive verbs, I get the impression that transitivity is not a grammatical concept. It seems that it hangs on the meaning not the structure of the verb in the ...
perpetual's user avatar
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2 answers
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“To agree with someone”: is that prepositional phrase an adverbial or a nominal one?

In this sentence: I agree with you. What is the function of the prepositional phrase ”with you” there? Is it an adverb or noun? If it is an adverb, then what type of adverb is this?
HONEY's user avatar
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3 answers
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"She wanted out of this dump." What is the grammatical function of "out of this dump"?

I came across a line in a movie. She wanted out of this dump. She wanted to start a new life. It seems the sentence is missing to get/be/go. Is the sentence grammatical as it currently stands? ...
Eddie Kal's user avatar
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1 answer
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Why does "writes" take "to" but "reads" not take "to"? [closed]

I hope this is the right sub, but I was wondering what the technical difference is between words such as "write", which take the particle "to" when involved with a grammatical object, and "read", ...
user234461's user avatar
6 votes
2 answers
740 views

The intransitive usage of "satisfy"

I lighted upon a sentence in the New York Times: Actually almost any tidbit — notably pigs in blankets — that the bar sends my way will satisfy. This usage of satisfy strikes me as uncommon, if ...
Eddie Kal's user avatar
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1 vote
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Can copula+adjective be transitive or intransitive?

The beginning of the article What is consciousness, and could machines have it? (full text PDF is a google search away) contains the following: The word “consciousness,” like many prescientific ...
Gus's user avatar
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1 answer
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Transitivity of the verb "undertake"

It seems obvious that undertake is intransitive in such sentences as undertake to learn to swim State senators undertook to use federal funds for improving schools. To join the club, you have to ...
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1 answer
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Ways to limit/narrow the list [closed]

How to arrow/limit the text that comes after some broader meaning. For example: Several models have been proposed in the field of mathematics and engineering. Now I want to limit my further ...
Aureja Zelvyte's user avatar
0 votes
2 answers
132 views

Can you say "Vanishing all comments"? [closed]

This is an argument I had with a colleague of mine. We're trying to say that all the comments have been cleared, as per the client's requests. He issued a report to a client, on which the client had ...
ahmed23t's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
98 views

Is this usage of the verb "conclude" appropriate? [closed]

I have these three sentences: Throughout human history, mental illness has been stigmatized beyond belief. Individuals that have been diagnosed as mentally ill have been subject to social ...
codeforester's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
524 views

Thank for : Thank

I had got one message from co-worker : Thanks your support But I had thought thank for your support is correct. So I had checked en.wiktionary.org and it doesn't have thank with a meaning of ...
Beverlie's user avatar
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17 votes
7 answers
55k views

"You hear but you don't listen" or "You listen but you don't hear"?

My teacher introduced the quote: You look but you don’t see. You hear but you don’t listen. But I also saw books saying: You look but you don’t see. You listen but you don’t hear. ...
user206468's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
611 views

"To rejoice" as a transitive verb

From the fourth sentence of the Edgar Allan Poe story 'The Oblong Box': "…and among other names, I was rejoiced to see that of Mr Cornelius Wyatt…" 'Rejoiced' here is being used as a transitive verb,...
Dunsanist's user avatar
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Is "I will sleep you to bed" grammatically correct? [closed]

Like we use "I will walk the dog to the park", is using "I will sleep you to bed" grammatically correct?
prithviraj's user avatar
6 votes
1 answer
12k views

"Hover a link" vs "hover over a link" [closed]

Which is correct: "hover a link" or "hover over a link"? (context: hovering a mouse over a computer hyperlink) I'd especially appreciate a reference (like a dictionary citation) so that I learn how ...
Stefan Monov's user avatar
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9 votes
2 answers
355 views

Do reflexive verbs often evolve into intransitive usage?

With the relatively recent proliferation in the number and variety of genders that our contemporaries willingly proclaim themselves to be or belong to, a new intransitive sense of the verb identify, ...
Brian Donovan's user avatar
4 votes
2 answers
1k views

Can adverbs be qualified as transitive/intransitive?

In my english lesson today i was told that "afterwards" is an intransitive adverb (I cannot write "afterwards this") while "after" is a transitive adverb. Is this distinction transitive/intransitive ...
Johannes Wentu's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
3k views

Is it correct to say "I think sth important"?

I know that I can say: I consider this idea important. I deem this film stupid. I regard my health as important. But can I say: I think money/health/love/etc. important. Or does it have to ...
Marcel's user avatar
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0 votes
2 answers
497 views

How do I differentiate between direct and indirect object with an object of a preposition present?

I am working on the following sentence: They will look toward me, whom they pierced. I am aware that a basic rule to identifying an indirect object is to ask, "to whom?" However, in this case, I am ...
Bret's user avatar
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11 votes
5 answers
15k views

Passive voice of intransitive verbs

Intransitive verbs have no objects, so they can not be used in passive voice, but I have seen many people using intransitive verbs in passive voice sentences. I am much confused how is it possible. ...
shopDada14's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
305 views

Can "tamper" be used transitively?

Consider the following two statements: The file has been tampered with. The file has been tampered. Does the second version make sense, or should it always be "tampered with"?
Karl Nicoll's user avatar
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2 answers
1k views

Can I use "procrastinated" with an indirect object?

This is what I wrote: I found the inspiration and energy to get stuck into old todos that were being consistently procrastinated. I believe this is an incorrect usage of the verb "procrastinated"...
Jeffrey Kemp's user avatar
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3 votes
2 answers
2k views

Historical Basis for "To Graduate" Being Only a Transitive Verb

About nine years ago, I received from a quite insistent source the claim that the verb "to graduate" is transitive, and, specifically, that the intransitive usage was wrong. For example, the ...
geometrian's user avatar
3 votes
3 answers
1k views

Is there an error in 'Your English is terrible regardless of where you derive'?

I don't think the following sentence is correct: "Your English is terrible regardless of where you derive." but my elementary school English lessons have worn thin over the years. The closest I ...
user92142's user avatar
0 votes
5 answers
3k views

Using 'ride' vs. 'drive' when it comes to a motorcycle

Suppose I am offering someone a ride home. I know "I'll give you a ride home" would be correct. But can I also use ride as a transitive verb, as follows? Come, I'll ride you home. I'm asking ...
mr cockburn's user avatar
5 votes
2 answers
1k views

Why does "enjoy" (almost) not have a causative sense?

Its etymology confirms that the en- is the same prefix as in enshrine, encourage, encircle, etc., which would normally suggest a causative sense. But rather than "to give joy to", the predominant ...
ephemeralist's user avatar
0 votes
2 answers
377 views

Can "look" be transitive in the meaning "look at"?

For example: He examined the body indifferently, much like one would look a dead animal on a roadside. I would like to know if to look can be employed transitively like this. I'm sure I've read ...
Marcus's user avatar
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0 votes
4 answers
12k views

Should "afford" be transitive in "my chosen path has afforded (to) me unique opportunities"?

In a college essay I wrote a sentence that reads: Sixteen years later, my chosen path has afforded to me unique opportunities, limitless learning, and potential for growth. Should I use the verb ...
coll's user avatar
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4 votes
2 answers
1k views

How to distinguish between uses of words like 'Marry'?

Marry can be used both transitively: "Paul Married Jane" and intransitively: "I got married". Thus making the word ambitransitive But it has a third use: "Paul, the vicar Married Jane to ...
AncientSwordRage's user avatar
4 votes
2 answers
16k views

"click on the image" vs. "click the image" [duplicate]

Transitive verbs take object directly. Source - http://grammar.about.com/od/tz/g/tranverb02term.htm If "click" is a transitive verb, why do we say "click on the image" and not "click the image"?
Sandeep D's user avatar
  • 325
2 votes
3 answers
2k views

Is the verb 'inquire' bitransitive?

People say the verb inquire can be bitransitive (i.e., ditransitive) and also monotransitive. I can find many examples of its monotransitive use, but none about bitransitive. Could you show me how ...
Janice's user avatar
  • 21
0 votes
1 answer
1k views

"We provide you the ideal environment"

I wonder if I can also write "We provide you the ideal environment" or only "we provide you with the ideal environment"
user58763's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
2k views

Can the verb "intake" be used intransitively? [closed]

Can a combustion engine be said to intake oxygen?
user3025492's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
41k views

"Enquire about whether" vs. "enquire whether"

I'm writing to you to enquire whether you have a need for I'm writing to you to enquire about whether you have a need for Which is proper?
Rook's user avatar
  • 347
9 votes
5 answers
72k views

"Suffer" vs. "suffer from"

I would like to know the difference between "suffer" and "suffer from". From the dictionary, I cannot distinguish between them. In particular, which of the following should I use: suffer ...
Chang's user avatar
  • 193