Transitive verb

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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 is the direct object of "punished")
I give the book to you. (book is the direct object of "give" and "you" is 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. However, the definition of transitive verbs as those which have one object is not universal and is not used in grammars of many languages. For example, it is generally accepted in Polish grammar that transitive verbs are those 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 Marię (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 rządzi tym krajem (A king rules this country; tym krajem is in instrumental) - Ten kraj jest rządzony 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 passive transformation, ex. Jan ma książkę (John has a book; ksiązkę is the accusative form of książka), Jan nie ma książki (John has not a book; książki is genitive).

If a verb accepts 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.

See also: Intransitive verbs

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