Runny nose

What does intransitive or transitive form of a verb mean? Determining the transitivity of a verb

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 the 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 can 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 agentive-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. These could 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.

The transitivity of a verb in Russian is determined by its ability to denote an action directed directly at an object. This is expressed grammatically by the fact that the verb controls the noun in the accusative case without a preposition. There are many examples of such constructions - “catch fish”, “write a letter”, “clean the carpet”.

How to determine the transitivity of a verb? There is nothing complicated in such an operation; it is enough to mentally ask him the question: “Who?”, “What?” If the verb is used in a negative context ( don't buy milk), the case changes to genitive - this should be remembered.

The meaning of transitive and intransitive verbs

Linguists have established that the transitivity and intransitivity of a verb are differentiated by the meaning of words. Thus, transitive verbs refer to various actions on objects. They can be created, destroyed or modified ( build a building, chop wood, destroy a house). The object can also remain unchanged ( congratulate mom). The same list includes combinations denoting the sensory perception of an object with the verbs “look”, “listen”, etc.

In turn, intransitive verbs are characterized by the following meanings:

physical or mental condition ( be afraid, doze);
appearance of a sign, its intensification ( blush);
movement or location in space ( go, sit);
activities, skills ( manage).

Morphological signs of intransitivity

The main difference between transitive and intransitive verbs lies in the ability to form passive participles. Compare the number of impersonal forms of the words “draw” and “walk”:

Paint

Walk

Sometimes the transitivity of a verb is determined based on the infinitive. There are derivational types of verbs that cannot be transitive:

Suffix at base		What part of speech is it derived from?	Examples
	imperfect	adjective	Get stronger, go blind, get wet
	the same	noun	To be angry (however, to feel, to admonish - exceptions)
	the same	nominal parts of speech	Beastly, turn white
	the same	the same	To be lazy, to carpenter

Reflexive verbs

Of all the formal features, the transitivity and intransitivity of the verb are best distinguished by the postfixes -sya-/-s-. Once upon a time they were forms of the pronoun “oneself” until they lost their independence. This origin of the postfix determined the specific name of verbs - reflexive (the action is directed at the agent himself). Compare: wash your face And wash your face.

All reflexive verbs are intransitive. And this is absolutely understandable: why use an additional noun next to them if the transitivity of the verb is contained in the structure of the word itself?

Particularly difficult cases

Sometimes the question of how to determine the transitivity of a verb can be confusing. The main difficulty is that certain words with the meaning of action can be used differently in different contexts. Consider the sentences: " Child reading a book" And " The child is already reading".In the first case, an action takes place aimed at a specific object - a book. The main purpose of the second sentence is to convey information that the child is able to perceive what is written, that is, the verb “read” acts as intransitive. Another, more understandable example is with the word “shut up.” Compare: " Everyone finally fell silent" And " Silence a certain fact"(that is, deliberately not mentioning something).

Before determining the transitivity of a verb, it is necessary to check whether the noun next to it in the accusative case has an adverbial meaning. In the sentence “We studied all night,” the nominal component is used as a temporary characteristic, and not as an object on which the action is performed.

Some transitive verbs control nouns in the genitive case outside of negation ( buy notebooks, pick berries). In other cases, parallel forms are possible - wait for a trolleybus / trolleybus, which are differentiated in accordance with the category of certainty/uncertainty. So, after the phrase “I’m waiting for a trolleybus” I would like to add “at number 5”. But the form of the genitive case implicitly indicates that the speaker himself is not entirely sure what kind of vehicle he needs. It's just waiting and that's it.

A similar situation occurs with constructions like “drink tea/tea.” The existence of two parallel forms should not be confusing. The genitive case indicates that they are going to drink cup/glass tea. However, in both the first and second cases, the verb is transitive.

For the curious

You can often hear phrases like “walk/swim me” from young children. Such an error indicates a good sense of language that every child is endowed with. A few centuries ago we had many more verbs governing nouns without prepositions in the accusative case. Now their number has decreased. Perhaps someday the transitivity of the verb in the Russian language will cease to exist altogether. However, it is difficult to judge how true this information is, so it still doesn’t hurt to repeat the above material once again.

In this lesson we will talk about transitive verbs. Of course, the verbs themselves do not go anywhere. But the actions that they denote can go directly to the object to which this action is directed. You will learn how to distinguish transitive verbs from intransitive ones in this lesson.

Topic: Verb

Lesson: Transitive and intransitive verbs

1. The concept of transitive verbs

Actions that verbs denote can go directly to the object to which this action is directed. Such verbs are called transitional.

You can always ask a question from transitive verbs whom? or What?(questions in the accusative case without a preposition):

Write ( What?) letter

See ( whom?) boy

With intransitive verbs, the action does not pass directly to the subject.

You can ask any questions from intransitive verbs, except questions in the accusative case without a preposition:

Study ( how?) sports

Understand ( what?) to the muses ke

Refuse ( from what?) from help

It is important to correctly find the word to which the action denoted by the verb is directed. A transitive verb always carries with it a noun or a pronoun without a preposition, which is not just in the accusative case, but is the object of the action that the verb names:

See boy

See their

There may be cases when, despite the fact that the nouns are in the accusative case, the verbs are intransitive. Because these nouns are not the object of action, which are called verbs.

stand still hour

Wait a week

Transitivity/intransitivity of a verb is closely related to its lexical meaning. In one meaning a verb can be transitive, and in another it can be intransitive:

Learn at school.

The verb “teach” in the meaning of “teach” is intransitive.

Learn children.

The verb “teach” in the meaning “to teach” is transitive.

Editor rules manuscript.

The verb “rules” in the meaning of “corrects” is transitive.

Peace rules the man himself.

The verb “rules” in the meaning of “manages” is intransitive.

3. Sentences with transitive verbs

Sentences with transitive verbs can be either affirmative or negative. True, when negated, the accusative case of a noun can be replaced by the genitive.

He's a fly will kill .

In this case, with a transitive verb will kill noun fly is in the accusative case.

Compare the same sentence, albeit with a negative meaning.

He flies won't kill .

The accusative case of the noun is replaced by the genitive.

However, remember: despite this, the verb does not lose its transitivity.

Often in the store we can hear the following phrases:

Please weigh me some sugar.

Cut off that cheese.

Form R.p. with transitive verbs it is used so that we understand that only part of the subject is being said, and not about the subject as a whole.

In a similar situation, if we are talking about an object that is not divided into parts, V.p. is used:

Please weigh the pear for me.

Cut off that piece.

And if we are talking about an object that is divided into parts, we can use the form R.p.

References

Russian language. 6th grade: Baranov M.T. and others - M.: Education, 2008.
Russian language. Theory. 5-9 grades: V.V. Babaytseva, L.D. Chesnokova - M.: Bustard, 2008.
Russian language. 6th grade: ed. MM. Razumovskaya, P.A. Lekanta - M.: Bustard, 2010.

Definition of verb transitivity ().

Homework

1. Exercise 1.

Indicate transitive verbs, underline the subject and predicate.

Autumn has come. The trees in the forest turned yellow. Leaves cover the bare ground with a variegated carpet. Many birds flew away. The rest are busy, preparing for winter. Animals are also looking for warm housing, stocking up on food for the long winter: a hedgehog made a hole in dry leaves, a squirrel brought in nuts and cones, a bear is preparing its den.

2. Exercise 2.

From this text, write down phrases with transitive and intransitive verbs in two columns, determine the case of the noun.

1. Young birch leaves have always delighted me with their delicate greenery. The guys planted these birch trees when they were at school.

2. There is no longer a feeling of piercing dampness in the air.

3. The noise of the street burst through the open window.

4. I returned the book as soon as I read it.

5. He stood at the fence and held a dog on a leash.

3. Exercise 3.

Indicate the transitivity and intransitivity of verbs in the text.

1. Monkeys are very afraid of snakes. Even cobras frighten them, although cobras feed on lizards and mice and do not hunt monkeys. A little monkey saw a boa constrictor. She climbs the tree with lightning speed, grabs the branches and, petrified with horror, cannot take her eyes off the predator.

2. Find Sakhalin Island on the map, draw a straight line to the south, and when leaving the bay you will see a tiny dot, and above it the inscription “Seal Island”. This is a famous island. A whole herd of fur seals, valuable fur-bearing animals, swims there every spring..

Topic: Verb

Lesson: Transitive and intransitive verbs

1. The concept of transitive verbs

Actions that verbs denote can go directly to the object to which this action is directed. Such verbs are called transitional.

You can always ask a question from transitive verbs whom? or What?(questions in the accusative case without a preposition):

Write ( What?) letter

See ( whom?) boy

With intransitive verbs, the action does not pass directly to the subject.

You can ask any questions from intransitive verbs, except questions in the accusative case without a preposition:

Study ( how?) sports

Understand ( what?) to the muses ke

Refuse ( from what?) from help

See boy

See their

There may be cases when, despite the fact that the nouns are in the accusative case, the verbs are intransitive. Because these nouns are not the object of action, which are called verbs.

stand still hour

Wait a week

Transitivity/intransitivity of a verb is closely related to its lexical meaning. In one meaning a verb can be transitive, and in another it can be intransitive:

Learn at school.

The verb “teach” in the meaning of “teach” is intransitive.

Learn children.

The verb “teach” in the meaning “to teach” is transitive.

Editor rules manuscript.

The verb “rules” in the meaning of “corrects” is transitive.

Peace rules the man himself.

The verb “rules” in the meaning of “manages” is intransitive.

3. Sentences with transitive verbs

Sentences with transitive verbs can be either affirmative or negative. True, when negated, the accusative case of a noun can be replaced by the genitive.

He's a fly will kill .

In this case, with a transitive verb will kill noun fly is in the accusative case.

Compare the same sentence, albeit with a negative meaning.

He flies won't kill .

The accusative case of the noun is replaced by the genitive.

However, remember: despite this, the verb does not lose its transitivity.

Often in the store we can hear the following phrases:

Please weigh me some sugar.

Cut off that cheese.

Form R.p. with transitive verbs it is used so that we understand that only part of the subject is being said, and not about the subject as a whole.

In a similar situation, if we are talking about an object that is not divided into parts, V.p. is used:

Please weigh the pear for me.

Cut off that piece.

And if we are talking about an object that is divided into parts, we can use the form R.p.

References

Russian language. 6th grade: Baranov M.T. and others - M.: Education, 2008.
Russian language. Theory. 5-9 grades: V.V. Babaytseva, L.D. Chesnokova - M.: Bustard, 2008.
Russian language. 6th grade: ed. MM. Razumovskaya, P.A. Lekanta - M.: Bustard, 2010.

Definition of verb transitivity ().

Homework

1. Exercise 1.

Indicate transitive verbs, underline the subject and predicate.

2. Exercise 2.

From this text, write down phrases with transitive and intransitive verbs in two columns, determine the case of the noun.

1. Young birch leaves have always delighted me with their delicate greenery. The guys planted these birch trees when they were at school.

2. There is no longer a feeling of piercing dampness in the air.

3. The noise of the street burst through the open window.

4. I returned the book as soon as I read it.

5. He stood at the fence and held a dog on a leash.

3. Exercise 3.

Indicate the transitivity and intransitivity of verbs in the text.

The indicator that we want to present in the article is one of the most difficult to understand verbal differences in the Russian language. Therefore, we will try to analyze it in many ways. What is a transitive and intransitive verb is the main topic of our material. Let's start by defining the basic concept.

What is transitivity?

In this context, transitivity is one of the grammatical features of verbs, which reflects the ability of the latter to attach direct objects. In other words, it is she who indicates the ability to control nouns without a preposition. Those that denote an active object - a person, an animal, an inanimate object, etc.

From here the transitive and intransitive forms of the verb are distinguished. Let's take a closer look at each group.

Transitive verbs

We begin to determine what a transitive and intransitive verb is. Let's look at the first category.

A transitive verb denotes an action or attitude that is aimed at a specific object, passes to it. The main feature is that such verbs control an unprepositional noun, a pronoun, which is in the accusative case. But this is not an absolute rule.

If the verb form is negative, then the noun or pronoun will be in the genitive case. This state of affairs is also typical for the case when the verb does not control the entire object, but only part of it.

Transitive verbs are usually formed from adjectives by adding the suffix -i- and a prefix: green, whiten and so on.

To make it clearer what an intransitive and transitive verb is, let's look at examples of the latter:

Invite relatives.
Experience joy.
Read the newspaper.
Get paid.
Drink some juice.

Features of transitive verbs

Speaking about transitive and intransitive verbs, the rules for their definition, we note that it is from the former that passive participles can be formed.

Let's look at the lexical features. In this regard, transitive verbs have the following meanings:

Creation, change, destruction of something, material and intangible, movement ( write a book, repaint a wall, break a contract).
Sensory perception ( hear footsteps, see the world, feel the cold).
Impact on something that does not lead to a change in this object ( thank your mother, scold your student, pet your puppy).
Expressing your emotional attitude, feeling or perception ( hate betrayal, love the Motherland, prefer fruits).

Intransitive verbs

We continue to find out what a transitive and intransitive verb is. Logically, we will include in the second group what is not included in the first.

An intransitive verb denotes any action that does not transfer to the object and does not need the latter at all. Hence, it does not combine with accusative case nouns without a preposition.

Here are some examples of intransitive verbs:

Sit on a chair.
Go to the store.
Live with you.
Enjoy the new day.

Features of intransitive verbs

In lexical terms, intransitive verbs can have the following meaning:

Narration about mental, physical state, position in space ( lie down on the couch, feel homesick, get a sore throat).
Existence, movement ( walk the road, be yourself, show up at the office).
Description of any activity, property of a person, object ( teach at school, lounge around in the garden).
The appearance, change of any qualities, the formation of a certain characteristic ( turn red to the ears, lose weight).

Intransitive verbs are also distinguished by the following:

Many have the suffixes -sya, -sya ( meet, get carried away, catch fire).
They are also characterized by the suffixes -icha-, -nicha-, -e- ( to become weak, to be greedy, to be capricious).
A considerable part of them are returnable (