Transitive verbs, intransitive verbs… What is it all about?
Have a look at the following screenshot:
It comes from the Merriam-Webster dictionary, which is a very good dictionary that gives you loads of information about each entry. Here we have the verb take and we can see that it’s a transitive verb.
You probably know that there are transitive and intransitive verbs. The difference between them is that the former are followed by an object and the latter aren’t. But there’s much more to it than that. Let’s dive a bit deeper into this topic.
Some verbs are transitive, others are intransitive. There are also lots of verbs that may be both transitive and intransitive. Transitiveness and intransitiveness are two different valency patterns. So, a valency pattern is a specific pattern in which a verb may occur: with an object (transitive) or without an object (intransitive).
The basic distinction between transitive and intransitive verbs is pretty clear and straightforward, yet not complete. Transitive verbs may be further classified as monotransitive, ditransitive and complex transitive. Besides, there is one more major valency pattern, copular. So, there are five major valency patterns altogether. Let’s discuss them briefly one by one.
Table of Contents
Intransitive verbs
Let’s start with intransitive verbs. These verbs follow the most basic pattern, SV, where S stands for the subject (noun, pronoun or a noun phrase) and V for the verb. So, they are not followed by anything. Have a look at the following examples of intransitive verbs:
The old general died.
They left.
These verbs are not followed by anything, although they could be optionally followed by an adverbial, like for example:
The old general died last week.
They left quickly.
Transitive verbs
Then we have transitive verbs. Actually, the three patterns with transitive verbs. Let’s discuss them one by one.
Monotransitive verbs
Then we have the three patterns with transitive verbs. Let’s start with monotransitive verbs. They are followed by a single direct object, so the pattern is SVOd, where Od stands for direct object.
Some examples:
I read an interesting book.
Someone lost a watch.
As with intransitive verbs, transitive verbs may also be followed by an optional adverbial, for example:
I read an interesting book last month.
Someone lost a watch on the beach.
Ditransitive verbs
Next there are ditransitive verbs. These verbs are followed by two objects: a direct object and an indirect object, so the pattern is SVOiOd, where Oi stands for indirect object.
Some examples:
She gave her husband a present.
The teacher showed her students a picture.
Complex transitive verbs
Finally, there are the so called complex transitive verbs. There are actually two cases possible here. The verb is followed by a direct object and either an object predicative or an obligatory adverbial, so the patterns are SVOdPo and SVOdA respectively, where Postands for object predicative and A stands for adverbial.
First, let’s have a look at some examples with the object predicative. An object predicative can be a noun phrase or an adjective. An example of the former would be:
Astronomers called them dwarf planets.
Here dwarf planets is a noun phrase. An example of the latter would be:
He called it stupid.
And now an example with an obligatory adverbial:
She put the book on the table.
Copular verbs
How about the last valency pattern? Well, copular verbs are verbs followed by a subject predicative or an obligatory adverbial, so the patterns are SVPs and SVA respectively, where Psstands for subject predicative and A stands for adverbial.
Let’s talk about the former first. A subject predicative may be a noun or adjective. The most frequently used copular verb is the verb be, but there are many others like feel, seem, get, become, smell, taste, look, etc.
Here are some examples:
She is a teacher. (verb followed by noun)
Your house seems cozy. (verb followed by adjective)
The soup tastes good. (verb followed by adjective)
And now let’s have a look at an example where the verb is followed by an obligatory adverbial:
She’s staying at the hotel.
Many verbs in English are used in more than one valency pattern. Here are some examples:
speak – intransitive / monotransitive
The professor is speaking. (intransitive)
He speaks English. (monotransitive)
smell – intransitive / monotransitive / copular
A person who has a cold can’t smell. (intransitive)
She smelled the flowers. (monotransitive)
The stew smells good. (copular)
And there are tons of such verbs. Feel free to find some examples. Have a look at the verb get. Can you think of an example with this verb for each of the many valency patterns it can be used in?