How to consider the transitivity of a verb

The questions of the transitivity of verbs for many are incomprehensible. The theme "Transitivity of the verb" is one of the most difficult in the school curriculum. The allotted time for studying is not enough, and therefore there is not a complete picture in the definition of transitive and intransitive verbs. Children often simply do not know how to define this category. In this article, we will examine in more detail the transitivity and intransitivity of verbs.

So, the category of verbs that can express the relationship between the subject performing the action and the object taking this action indicates the transitivity of the verb. The essence of everything consists in the following: it is necessary to determine whether this action passes to an object or does not pass. Hence the direct names: transitive intransitive verbs.

Actually, transitive verbs are an action that passes to an object. They are always combined with nouns in the accusative case and in other words, such verbs govern the accusative case. Under certain conditions, instead of accusative, there may be a genitive case. This happens in case there is a complete negation of the action (did not learn the lesson, did not bring bread) or the action is not fully applicable, but partially (drank tea, brought bread). Summarizing the above, we conclude: the transitivity of the verb is when it:

A) is combined with a pronoun or a noun in the accusative, but there is no excuse (buy a ticket, eat a sandwich, watch this (film), etc.);

B) combined with a pronoun or noun in the genitive case.

It should be noted that the main condition for the transitivity of the verb is the presence of a noun denoting an object and standing in the accusative without a preposition, or under specific conditions in the genitive case. Otherwise, the verb will be intransitive. For example, ran an hour. The verb ran is not transitive, because the noun hour is not an object of action. Or live a week. All the same, the verb is intransitive, since the noun week can not experience the above action.

One of the grammatical features of the category of transitivity is the presence of personal forms of passive voice (the newspaper is read by me, in the school curriculum it is not studied) and the presence of participial forms of passive voice (a newspaper read by my mother).

Now about the verbs intransitive. This is the designation of an action that does not pass to a particular object, but only affects it. However, intransitive verbs are not directly complemented. In other words, they do not control the cases mentioned above and do not have the form of a passive voice (the sail turns white, swims into the sea, abandons water, and so on).

Many linguists note that there is no clearly defined boundary between the transitivity and intransitivity of verbs. This ability of the verb is revealed in its semantics. And often it happens that these two species interact with each other: cross the road, go along the road. The advantage of this feature is grammatical affiliation.

Based on the semantics, the category of the verb transitivity is divided into groups. Thus, verbs are transitional, most often denote:

- creation of objects (fictitious or existing): to compose, create, drink;

- Destruction of objects: kill, destroy;

- Change the object: remake, rebuild;

- Move the object: shift, move;

- the importance of emotionality: respect, love, hate;

- the meaning of the sensation and perception of the object: to feel, see, hear.

Among the semantic groups of intransitive verbs, there are several basic ones:

- Position in space: run, stand, lie;

- a sign of the object: whiten, fade, blossom;

- Employment of the facility: work, sit back, play.