The Russian language is complex, but logical. Many things in it can be calculated on the basis of classical thoughts about the structure of the world. The transitivity of a verb is also easily determined based both on the name of its category (transitive means denoting an action that passes to some object), and a number of grammatical features inherent only to it. Let's try to figure out how to easily and quickly see its transitivity in a verb?
First of all, we must understand that the transitive verb is associated not only with the subject (I am sleeping), but also with the object (I wake up the child) of the action. Accordingly, the category of transitivity can be seen already at the semantic level: if a verb requires an addition, if without it it is incomplete in meaning, then most likely it will be transitive.
The object of action in transitive verbs is a noun or pronoun that appears in accusative case without a pretext: for example, I meet (who?) him, brother (V.p.), I write (what?) a letter (V.p.).
Transitive verbs containing negation or indicating part of the subject can be combined with nouns and pronouns in the genitive case without a preposition: for example, I didn’t buy (what?) milk (R.p.), I cut off (what?) bread (R. p.).
Unlike transitive verbs, intransitive verbs are not able to form semantic grammatical pairs with the above nouns and pronouns: for example, when talking about sleep itself, it is impossible to say “I am sleeping” whom? what?, since the subject is sleeping on his own.
Most often, transitive verbs express the idea of direct physical influence of the subject on the object (I wash the dishes) or sensory interaction directed from the subject to the object (I love my mother). Intransitive verbs are usually associated with the semantics of movement or movement in space: for example, “I’m going” (you can say where I’m going or how I’m going, but you can’t say that “I’m going” and thereby impacting someone or something -influence) or “I am sailing” (you can say where I am sailing or on what, etc.).
Passive (the house was built by builders) and reflexive (I need money) verbs are never transitive.
In some cases, transitive verbs can be used without their “objective” object or even not have it at all in one context or another. In the first version, we are dealing with a reasonable omission of a word, which is easily restored from general meaning text and can be contained in previous or subsequent sentences (for example, in oral speech it is quite acceptable to say “I eat” without mentioning what exactly “I eat”, since everyone who is with the speaker at that moment can already see this); in the second, we are talking about so-called labile verbs that acquire the category of transitivity or lose it in a certain context (for example, “I am writing” does not necessarily require an addition, since it can mean not so much an action aimed at a specific object, but rather the timeless occupation of a person, constantly writing different things).
Labile verbs are not recognized by all philologists. By default, it is generally accepted that in the Russian language there are only transitive and intransitive verbs. Accordingly, when encountered in the text or colloquial speech a verb similar to a transitive one, but without an object, a decision about the degree of its transitivity must be made based on its grammatical ability to be combined with nouns and pronouns in the accusative or genitive case without a preposition.
, “responsible” for designating actions. It has not only changeable characteristics, but also constant ones - those that do not disappear when words are changed. Transitive and intransitive verbs in Russian differ in the presence or absence of one of these permanent features - transitivity.
The concept of verb transitivity
Transitivity is understood as a grammatical category indicating the ability of the verb form manage direct object, that is, to attach nouns (objects) in the accusative and, less commonly, genitive case, which does not have a preposition.
This is the formal side of the definition. But what is a transition from the semantic side?
The meaning of transitive verb forms is that they denote “non-independent” actions that cannot be performed without a controlled object. Here are examples:
- To write (what?) a play, to serve (who?) a client, to not earn (what?) money are transitive verbs (simply “write” or “serve” is impossible, and “earn” without a controlled object is a verb with a different meaning).
- To sit (on what?) on a chair, to wash, to suffer (from what?) from an illness are intransitive verbs (you can simply “sit” or “suffer”).
Transition is what it is transfer of action from subject (subject) to object (called direct object).
In what cases should nouns be put?
Transitive verbs are able to control the object both in the form of the accusative case and in the form of the genitive case - in both cases without a preposition. But how do you know which of the two cases to use in each specific case?
The accusative is basic. The genitive addition takes on the form in the following cases:
- If it means “a certain amount of something”: “drank water” (n.) - that is, some part of the poured liquid; but “drank the water” (vin. p.) - that is, all the water in a given vessel or reservoir.
- In negative sentences, if the meaning “at all” is implied: “I didn’t eat your carrots” (I just didn’t eat) - “I didn’t eat your carrots” (I didn’t eat at all, not a piece).
- In negative sentences, if there is an intensifying particle “nor”: “We have no idea.”
The accusative case in negative sentences weakens the negation, and the genitive, on the contrary, strengthens it.
Important! Some nouns with transitive verbal forms acquire a genitive case form that differs from the main one: “I’ll take some sugar”, “not knowing the ford, don’t poke your nose into the water” (instead of “sugar”, “ford”).
How to determine the transitivity of a specific verb
How to determine transitivity? Problems often arise with this. The presence or absence of transitivity can be determined using the following method.
First you need to find the verb form in the sentence. Then find nouns or to which you can ask the question “who?” or “what?”
If there is such a word and there is no preposition with it, then this is a direct object; in front of us transition.
If the sentence is incomplete, the direct object may not be present, but it is implied; in this case, you also need to ask a question in the accusative case of the verb: “Do you understand me? “I understand (who? what?).” If you can’t ask such a question, then this intransitive: “Where have you been all week? “I was sick” (it is impossible to ask “who?” or “what?”).
Important! All reflexive and verb forms in passive voice, that is, those that have the suffix “-s” or “-sya”: it seems to be washed, located.
While observing this rule, you need to keep in mind the meaning of the noun - it must denote the object of the action. There are situations when a noun in the accusative case without a preposition stands next to a verb and is related to it, but it cannot be transitive: “It takes an hour to drive,” “to live for a week.”
Transitivity of polysemous verbs
Verb forms of words can have multiple meanings. In this case, in the first meaning there is transitional type, and in the second meaning the same word is an intransitive type. “He is telling (what?) a lie” is transitive, but “the child is already speaking (talking)” is intransitive. “The orchestra is playing (what?) a march” is transitive, but “the child is playing (busy playing)” is intransitive.
In humorous texts, a situation is possible when the normally intransitive becomes transitive: “Drink vodka and misbehave with discipline.”
The comic effect is built on this; the verbs seem to acquire the meanings of those instead of which they are placed– “to hooligan” instead of “to violate”, etc.
Obsolete meanings of intransitive verb forms may have transitivity.
“Trade” is an intransitive verb in modern Russian, but earlier, having the meaning of “price the price,” it was transitive: “To trade a horse.” This usage remains in folklore.
Differences between transitive and intransitive
Now you need to find out what is the difference between transitional from intransitive. First of all is its meaning. Transitional is usually designated.
Verbs in can be divided into 2 large semantic types:
1) denoting an action that passes to an object and changes it;
2) denoting an action that is closed in itself and does not transfer to an object.
The first type includes verbs of creation, destruction, many verbs of speech and thought, for example: build, grow, educate; break, smash, destroy; say, think, feel.
The second type combines verbs that express a certain state. Examples: lie, sit, sleep, feel.
Similar semantics of verbs in the form domain using the category of transitivity.
Verbs that denote an action that transfers to an object and are combined with a case form without are called transitive.
Verbs that are unable to denote an action passing to an object and cannot be combined with without a preposition are intransitive.
Examples: Tatyana wrote a letter to Onegin. The verb “wrote” is transitive.
He writes and translates well. The verbs “writes”, “translates”, denoting the ability to perform some action, are intransitive.
Transitivity is a lexico-grammatical category, therefore the category is determined strictly by formal features, and not by context.
The central part of transitive verbs includes verbs with negation, combined with the genitive, for example: dislike literature.
Indirect transitive verbs
Indirectly transitive verbs are also distinguished, which can be combined with an object without
Verbs of the Russian language are transitional And intransitive. General value transitivity/intransitivity characterized relation of action to object (S – V – O).
Transitional are called verbs that can have a direct object as a complement (i.e., they denote an action directed at an object). Indicator transitivity serves accusative direct object or genitive case with certain meanings.
Meaning transitivity – intrinsic property verb, it is included in it semantics(implicitly presented). Wed: pour, meet, chop etc. (whom? or What?). This action necessarily presupposes the presence of a direct object.
Genitive a direct object has two meanings:
- 1) how part of the whole: drink (what?) waterat(V.p.) – drink (what?) waters(R. p.) (= “drink only part of the water, not all the water”);
- 2) when verbs with negation: does not read (neither) newspapers, (nor) books(R.p.) etc. (cf. reads (what?) books, newspapers(V.p.) – doesn't read (what?) - Not - neg. particles. + neither– will strengthen, particles, with negation (and without neither)).
Intransitive verbs denote an action that is confined to the subject and does not go directly to the object: growing, sitting etc. Indicator intransitivity is absence of direct object with a verb (i.e. if the verb does not allow questions of the accusative case (who? what?), then it is intransitive).
Phenomenon transitivity/intransitivity– reflection lexical (semantic) specifics of the verb. Intransitive verbs mean actions sufficient for information, so they can be used absolutely, out of connection with some other word, without a spreading complement. Transitional verbs are called actions that do not exhaust information, For example: the child asks... (what?), the student listens... (what?). Therefore, transitive verbs cannot be used absolutely, but need extenders, direct objects: the child asks... (what?) a toy, a pencil(compare with the infinitive - eat, drink etc.) etc.; student listens to... (what?) lecture, message, report etc.
Transitivity/intransitivity is not marked (cf. verbs read– transitional and sleep– intransitive). However meaning of intransitivity can be marked with postfix(intransitive formant). If you attach a postfix to any verb -sya, it will be intransitive, returnable.
Transitive verbs are not marked in any way, and intransitive verbs are either marked or not marked. Wed: took it, read it(not marked) – transitional; tookXia(marked), slept(not marked) – intransitive.
Usually formal indicators There is no transitivity/intransitivity, but there is a group of verbs in which transitivity/intransitivity is distinguished by suffix:
- – verbs with suffixes -icha- or -nicha-, -stvova-, -well- (carpenternothingugh, buoystvovayeah, that's a good ideaWelluh, morgueWellt etc.) are intransitive;
- – verbs with suffix -And- may be transitional ( prosAndt, rankAndt) ,
- – verbs with suffix -A- can be either transitional ( kissesAt, startAt), and intransitive ( chromiumAt, moanAt etc.).
Let's compare verbs with suffixes -e-/-i-: verbs with meaning state Always intransitive (blacket, whiteet(= “to oneself”)), and verbs meaning “to perform an action on someone” are transitional (synAndt... (What? – underwear), whiteAndugh... (what! – walls)). In the same relation with suffixes -e-/-i- there are verbs formed in the prefix-suffix way: bleedingAndt(+ V. p.) – bleedinget(= "yourself"). Likewise: weaken - weaken the squad(I.p.) – exhaustedel(continuous) – exhaustedAndthere is an enemy(V. p. - transition).
There are the following ways to define verbs by the property of transitivity/intransitivity, indicating the basis for the definition:
- 1) transition, since there is an accusative case of the direct object;
- 2) transition, since there is a genitive hope of the direct object in negation;
- 3) transition, since there is a genitive case of a part of the whole;
- 4) transition, since the verb has an infinitive, which is replaced by the accusative or genitive of the direct object;
- 5) transition, since the verb has a dative with a preposition By, replaced by an accusative of a direct object;
- 6) transition, since the verb has an unchangeable nominal form (or an unchangeable quantitative combination), which is replaced by the accusative of the direct object.
Grammar The differences between transitive and intransitive verbs are as follows.
- 1. Everything returnable verbs are intransitive (quarrel, meet etc.). Reflexive verbs can be formed from transitional And intransitive. It is very important to learn how to define the postfix function -xia
:
- a) he can change grammatical form words, i.e. be a means of forming collateral values;
- b) joining a verb, it forms a word with a new lexical meaning;
- c) can attach to a verb meaning of impersonality(For example: it's getting dark);
- d) without postfix -xia verb not used(word formation).
Wed. pleaseXia(formative meaning – please
- (transition) + -xia(uninterrupted)), agreeXia(word-forming meaning – without -xia not used). Likewise: stopXia(form.), persuadeXia(form.), bring closerXia(form.), likeXia(words) turn whiteXia(form.), meetXia(form.), uniteXia(form.), be proudXia(words).
- 2. Only from transitional verbs can be formed passive participles (read – chitannoh, readI eaty; decide – decideenneth etc.).
There is no sharp boundary between transitive and intransitive verbs. Many transitional verbs can be used in not a transitive meaning. Wed: He singssong(transitive, since there is a direct object in the form of the accusative case without a preposition) – He's great sings(the verb is used in an intransitive meaning, since there is no direct object in the expressive sentence). Likewise: Boy reading a book – The boy is reading. But if intransitive verbs are formed from transitive verbs ( meet – meetXia, wash – washXia etc.), then intransitive verbs cannot become transitive.
- Historically postfix -xia was an indicator of the transitivity of the corresponding verb, but by joining the verb, it eliminated the placement of the accusative case with this verb. With some verbs, the accusative case is possible (usually instead of the genitive), but this does not make the verb transitive.
- stroked the cat;
- looked for the keys;
- wrote down the recipe, etc.
- fell asleep standing up;
- jump;
- fly.
Transitive verbs are those whose action passes to the subject. For example, write, read, eat, draw, look, warm, and so on.
Intransitive verbs are those whose action does not transfer to the subject. For example, laugh, study, fly, develop, and so on. It's very simple!
Transitive verbs, examples:
reading a magazine
watching a movie,
didn't drink tea
amassed a collection
ironing clothes
love life,
foamed the soap.
Intransitive verbs, examples:
thought about life
got ready to visit
get the flu,
wave a flag
stared at the fire.
Transitive verbs can be identified by conjugation; these are verbs of the second conjugation. Transitive verbs direct their action to an object and on this basis transitive verbs differ from intransitive verbs, which denote an action in itself. The tables contain definitions and examples of two types of verbs.
Transitive verbs are verbs after which you need to write an addition or clarification. And intransitive ones are independent verbs.
Examples of transitive verbs:
- Girl writes composition.
- The boy is already saw this movie.
Examples of intransitive verbs:
- Old man fell.
- Finally a bus arrived.
Some examples of transitive verbs: draw (landscape), listen (fairy tales), tell (news), carry (bag), give (flowers), bring (joy).
Some examples of intransitive verbs: dress, have fun, rejoice.
Transition the verb indicates that the action moves to another object. Transitive verbs are verbs that control the accusative case of a noun without pretext and the genitive case with negation, with the noun designating a part of the whole or, on the contrary, a large number of objects.
Examples of transitive verbs: draw a house, build an apartment, carry a basket, drank milk, ate jam, ate meat, picked mushrooms, did not learn the rules.
All other verbs are intransitive and returnable Same.
For example: getting ready for a trip, shaking your fist, growing, flying away, shivering, getting sick.
Determining whether a verb is transitive or not is very easy.
After the verb it is necessary to ask the question whom? or what?. If this can be done, then the verb is considered transitive; if not, then it is intransitive.
For example: I see (what?) a tree,
I know (what?) the rule,
I'm preparing (what?) soup.
BUT I admire (the question WHAT? cannot be asked),
I’m coming (you can’t ask such a question either).
There is a rule associated with transitivity. A verb is considered transitive if the noun in the accusative case next to it does not require a preposition. It is recommended to stand the birch bluntly. I look at the birch tree- look intransitive, because the noun in the accusative case comes with a preposition. I see a birch tree verb to see transition, because the noun came into vin. pad. without pretext. And everything like that. Very easy and simple.
The rule indicates that in transitive verbs the object of action (in our case the word birch, but in the text any word) can also be expressed in the genitive case. This happens in 2 cases: 1). It denotes a part of the whole: buy bread, drink water, 2). before the verb there is a negation in the form of a particle not: did not drink coffee in the morning.
The rest are intransitive. If you see a reflexive suffix -sya or -sya on a verb, it is intransitive. It turns out that there are fewer transitive ones than intransitive ones.
Verbs can be transitional And not transitional. In the first case, it means that the action of the verb extends to the subject.
This can happen, firstly, when a verb is used together with a noun in the accusative case without a preposition: write poetry, watch TV.
Secondly, it is used together with a noun in the genitive case, when there is a negative particle before the transitive verb (watched TV - didn’t watch TV), and also when the action extends to part of the object, and not to the whole object (took things - took things (part things).
Other verbs are not transitive: get involved in (what?) football.
If you take into account the transitivity/non-transitivity of the verb, you should pay attention to the meaning of the noun in the accusative case next to the verb, which should name the object of the action: stand for an hour (in line), - the noun is in the accusative case, and the verb is not transitive.
I think the above rule is more than clear. Based on this, we will now try to select a list of transitive verbs:
and intransitive verbs:
