The Relationship Between Transitive and Intransitive Verbs in English Language
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
NOTION NOTION Volume 01, Number 02, November 2019 p. 62-67 The Relationship between Transitive and Intransitive Verbs in English Language Teddy Fiktorius SMA Bina Mulia Pontianak, Kalimantan Barat, Indonesia [email protected] Article Info ABSTRACT Article History In the current research, the researcher employs descriptive method (library Article Received research) to elaborate on the relationship and differentiation between the 17th August 2019 English language transitive and intransitive verbs. The first parts explore the Article Reviewed theoretical framework of the relationship and differentiation equipped with 9th September 2019 various sentences samples. The next part discusses the implications for English Article Accepted language teachers in coping with some grammatical confusion. Finally, some 11 October 2019 solutions as well as recommendations are proposed. Keywords transitive verbs intransitive verbs grammatical confusion I. INTRODUCTION misleading sentences that lose its exact meaning. Verbs can be so tricky that even the best grammar Students, particularly the speakers of other languages, students might be often confounded by the difference often have difficulty determining which verbs require between transitive and intransitive verbs. The an object, and which do not. When students confuse confusion with the use of the transitive and transitive and intransitive verbs, the sentences they intransitive verbs can be resolved as a grammar point construct both orally and in written may be becomes clear with an understanding of objects. incomplete. When using a dictionary to look up verbs, we may This current paper is written to provide us with have been puzzled by the abbreviations vi (intransitive better insights into the difference of transitive and verb) and vt (transitive verb). intransitive verbs, which in turn help us comprehend Kline and Demuth[1], Berry[2], Azar and Hagen[3], and master the basics of English grammar. Best of all, Crystal[4], and Francez[5] claim that it is the object of when we understand the underpinnings of our any given sentences that makes the difference, a clear language, learning a language, particularly English grammatical point that may serve as a clue to language, will be fun as it should be. determine if the sentences have a transitive verb or intransitive verb. So, what is the confusion all about? II. LITERATURE REVIEW Why should the students know the difference between a. Transitive and Intransitive Verbs transitive and intransitive verbs? Why is it important to know the difference between transitive and An action verb which has an object, either direct or intransitive verbs? indirect, is called a transitive verb, while an action verb which does not have an object is called an intransitive Understanding the different functions of those two verb. The differences between the transitive and verbs can help any students dealing with the use of intransitive verbs are presented in the following those two types of verbs avoid grammatical mistakes, sections. such as incomplete sentences that may result into 62 Fiktorius, Teddy The Relationship between Transitive and Intransitive Verbs in English Language Transitive Verbs Suminem sent from Canada. (Incomplete) The word “transitive” sounds complex, but in Suminem sent a parcel from Canada. (Complete) reality identifying transitive verbs is really not that Sukiyem left on the floor. (Incomplete) difficult (more details on how to determine which verb is transitive or intransitive are presented in section Sukiyem left the bag on the floor. (Complete) “Transitive or intransitive: Which is it?”). Transitive Sujoko took to the mall. (Incomplete) verbs express an action and are followed by an object. Sujoko took his son to the mall. (Complete) The grammatical term object means a noun, pronoun or noun phrase that are impacted by the Intransitive Verbs action of the verb in a given sentence[5]. This An intransitive verb is simply defined as a verb that circularity causes problems for some people. It is does not take a direct object. There is no word in the perhaps easier to think of what a direct object is and sentence that tells who or what receives the action. what it is not. A direct object is a noun phrase that While there may be a word or phrase following an does not function as a subject complement; that is, it intransitive verb, such words and phrases typically does not describe the subject. Compare the following answer the question “how”. In other words, Azar and sentences: Hagen[3], Crystal[4], and Francez[5] note that Sumanto looks tired. intransitive verbs can be followed by adverbs. (Linking, Nominal Subject Complement) Most intransitive verbs are complete without a Sukamto sells cars. direct object. Here are some examples of intransitive (Transitive, Direct Object) verbs in sentences: Let us first look at a couple of examples of transitive Sujanah grew up. verbs in sentences as in: Sukirman slept soundly. Suminem sent (transitive verb) a letter (direct Sumaimun shouted inside the hall. object) from Canada. In the sentences above, “Sujanah”, “Sukirman” Sukiyem left (intransitive verb) the bag (direct and “Sumaimun” are the subjects, and “grew up”, object) on the floor. “slept”, and “shouted” are the intransitive verbs, while Sujoko took (intransitive verb) his son (direct “soundly” is an adverb of manner and “inside the hall” object) to the mall. is a prepositional phrase of place. In each of the example above, the subject performs Let us take a look at another couple of examples of an action and there is an object that receives the intransitive verbs in the following sentences. action. Followed by the verb, the direct object answers It rained. the question What? or Whom? [3] [4] [5]. It snowed. What does Suminem send? A postcard. The sentences above are complete. The subject “it” is What did Sukiyem leave? The keys. followed by the intransitive verb “rained” and Whom did Sujoko take? His son. “snowed”. What is wrong with the sentences below? Examples: Intransitive verbs can be followed by a prepositional phrase or an adverb to add to the Suminem sent from Canada. thought being expressed, but they can never be Sukiyem left on the floor. followed by a noun, which would act as the object of the sentence. Sujoko took to the mall. Examples of intransitive verbs followed by Without the use of a direct object the sentences prepositions include: above make no sense. The meaning of a transitive verb is incomplete without a direct object, as in the Sujanah grew up to be a singer. following examples: Sukirman slept on the sofa. 63 NOTION NOTION Volume 01, Number 02, November 2019 p. 62-67 Sumaimun shouted behind the door. Particularly, intransitive verbs can stand alone as “On the sofa” and “behind the door” are the whole predicate, although they may also have prepositional phrases, not direct objects. The word adverbial modifiers. Examples are the verbs in: “on” and “behind” are prepositions that introduce the The fish swam. prepositional phrase. The same can be said of “to be The fish swam gracefully. a singer”, which is yet another phrase. The fish swam in the tank. It rained across the region. We can perform the following tests to determine if It snows in Alaska. a verb is intransitive: “Across the region” and “in Alaska” are 1. Divide the predicate into phrases and see if it prepositional phrases adding to the sentences’ contains only a VP (verbal phrase) or a VP + an meanings by answering the questions: “where did it adverbial phrase. rain?” and “where does it snow?”. 2. If we are not sure if the phrase modifying the VP There are two kinds of intransitive verbs, namely is adverbial, try replacing it with a prototypical linking verbs and action verbs. The sentences above adverb like there or then. If this works, the phrase use action verbs. Linking verbs do not express action. is functioning adverbially. Like their name suggests, they simply link the sentence subject to the predicate. The most common linking Some verbs may be transitive in one sentence and verbs are all versions of the verb to be: am, is, are, was, intransitive in another, but there are some verbs which were, has been, will be, etc[3]. are always one or the other. A good dictionary will tell us if a verb can be either or if it is always one or the Here are several examples of linking verbs that are other (the the usual abbreviation is v.i. for intransitive intransitive verbs, followed by the appropriate verb and v.t. for transitive verb). descriptors. “What?” or Type of The dogs are friendly. Sentences “whom?” verb The guests have been late. Sumaimum eats cake Transitive Suminah will be 17 in July. cake. (what) She phoned her her mom Transitive Even though the sentences, “The dogs are friendly”, mom. (whom) “The guests have been late”, and “Suminah will be 17 in We waited for the no answer Intransitive July” seem as if they should have a direct object, there taxi. really is no receiver of the action. The subjects “the They slept for a no answer Intransitive dogs”, “the guests”, and “Suminah” are followed by while. the linking intransitive verb “to be”, modified by the I drew that that picture Transitive age 17 and the prepositional phrase “in July” (sentence picture. (what) 3). The results are three complete, grammatically They drew so no answer Intransitive correct sentences as seen in the above table. slowly. b. Transitive or Intransitive: Which Is It? Table 1. Transitive and Intransitive Verb Samples Comparison “How can we know the difference between As seen in the table above, the transitive and transitive and intransitive verbs?” appears to be a very intransitive verbs refer to “action verbs”. We can, common question asked by whoever dealing with the therefore, easily provide the answer to the question of study of English grammar, particularly the verb.