The verb look is transitive or intransitive. Transitive and intransitive verbs

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? main topic our material. Let's start by defining the basic concept.

What is transitivity?

In this context, transitivity is one of grammatical features 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 mean operating facility, - human, animal, inanimate object and so on.

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 specific object, goes over to him. Main sign- such verbs control an unprepositional noun, a pronoun found in 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 up, whitewash 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 a 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 first that one can form passive participles.

Let's look at 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, sensations or perceptions ( 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 intransitive verbs:

  • Sit on the chair.
  • Go to the shop.
  • Live with you.
  • Enjoy the new day.

Features of intransitive verbs

IN lexically Intransitive verbs can have the following meaning:

  • Narrative of the psyche, physical condition, 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, formation a certain sign (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 (

, “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 signs– transitivity.

In contact with

The concept of verb transitivity

Transitivity means 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:

  1. 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.
  2. IN negative sentences, if the meaning “at all” is intended: “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).
  3. 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, then 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 the passive voice are not transitive, that is, those that have the suffix “-s” or “-sya”: it seems, washes, is located.

Observing specified 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 a transitive 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.

    I think the above rule is more than clear. Based on this, we will now try to select a list of transitive verbs:

    • stroked the cat;
    • looked for the keys;
    • wrote down the recipe, etc.

    and intransitive verbs:

    • 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. Everything is very simple!

    Transitive verbs, examples:

    I read a magazine

    watching a movie,

    didn't drink tea

    amassed a collection

    ironing clothes

    to 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 I 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, large quantity items.

    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.

    It is necessary to ask the question after the verb: 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 accusative noun next to it does not require a preposition. It is recommended to bluntly frame the birch. 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: I didn’t 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 before a transitive verb negative particle not (watched TV - didn’t watch TV), and also when the action extends to part of an object, and not to the entire object (took things - took things (part of 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.

All verbs in the Russian language in this category are divided into two large groupstransitive and intransitive .

TO transitional include verbs that can control the accusative case without a preposition. Such verbs denote an action that is directly aimed at an object.

In a sentence, transitive verbs have or may have direct object .

For example:

1. I am writing a letter.

2. Yesterday I read all day

In the second example there is no direct object, but it is potentially possible ( interesting book).

It should be remembered that transitive verbs cannot be reflexive.

Exercise:

Compare:

1. On the way to the university I met my friend.

2. My friend wasn’t at home

In addition to the accusative case, transitive verbs in two cases can also control the genitive case forms.

First case: when the genitive case means part of a whole.

For example:

I drank milk.(Wed: drank milk)

Second case: when a transitive verb has a negative particle Not.

For example:

I haven't received a letter from my brother for a long time

Such additions are also straight .

TO intransitive These include verbs that cannot control the accusative case form without a preposition. Such verbs denote an action that is not directly directed at an object. If not transitive verbs there is not and cannot be a direct object (after them you cannot pose a question whom? or What?)

For example:

sit, sleep, walk, dream, talk

Intransitive verbs can control everything indirect cases, except accusative without preposition. They can also control the accusative case, but only with a preposition.

For example:

step on a stone, trip over a stone

It should be remembered that intransitive verbs in a sentence have indirect object .

For example:

I'm talking on the phone with a friend

It should also be remembered that if a reflexive postfix is ​​added to a transitive verb -xia-, then it becomes intransitive.

Exercise:

Compare:

teach - learn, bathe - swim, build - build, dress - dress

Pledge– this is a constant lexical and grammatical category of a verb, which expresses the relationship of the action to the subject (i.e. the producer of the action). There are two collaterals - active and passive .

Verbs active voice denote an action not directed at the subject (i.e., the producer of the action).

For example:

1. Workers are building a house.

2. Snow covered the ground

In such constructions, the subject of the action is expressed by the subject (in the I.p.), and the object by the direct object (in the V.p. without a preposition).

Verbs passive voice denote an action directed at the subject.

For example:

1. The house is being built by workers.

2. The ground was covered with snow

In such constructions the subject of action is expressed indirect object(in T.p. without a preposition), and the object became the subject (in I.p.).

It should be remembered that verbs in the passive voice are always reflexive, i.e. have postfix -sya-, (-s-), and active verbs can be either non-reflexive or reflexive.

For example:

The child is sleeping.

The children are frolicking.

It's getting dark outside

In all these examples the verbs are active voice.

Type categories– this is also a constant grammatical category of the verb. The aspect of the verb expresses the relation of the action to its internal limit. Distinguish between verbs imperfect and perfect form.

Verbs imperfect form denote an action that has not reached its internal limit, i.e. his final result. They answer the question what to do?(There is no prefix in the question -With-).

For example:

I solved this yesterday math problem

This verb form contains an indication that I have completed this task.

1) verbs, correlative in appearance;

2) one-type verbs;

3) two-aspect verbs.

Verbs with correlative aspect– these are verbs that have correlative aspect pairs.

For example:

1) write - write, do - do, carry - bring, wake - wake up etc. (differ by the presence or absence of a prefix);

2) decide - decide, push - push, order - order, snack - snack etc. (differ by suffixes);

3) pull out - pull out, scream - shout, forgive - forgive, etc.(they differ in alternation in the root, as well as in suffixes);

4) cut - cut, scatter - scatter etc. (differ only in emphasis);

5) catch - catch, take - take(these are suppletive forms).

Monotype verbs- these are verbs that are correlative species pairs Dont Have. In turn, this group has two varieties:

1) single-aspect verbs only imperfective;

For example:

1. walk, sit(denote actions that took place in the distant past);

2. peek, cough(with the value of intermittent action);

3. dance, say etc. (with the meaning of accompanying action).

2) single-aspect verbs only perfective.

For example:

1. sing (start singing), walk (start walking), run (start running)(with the value of the beginning of the action);

2. make noise, dissuade, spoil etc. (with the value of completion of the action);

3. to gush, burst etc. (with the value of the intensity of action).

Bi-aspect verbs - These are verbs that combine the meanings of the imperfect and perfect forms at the same time.

For example:

attack, telegraph, promise, command, wound, marry, etc.

The type of such verbs is specified only in the sentence or in the associated text.

For example:

1. People get married; I see, I’m the only one who’s not married.

(Pushkin. The Tale of Tsar Soltan)

2. Meanwhile, he marries Maria Ivanovna.

(Pushkin. Captain's daughter)

Verbs perfect form may have such shades of meaning :

1. They call an action that was single (happened once): I ran to the shore and threw myself into the water, quickly swam up to the boy, grabbed him with my hand and, rowing with the other, headed back to the shore.

2. They call effective action, i.e. one whose result is obvious: We hung a wall newspaper in the hallway.(This is what a member of the editorial board of this newspaper could say if he were asked: “Well, how is the newspaper? Is it ready?” The answer would mean: This newspaper is ready, you can read it - the result of the work is obvious). Nikolai grew up over the summer, tanned, got stronger and lost a little weight.(Having met him, you can be convinced of this). The words that are placed in brackets here emphasize the meaning that perfective verbs allow us to imply in these statements.

3. They call it a one-time action: I jumped onto the windowsill.

Verbs imperfect form may have such shades of meaning :

1. They call an action that was performed (is being performed, will be performed) repeatedly, usually or always: In the summer we ran to the river and swam in the still cold morning water. The cheetah even outstrips the leopard.

2. They call actions that are ongoing, not yet exhausted, lasting (in the past, present and future tense): In the morning I wrote a letter and thought about what Natasha would answer to it. The rain is noisy outside, water drops and streams are ringing against the glass of my room. These roses will bloom and smell fragrant for many more days.

3. They call an action consisting of a series of acts; Moreover, although each act is completed, exhausted, the series itself is not exhausted and is depicted as continuing: Every day we learned five new words. We weeded both of these beds many times.


Related information.


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 ( can'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 over 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 sensory perception object with the verbs “watch”, “listen”, etc.

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

  • physical or mental state (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 quantity impersonal forms 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 formal features The transitivity and intransitivity of a verb are best distinguished by 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- 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. 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 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 clear example, 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 it has standing nearby with it the noun in the accusative case has 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 which one 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. An error like this indicates good feeling 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 once again It still doesn’t hurt to repeat the above material.