Verbs

Grammar for Business English (1)

VERBS MADE EASY (1): TRANSITIVE OR INTRANSITIVE


What is an intransitive verb? According to most dictionaries, intransitive verbs are verbs that are not followed by something or someone.


An example: Old habits die hard. (‘Die’ is intransitive as it is not followed by something or someone. (‘Hard’ is not something or someone, right?)


But the BIG question is: why?

1. Why is an intransitive verb not followed by something?

2. Or why is an transitive verb followed by something?

3. In other words, why is there a difference between transitive verbs and intransitive verbs?

To answer this big question, we have to talk about sentence structures (if you like, syntax). Most learners of English have recited the sentence structure of SVO, in which:

S=subject V=verb O=object

Yet they do not recognise that there is a special relationship between ‘S’ and ‘O’.

An example: Efficiency makes a happy life.

‘Efficiency’ is the subject and ‘a happy life’ is the object.

The special relationship is ‘Efficiency’ is much much much bigger than ‘a happy life’ (You may add more much). In other words, ‘efficiency’ is the reason why ‘a happy life’ is possible.


To make it easier, read the formula:

‘Efficiency’ > ‘a happy life’

S > O

However, if there is no such a relationship (between S & O), you have to use an intransitive verb with a preposition.

An example: I’ll wait for you.

The relationship between ‘I’ and ‘you’ is not one of ‘subject’ and ‘object’. To show such a relationship, a preposition is needed.






The following table may make you feel good about what we have been talking about:

Relationship between  S & O	Choice of verbs	Choice of verbs
S > O	Transitive
S is not > O		Intransitive (+ prepositions)