CHAPTER-16
1. Transitive and Intransitive verbs
167. A Verb is a word that states something about a person or thing;as,
>) Rama laughs.
>) The dog is dead.
>) Boys run quickly.
168. Read the following sentences :--
>) The policeman arrested the thief.
>) The Arab wounded the soldier.
>) The boys are eating their food.
In the first of these sentences,the action denoted by the Verb (arrested) passes over from the
Subject or doer (policeman) to some object(thief).The Verb arrested is,therefore,called a
Transitive Verb.( Transitive means passing over.)
NOTE:-- If you can provide a resonable answer to the question,What? or Whom?after a Verb,the
Verb is Transitive.
A Transitive Verb is a Verb that denotes an action which passes over from the Subject
or doer to something or somebody else called the Object.
169. Now read the following sentences :---
1). Silence is golden. }
2). Sita seems happy.} (State)
3). The boy sleeps. }
4). The sun rises in the east and sets in the west. (Action)
In these cases the action of the Verb does not pass over from the doer or Subject to an Object.The action (or state) is represented as complete in itself. The action stops with the doer.The Verbs is,seems,sleeps,rises, and sets are,therefore ,called Intransitive Verbs.
NOTE:--Intransitive means not transitive,i.e.,not passing over.
An Intransitive Verb is a Verb that denotes a state or an action that is complete in itself,It
does not pass over to an Object.
NOTE:--An Intransitive Verb expressing being takes the same case after it as before it;as,
>) It was she(not her) who won the first prize.
170. Some Transitive Verbs(ask,give,offer,promise,tell,etc.),take two Objects after them:--
(1) An Indirect Object which denotes the person to whom something is given or for whom
something is done,and
(2) A Direct Object which is usually the name of some thing.
*) Usually the Indirect Object ,if it is short,comes before the Direct Object as shown below:--
No. Subject+Verb Indirect Object Direct Object
1) He gave me an apple.
2) He taught his sons English.
3) The teacher us a story.
told
4) The Principal us a holiday.
promised
5) He offered me some money.
6) Will you buy me a few apples?
7) Can you spare me a few minutes?
8) You should buy yourself a new hat.
9) Will you make me a cup of tea?
10) Can you get me a dozen eggs?
*) These sentences can be rewritten with the Direct Object first,followed by a Preposition to or
for and the Indirect Object.
No. Subject+Verb Direct Object Preposition Direct Object
1). He gave an apple to me
2). He taught English to his sons.
3) The teacher a story to us.
told
4). The principal a holiday to us.
promised
5). He offered some money to me.
6). will you buy a few apples for me?
7). Can you spare a fewminutes for me?
8). You should buy a new hat for yourself.
9). Will you make a cup of tea for me?
10). can you get a dozen eggs for me?
171. There are some Verbs which, without any change of form,can be Transitive or Intransitive
accoring to the sense;as,
>) Transitive >) Intransitive
1). He walks his horse everyday. 1). The horse walks.
2). The horse drew the cart. 2). He drew near me.
3). The driver stopped the train. 3). The train stopped suddenly.
4). He flew his kite every day. 4). The boy's kite flew.
5). He floated the boat. 5). The boat floated.
6). The chaprasi rang the bell. 6). The bell rang.
7). He moves the table 7). the earth moves.
172. An Intransitive Verb may become Transitive when combined with a Preposition;as,
1). They laughed at her 1) He looked into the matter.
2). No one relies on her word. 2) We talked about the affair.
3). He looked at the sun. 3) He carried out my orders.
173. Some Intransitive Verbs take after them an Object similar in meaning to the Verb.Such an
Object is called a Cognate Object.
1). He lived a virtuous life. 1) he died a glorious death
2). They fought a brave fight. 2). She laughed a hearty laugh.
3). The boys ran a race. 3) Sita sang a sweet song.
174. Some Transitive Verbs can be used Intransitively;as,
>) Transitive >) Intransitive
1). He eats bread. 1). We eat to live.
2). The girl broke the glass. 2). The glass broke.
3). He burnt his hands. 3). He burnt with rage.
4). The wind shook th house. 4). The earth shook.
5). They opened the door. 5). The door soon opened.
( 2 ).VERBS OF INCOMPLETE PREDICTION
175. An Intransitive verb which makes complete sense,is said to be a verb of Complete
Prediction;as,
1). Birds fly. 1). Lions roar. 1). The boy laughs.
2). Snakes hiss. 2). Men sleep. 2). The baby weeps.
176. Many intransitive (and some Transitive) Verbs make no sense as predicates unless they are
followed by a Noun.Adjective ,or some part of another verb,such verbs are called verbs of
Incomplete Prediction are to be, seem,become,appear,etc.
>) Now take the sentences:--
*) The boys seems.
It does not make complete sense .The Intransitive Verb seems requires some such word as
sad,tired,happy,cheerful to make the sense complete.The sentence,
" The boy seems tired,or sad, or happy,or cheerful" makes complete sense.
The word or phrase used to complete to sense is called the Complement.
177. The Complement to Intransitive verbs may be in six different forms;as,
1). A horse is a useful animal. (Noun)
2). My dog has gone mad. ( Adjective)
3). The boy continued weeping.( participle).
4). that book is of no use. (Prep.with Obj.)
5). This house is to let ( Infinitive)
6) The baby has fallen asleep (Adverb)
178. A Transitive Verb ,which does not make complete sense by mentioning its Object,but
requires some Complement to be added after the Object,is called Factitive;as,
1). The loss filled them with grief.
2). They set the prisoners free.
In these sentences the verbal idea is contained in the words "filled with grief" and
"set free", as may be seen by writting them thus-----
>) The loss grieved them. >) They freed the prisoners.
179. The Compliment of a factitive Verb may take the following sex forms:--
1). They made bali captain. (Noun)
2). The judge set him free. ( Adjective)
3). We found Sita still singing. ( Participle)
4). Her story filled us with horrer. ( Prep .with Obj.)
5). He liked his enemy to be punished. (Infinitive)
6). We found the baby asleep.(Adverb)
180. When the Complement comes after an Intransitive Verb,it is called a Subjective Complement
,because it refers to the Subject.
When the Complement comes after a Transitive verb,it is called an Objective
Complement,because it refers to the Object.
Exercise 46. Say whether the Verbs in the following sentences are Transitive or Intransitive.
If the verb is Transitive name the Object :--
1). The Arab wounded the French soldier.
2). I carry the book.
3). Time changes all things.
4). I met a funny little man.
5). The policeman arrested the thief.
6). The children are dancing.
7). The policeman is whistling.
8). He rejoices.
9). He killed a snake.
10). The soldier shot the robber.
11). We took shelter under a tree.
12). I drink tea five times a day.
13). The officer laughed loudly.
14). Birds fly in the air.
15). He ran a mile.
16). The fire burns brightly.
17). Tell the truth.
18). The sun rises in the east.
19). Cocks crow in the morning.
20). I could not catch the train.
Exercise 47. Point out the Direct and Indirect Objects in each of the following sentences:--
1). He gave me a book.
2). He asked me a question.
3). She told me a secret.
4). He charged me five rupees.
5). Father promised us a radio set.
6). He offered me no advice.
7). The guide showed us the way.
8). He lent me ten rupees.
9). The farmer sold me a horse.
10). He refused me the load of a book.
11). He taught me sanskrit.
12). Will you buy me some mangoes.
13). can you spare me a few minutes.
14). You should buy yourself new shoes.
15). Will you make a cup of tea?
16). can you get me a dozen pens?
Exercise 48. Rewrite each of the above sentences using the Direct Object first,followed by the
Indirect Object.
Exercise 49. Pick out the Subjective and Objective Complements in each of the following
sentences:--
1). Time is money.
2). He became a great soldier.
3). She looke miserable.
4). Her father has fallen ill.
5). They became poor.
6). We grew rich.
7). You will be an officer.
8). She seems very delicate.
9). He is called an inspector.
10). He appears cheerful.
11). He was appointed Governer.
12). The earth is round.
13). Honey tastes sweet.
14). The sky grew dark.
15). They made him king.
16). They chose him their leader.
17). She called her lover a liar.
18). The jury found him guilty.
19). We named her Kamla.
20). Exercise has made her body strong.
21). We found the peon asleep.
22). The news left him disappointed.
23). I consider the book useful.
24). This plot filled us with terror.
25). I like a thief to be punished.
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