intransitive verb
C1/C2 (Technical/Academic Linguistics)Formal, academic, linguistic, grammatical explanation
Definition
Meaning
A verb that does not take a direct object; the action or state described by the verb does not transfer to another person or thing.
In linguistics, a verb whose syntactic structure does not require or permit a direct object complement, often describing actions or states that are complete in themselves, such as motion, existence, or change of state. Some verbs can be both transitive and intransitive depending on context (ambitransitive).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term specifically denotes a syntactic category, not a semantic one. An intransitive verb clause consists of a subject and verb only (S-V). Common semantic roles for subjects of intransitive verbs include Agent (He runs), Patient (The glass broke), or Experiencer (She smiled).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in grammatical definition. Minor differences in preferred example verbs or teaching terminology (e.g., BrE might use 'faint' as a classic example, AmE might use 'arrive').
Connotations
Neutral technical term in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally common in grammatical instruction in both regions.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
S-V (Subject-Verb)S-V-AdvP (Subject-Verb-Adverbial Phrase)S-V-PP (Subject-Verb-Prepositional Phrase)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except in communication training about clear writing (e.g., 'Use strong, active intransitive verbs like "innovate" or "collaborate"').
Academic
Frequent in linguistics, grammar, language teaching, and syntactic analysis.
Everyday
Very rare in everyday conversation, except when discussing language learning or grammar explicitly.
Technical
Core term in grammatical descriptions, language parsing software, and computational linguistics.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The negotiations will commence at noon.
- He dozed off during the lecture.
- Their enthusiasm soon evaporated.
American English
- The meeting adjourned early.
- She graduated last spring.
- The old bridge finally collapsed.
adverb
British English
- The verb is used intransitively here.
- Can this verb function intransitively?
American English
- She explained how the verb operates intransitively.
adjective
British English
- 'Fall' is an intransitive usage in that sentence.
- This is an intransitive verb phrase.
American English
- We need to identify the intransitive clauses.
- His analysis focused on intransitive constructions.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The baby sleeps.
- Birds fly.
- We arrived.
- My headache has disappeared.
- Please sit down.
- The sun rises in the east.
- After the scandal, the minister resigned abruptly.
- The audience applauded for several minutes.
- Leaves rustled in the gentle breeze.
- The political alliance disintegrated following the policy shift.
- Criticism of the proposal has gradually subsided.
- These ancient traditions persist in remote communities.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
INtransitive = IN the subject itself, the action stays INternally. Nothing receives it.
Conceptual Metaphor
VERBAL ACTION AS SELF-CONTAINED EVENT (The event is complete without an external target).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Russian does not have an identical grammatical category. Word order and the use of the accusative case often indicate transitivity. A verb like 'ждать' (to wait) is transitive in Russian ('Я жду тебя' - I wait you-ACC) but intransitive in English ('I am waiting FOR you').
- Confusion with reflexive verbs. Russian uses reflexive suffixes (-ся/-сь) for many verbs that are intransitive in English (e.g., 'смеяться' - to laugh).
Common Mistakes
- Adding an unnecessary direct object (e.g., *'He disappeared the keys' instead of 'The keys disappeared').
- Using a transitive verb structure when an intransitive verb + preposition is needed (e.g., *'He listened music' instead of 'He listened TO music').
- Assuming a verb is always intransitive because its first meaning is (e.g., 'run' is intransitive in 'He runs' but transitive in 'He runs a company').
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following sentences contains an intransitive verb?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, 'to be' (am, is, are, was, were) is a copular or linking verb, which is a special type of intransitive verb. It takes a subject complement (an adjective or noun), not a direct object.
No, by definition, an intransitive verb cannot take a direct object. However, it can be followed by adverbials, prepositional phrases, or infinitive phrases (e.g., 'She hesitated to speak', 'He lives in Paris').
Intransitivity is a property of the verb's valence (it doesn't take an object). Passive voice is a grammatical construction where the object of a transitive verb becomes the subject (e.g., 'The ball was thrown'). A passive verb is derived from a transitive verb, not an intransitive one.
It's crucial for grammatical sentence construction. Knowing a verb is intransitive prevents you from incorrectly adding a direct object, which is a common error for language learners. It also helps in understanding sentence patterns and verb valency.