Indicating how many participants are involved: transitivity

3.2 In this grammar, transitivity is explained in relation to the clause as a whole. Many grammars deal with transitivity in terms of the way in which a verb selects objects. However, the verb, while usually central in clause structure, is not necessarily chosen first. This grammar explains subject, verb, and object relations by describing how statements are created.

intransitive verbs 3.3 If an action or event involved only one person or thing, you mention only the performer of the action (the subject) and the action (the verb).

The girl screamed.

I waited.

An awful thing has happened.

Clauses or this kind are called intransitive clauses. Verb which occur in intransitive clauses are called intransitive verbs.

However, you can then mention another person or thing which is involved using a prepositional phrase.

She walked across the street.

Intransitive verbs are explained in paragraphs 3.9 to 3.14.

3.4 If the action or event involves another person or thing which the action affects, relates to, or produces, you put a noun group referring to them after the verb group. This is called the object of the verb or clause. If it is necessary to distinguish it from other objects, it is called the direct object.

He closed the door.

I hate sport.

Some of the women noticed me.

Clauses which have a direct object are called transitive clauses, and verbs which occur in transitive clauses are called transitive verbs. Transitive verbs are explained in paragraphs 3.15 to 3.26.

Reflexive verbs and delexical verbs are special kinds of transitive verbs. They are explained in paragraphs 3.27 to 3.32 and 3.33 to 3.46.

3.5 The majority of verbs in English give you the option of presenting an event either as involving the subject only or as involving the subject and someone or something else as a direct object.

He paints every day.

Yarkov paints vivid portraits of friends and acquaintances.

Gus asked me whether I'd like to have dinner with him, I accepted.

I accepted the invitation.

This means that most verbs can be used in transitive clauses as well as intransitive clauses. Verbs which can be used in either type of clause are explained in paragraphs 3.47 to 3.55.

With some verbs, the thing affected by the action can be put as the object of the verb or as the object of a preposition after the verb. These verbs are explained in paragraphs 3.56 to 3.59.

Ergative verbs are a special kind of verb which can be used in intransitive or transitive clauses. They are explained in paragraphs 3.60 to 3.68.

3.6 There are two kinds of reciprocal verbs, which refer to actions which involve people doing the same thing to each other. One kind intransitive or transitive clauses; the other kind is used in intransitive clauses, with or without a prepositional phrase mentioning one of the participants.

We met at Hargreaves' place.

I had met him in Zermatt.

We argued over this question for a long time.

I argued with this man for half an hour.

Reciprocal verbs are explained in paragraphs 3.69 to 3.73.

3.7 A small number of transitive verbs also allow you to mention a person who benefits from an action or receives something as a result. The clause then has both a direct object and a indirect object.

Piggy handed Ralph his glasses.

His uncle had given him books on India.

She sends you her love.

She passed him his cup.

Verbs which can take an indirect object as well as a direct object are called ditransitive verbs. They are explained in paragraphs 3.74 to 3.83.

phrasal verbs, compound verbs 3.8 Some verbs have two or three parts. These are phrasal verbs and compound verbs. Phrasal verbs are explained in paragraphs 3.84 to 3.117, and compound verbs are explained in paragraphs 3.118 to 3.126.