intransitivity
- noun
- /ˌɪntrænˈzɪtɪviˌti/
- Specialized
:
intransitividad
- Understanding the concept of intransitivity helps language learners recognize verbs that do not take objects.
Examples
-
The apparent intransitivity of the verb wreck in a phrase like "the ship wrecked itself upon the rocks" is illusory because ships don't voluntarily wreck themselves.
Academic text (2006) -
The intransitivity of the verb in the sentence makes it clear that no direct object is needed.
-
Here, negativity not only implicates the intransitivity of speech, but also radically interrogates the linguistic capacity for representation.
Academic text (1997) -
"An analysis of the verb wreck restricted to syntax alone will not resolve the transitivity or intransitivity of the use of this verb in this poem.
Academic text (2006) -
Intransitive verbs demonstrate intransitivity, which means they cannot have a direct object in a sentence.
Synonyms
The fact that a verb does not take a direct object, for example sleep or laugh
Antonyms
How Transitive
- Specialized
- Specialized
Surface Forms
Morphology
intransitivity = intransitive (transparent) = intransitive + ity
Standard noun formation from the adjective 'intransitive' using the productive suffix '-ity'; the meaning is directly derived.
Etymology
The word intransitivity comes from the parts in- meaning 'not' and transitive, from trans- meaning 'across', the same idea you see in transfer. So, intransitivity is when a verb does not 'send' its action across to a direct object, which is why verbs like 'sleep' cannot take one.
