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to intransitivize

to intransitivize

9.9
Make a verb not take a direct object
  • verb
  • /ɪnˈtrænzɪtaɪz/
  • Specialized
: intransitivar
  • In English, you can intransitivize a verb by omitting its object, making the sentence simpler.

Examples

  • The grammarian explained how dropping the direct object would intransitivize certain verbs.

  • The linguist intransitivized the verb during the lecture.

  • It is common in some languages to intransitivize verbs through specific morphological changes.

  • Removing the reflexive pronoun can sometimes intransitivize the verb in certain contexts.

  • We need to intransitivize this verb for clarity.

  • To clearly express the action, we decided to intransitivize the verb by removing its direct object.

  • The teacher showed us how to intransitivize various verbs by altering their structure.

Synonyms

to detransitivize
vsto intransitivize
  • Specialized
9.9

To make a verb stop taking an object or to become that way

has identical meaning but is a different technical term

How Transitive

to transitivize
  • Specialized
9.9
to intransitivize
  • Specialized
9.9

Surface Forms

intransitivize infinitive
intransitivized past participle
intransitivizing present participle
intransitivizes third person singular

Morphology

intransitivize = intransitive (semi-transparent) = in + transit + ive + ize

The verb is formed in a standard way from the adjective 'intransitive' and means 'make or become intransitive.'

Etymology

The word intransitivize is built from in- 'not', transitive (the idea 'across', as in transfer), and the ending -ize 'to make'. So it means 'to make a verb not take an object', or to change a verb so the action does not pass 'across' to a direct object.