to intransitivize
- verb
- /ɪnˈtrænzɪtaɪz/
- Specialized
- In English, you can intransitivize a verb by omitting its object, making the sentence simpler.
Examples
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The grammarian explained how dropping the direct object would intransitivize certain verbs.
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The linguist intransitivized the verb during the lecture.
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It is common in some languages to intransitivize verbs through specific morphological changes.
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Removing the reflexive pronoun can sometimes intransitivize the verb in certain contexts.
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We need to intransitivize this verb for clarity.
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To clearly express the action, we decided to intransitivize the verb by removing its direct object.
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The teacher showed us how to intransitivize various verbs by altering their structure.
Synonyms
To make a verb stop taking an object or to become that way
How Transitive
- Specialized
- Specialized
Surface Forms
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.