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Glite Dictionary
to transitivize

to transitivize

9.9
To change a verb so it can take a direct object
  • verb
  • /trænˈzɪtɪvaɪz/
  • Specialized
: transitivar
  • Linguists often transitivize verbs by adding appropriate suffixes or particles.

Examples

  • The teacher transitivized the verb during the lesson.

  • The teacher explained how the passive construction requires a verb to be transitivized.

  • Some English verbs can be transitivized by attaching a preposition to them.

  • We need to transitivize this verb for clarity.

  • To use the word 'make' as a transitive verb, you can transitivize it by saying 'make someone happy.'

  • When teaching grammar, it's important to show how to transitivize intransitive verbs.

  • She learned how to transitivize the verb 'run' to take a direct object.

Antonyms

to detransitivize
  • Specialized
9.9

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

How Transitive

to transitivize
  • Specialized
9.9
to intransitivize
  • Specialized
9.9

Surface Forms

transitivize infinitive
transitivized past
transitivized past participle
transitivizing present participle
transitivizes third person singular

Morphology

transitivize = transitive (transparent) = transitive + ize

The verb is formed by the productive English verb-forming suffix '-ize' applied to the adjective 'transitive', yielding 'make X transitive'.

Etymology

The word transitivize comes from trans- meaning 'across' and the ending -ize meaning 'to make', and it is built on transitive, a word for a verb that 'goes across' to a noun. So, to transitivize is to make a verb take a direct object, that is, to make the verb act on some noun or thing.