intransitivity
Definition
Noun: The grammatical property or state of a verb that does not require or cannot take a direct object to complete its meaning. It describes the quality of being intransitive.
Usage
This term is used in linguistics and grammar to classify and discuss verbs. It refers to the inherent characteristic of a verb that allows it to form a complete thought without acting upon an object. - The sentence "The baby sleeps" demonstrates intransitivity because the verb "sleeps" does not have a direct object. - Linguists study the intransitivity of verbs like "arrive" and "exist".
Advanced Usage
- Syntactic Intransitivity: Refers to a verb's behavior in a specific sentence construction, regardless of its general classification. Some verbs can be used both transitively and intransitively.
- The verb "run" shows intransitivity in "He runs every morning," but transitivity in "He runs a company."
- Morphological Marking: In some languages, intransitivity is marked by specific verb endings or particles.
Variants and Related Words
- Intransitive (adj): Describing a verb that has the property of intransitivity.
- "Fall" is an intransitive verb.
- Intransitive Verb (n): A verb that exhibits intransitivity.
- "Happen" and "deteriorate" are intransitive verbs.
Synonyms
- Non-transitivity (less common)
Antonyms
- Transitivity: The grammatical relation created by a transitive verb (a verb that requires a direct object).
Noun
-
the grammatical relation created by an intransitive verb
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