transitivize
Verb: To make (a verb or a verbal construction) transitive. This means to alter or use a verb so that it takes a direct object.
The verb 'transitivize' is used in the field of linguistics and grammar. It describes the process of changing an intransitive verb (a verb that does not take a direct object) into a transitive one (a verb that does take a direct object), or of using a verb in a transitive construction.
- In some languages, you can transitivize a verb by adding a specific suffix.
- The linguist explained how the prefix could transitivize the base verb.
- The phrase "he runs the company" transitivizes the typically intransitive verb "run."
- Causative Transitivization: A common type of transitivization where a verb becomes transitive by giving it a causative meaning (e.g., "The vase broke" [intransitive] vs. "He broke the vase" [transitive/causative]).
- The concept is often discussed in the context of morphological derivation (adding affixes) or syntactic alternations (changing sentence structure).
- Transitivization (noun): The process or result of making a verb transitive.
- The transitivization of the verb was achieved through a morphological change.
- Transitive (adjective): Describing a verb that takes a direct object.
- Intransitivize (verb): The opposite process; to make a verb intransitive.
- Make transitive
- Intransitivize
- Detransitivize
The example from the reference context ("adding 'out' to many verbs transitivizes them") illustrates this process. For instance, the verb "eat" can be used intransitively ("He ate"). Adding "out" to form "eat out" does not typically transitivize it in the same way. A clearer example might be that adding a prefix or using a verb in a different syntactic frame can transitivize it. For example, "walk" is often intransitive ("She walks"), but it can be transitivized in "She walks the dog."
- make transitive
- adding `out' to many verbs transitivizes them