Concept
In grammar, an intransitive verb is a verb whose context does not entail a direct object. That lack of transitivity distinguishes intransitive verbs from transitive verbs, which entail one or more objects. Additionally, intransitive verbs are typically considered within a class apart from modal verbs and defective verbs. In the following sentences, verbs are used without a direct object: "Rivers flow." "I sneezed." "My dog ran." "Water evaporates when it's hot." "You've grown since I last saw you!" "I wonder how old I will be when I die." The following sentences contain transitive verbs (they entail one or more objects): "We watched a movie last night." "She's making promises." "When I said that, my sister smacked me." "Santa gave me a present." "He continuously clicked his pen and it was incredibly annoying to me." Some verbs, called ambitransitive verbs, may entail objects but do not always require one. Such a verb may be used as intransitive in one sentence, and as transitive in another. {|
| ! Intransitive !! !! Transitive |
|---|
| "It is raining." |
| - |
| "When he finished the race, he vomited." |
| - |
| "Water evaporates when it's hot." |
| - |
| "He's been singing all day." |
| - |
| "You've grown since I last saw you." |
| } |
| In general, intransitive verbs often involve weather terms, involuntary processes, states, bodily functions, motion, action processes, cognition, sensation, and emotion. |
| The valency of a verb is related to transitivity. Where the transitivity of a verb only considers the objects, the valency of a verb considers all the arguments that correspond to a verb, including both the subject of the verb and all of the objects. |
| It is possible to change the contextually indicated sense of a verb from transitive to intransitive, and in so doing to change the valency. |