名人教你讲英文：Intransitive Verbs

名人教英文：Intransitive Verbs

Students who study English should clearly distinguish between three patterns of verbs:
1) the transitive verb (及物动词) ;
2) the intransitive verb (不及物动词) ;
3) the ambi-transitive verb (以上两款都可以用的动词).

Details of each pattern and its sub-groups are given below.
1) TRANSITIVE VERBS 及物动词
All transitive verbs take objects which are "invariably different types of nouns".
所有及物动词都附带受词，而这些受词「必然是各类不同的名词」。

There are basically 3 types of transitive verbs:
a) A mono-transitive verb takes one direct object.
Example: I sing a song. ("A song" is the direct object of the transitive verb "sing".)

b) A "di-transitive verb" takes two objects.
Example: I buy John a book. ("A book" is the direct object (直接受词) of the transitive verb "buy" and "John" is the indirect object (间接受词))

c) A "tri-transitive verb" takes three or more objects.
Example: I buy John and Jane a book each. ("A book" is the direct object of the transitive verb "buy" and "John and Jane" are all indirect objects.)

2) INTRANSITIVE VERBS 不及物动词
An intransitive verb has no direct object.
However, intransitive verbs may take what is known as Cognate Objects (同族的受词).

Examples:
?Every one dies. 每个人都会死。("Die" is an intransitive verb.)
? This hero has died a good death! 这英雄死得好有价值﹗(The verb "die" and the noun "death" both come from the same root. So the word "death" is a cognate object of the intransitive verb "die".)

3) AMBI-TRANSITIVE VERBS
The prefix "ambi" has its origin in Latin, meaning "both". Ambi-transitive verbs may be used both transitively and intransitively.

Examples:
?I give you a book. 我给你一本书. ("Give" here is a transitive verb.)
?I give up! 我放弃了﹗("Give" here is an intransitive verb.)
It is important to remember that only transitive verbs can be used in both the active and passive voices, as illustrated below.
It is also important to recognise that certain words are always used intransitively. These verbs do not take objects but are followed by prepositions instead, as underlined below:（见附表）

Examples:
?This book belongs to me.
?I smile at the man.
Constant reading helps one to be conscious of the correct pattern of usage to avoid mistakes.

Revision
1. The cup was broken. 这杯被打碎了。
Is the above sentence in the active voice? Or passive voice?

2. I slept a sound sleep. 我睡得好。
Is the word "slept" a transitive verb? Or intransitive verb?

3. I like reading books. 我爱读书。
Is the word "like" a transitive verb? Or intransitive verb?

4. She possesses charm. 她有魅力。
Is the word "possesses" a transitive verb? Or intransitive verb?

5. I cannot stand him! 我不能忍受他﹗
Is the clause "cannot stand" used transitively or intransitively?