Transitive (Noun)
Meaning
A verb (or verb construction) that requires an object in order to be grammatical.
Classification
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents.
Examples
- The verb "eat" is transitive because it requires an object, such as "food" or "lunch", to complete its meaning.
- In the sentence "She is writing a letter", the verb "writing" is transitive because it takes the object "letter".
- The verb "paint" is transitive when it is used with an object, as in "paint the house", but it can also be intransitive when used without an object, as in "paint every day".
- The sentence "He broke the window" illustrates a transitive verb construction because the verb "broke" requires the object "window" to be grammatical.
- The verb "buy" is transitive because it requires an object, such as "a car" or "some groceries", to complete its meaning.