What are "nueter verbs"?

Question

Hola,

I often see a "verb neuter" section appear on the translation page, for example: http://www.spanishdict.com/translate/caminar

What is a "verb neuter"? I've searched the grammar section and done some googling outside the site but can't understand it.

If anyone can shed some light or point me in the right direction that would be great!

Many thanks, Rangi

Answer 1

HI Rangi and Janice, vn is indeed verbo neutro (can't be abosulutely sure, but I think it is) which means; verbo intransitivo (no direct object)

verbo neutro= verbo intransitivo

Verbos Intransitivos o Neutros

La característica de estos verbos es que no necesitan de un complemento gramatical para completar su significado por sí mismos tienen significado completo. Ejemplo:

nacer, crecer, brincar, salir, morir, vivir, etc.

También reciben el nombre de Verbos Neutros lo cual se deriva del latín, los cuales existen en esta lengua que no son pasivos ni activos. En el español no existen los verbos pasivos, por lo cual no es adecuado llamar a estos verbos neutros. A continuación se presentan algunas oraciones con estos verbos.

La hierba crece. El niño brinca. Ellos salen. Los cachorros nacieron.

Esto no significa que estos verbos no puedan llevar complementos cuando así lo requieran. Ejemplo:

La hierba crece en las praderas. El niño brinca sobre la cama. Ellos salen con los niños al parque.

Answer 2

If, then, "vn" is an abbreviation for the Spanish "verbo neutro", Heidita, should it not remain in Spanish or if translated, read "intransitive verb" ? or is there a defined and accepted term in English grammar called "neuter verb" ? Sorry I don't really know that much about grammar...I guess I could go look this up (and I will do so later).

With regard to there being two sections, Rangi, you may have noticed that the entry with the bold "intransitive verb" notation is from Chambers Harrap Publishers Limited (Copyright © 2006). The "vn" designation is listed with the Velázquez entry.

With further regard to those Velázquez entries, "Ante Meridian" cannot mean that caminar only means "to work" before midday:--)

By and by these errors get corrected. We who use the dictionary can help by pointing them out.

Thanks for the tip about "vn.", Heidi. I sure wish online dictionaries had legends. I checked out the Velázquez once on an inter-library loan basis (meaning, I did not find it locally), but had to return it after a month. The hard-copy had a legend. I suppose I should have fotocopied it

Answer 3

And the conclusion? Does anyone know if there is an English "neuter verb" ?? I will otherwise search some English grammar sites...

I think the conclusion was that "neuter verbs" are the same as "intransitive verbs" - Rangi, Sep 10, 2009

I have found the answer and will post when I have a bit of time. There is such a term in English grammar, but it is not a synonym for "Intransitive verb"...later.. - Janice, Sep 10, 2009

Answer 4

I hadn't realised the translations came from two different dictionaries - now you mention I see it's actually quite obvious. This is starting to make more sense now!

Answer 5

For many verbs on this site there is a section for the "neuter", displayed separately from the "intransitive" section.

For example, "caminar" or "estar" both have an intransitive section and a neuter section.

Answer 6

I think you will find that this is an error in the program that is retrieving caminar from the Velázquez online dictionary.

This is the entry from Ask Velázquez. Note that what appears as "vn." in this entry has been erroneously expanded (translated) to "verb neuter" for Span¡shD!ct.com.

Let us hope that this error will be corrected. You may want to post the problem in the "how to use this site" area.

  Word:caminar
  Pronunciation:[cah-me-nar’]
  Meaning(s):**vn**.

  1: To travel, to walk, to go, to march.
  2: To move along (ríos, objetos). Caminar con pies de plomo,

(Met.) to act with prudence. Caminar derecho,

(Met.) to act uprightly.

Venir caminando, (LAm.) to come on foot.

Caminar derecho, to behave properly.

  3: (LAm.) (Mech.) To work.

There are other such errors. Look at this funny interpretation from that same Span¡shD!ct.com entry:

1. To work. (Ante Meridian & Latin American & Mecahnic) (m)

(I emphasized with the "bold")