Transitive and Intransitive verbs

Question

From one of my other posts:

When meaning "to sit," sentar is a transitive verb. When meaning "to run," correr is an intransitive verb.

Can somebody please give me a crash-course on the difference between Transitive and Intransitive verbs?

Or is there something I can read on the subject?

I think that if I could start understanding the difference (or what to look for to be able to tell the difference), a lot of other things would clear up for me.... since a lot of my questions always tend to come back to this one topic way or another.

Thanks!

Answer 1

Now for your next lesson...move on to "detransitizing se". That is where you use the reflexive pronoun se to go from using a verb transitively to intransitively.

So every time you use a verb intransitively, you need to use "se"?

Answer 2

So every time you use a verb intransitively, you need to use "se"?

No. Some verbs are transitive and don't have intransitive definitions; ie. they require adirect object. To use these verbs intransitively, you need to use se.

Verbs with intransitive definitions don't need to be "intransitivized" since they are already intransitive; ie. they don't require a direct object.

Ok... now it's starting to clear up. A little... - Tosh, Sep 9, 2011

Answer 3

The difference is so simple that you may have problems finding much said about it. A transitive verb takes a direct object while an intransitive verb does not. Not very complicated. However, calling them transitive and intransitive verbs is going to lead you into the same problems as calling some verbs reflexive verbs. Many verbs can be used either transitively or intransitively so they are not different verbs.

I looked at the picture. (verb used transitively...it has a direct object).

I looked around. (Verb used intransitively...no direct object).

comer (notice that it has transitive meanings and intransitive meanings.)

to eat... something (transitive...has a direct object)

to eat, Would you like to eat now or later? (intransitive...no direct object)

---

Now for your next lesson...move on to "detransitizing se". That is where you use the reflexive pronoun se to go from using a verb transitively to intransitively.

Lazarus' now classic explanation of the sinking boat.

El torpedo hundió el barco. ( hundir...used transitively with a direct object)

El barco se hundió. (intransitive/passive-reflexive...hundir used intransitively with no direct object)

Actually, neither of those examples has a DO. Picture is the object of the prepositional phrase, it is not the object of the verb. I don't believe English considers "look at" to be a verb. - webdunce, Sep 9, 2011

However, "he is eating now" (intransitive) vs. "he is eating a hamburger" (transitive) would be a good (less-debatable) example. - webdunce, Sep 9, 2011

Well, we could argue about the verbal look at. But I probably should have picked a more clear example. Feel free to correct my reply in your own. - 0074b507, Sep 9, 2011

lazarus' example helped me understand 'se' 10% better....just about another 80% to go! - 5point, Sep 9, 2011

Look at is a verb webdunce, it's a phrasal verb.. But while I think get the basic concept of transitive vs. intransitive my examples are always wrong! - rabbitwho, Sep 9, 2011