Absolute verbs

Question

I tried in vain to look for "absolute verbs",but only this definition " need no complement other than the subject to form a complete sentence. "While looking for Absolute verbs,I came across other kinds of verbs " relative -reciprocal and reflexive verbs."Please,could you explain briefly the difference between them including absolute verbs ?Many thanks.

Philip · Accepted Answer

Examples of verbs that can be absolute: I understand, I'm eating, he thinks, she left.

Examples of verbs that can be reflexive: I see myself in the mirror, he washes himself.

Examples of verbs that can be reciiprocal: We love each other, they enjoy themselves.

[If your source gives only definitions with no examples, I would suggest that it isn't really a very good source.]

Everlastinghope · Answer

Thanks for your reply and the examples that you gave .But what does " absolute verb" mean ?

I looked for its definition in the net,but found nothing.According to its definition"need no complement",does it mean that only subject and verb can constitute/represent a complete sentence?.In this case,I think it's what we call " intransitive verb",are this latter and absolute verb the same ?if not,what is the difference between them ?

Philip · Answer

In the definition, 'complement' means something that follows. "I left" is complete on its own; it doesn't have to have a complement (at 10:00, for the store, early).

Intransitive verbs can be absolute, as they don't take an object: no action imposed on another thing or person. Some verbs can be both transitive and intransitive.

Absolute verbs

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