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Taka Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

Pollute

Whether along the once quiet banks of the Seine in Paris or on the streets of Rome, the automobile has polluted the world's urban environment. Its increase seems to be never-ending, and road traffic pollutes by the tremendous number of automobiles as well as harmful exhaust gas and noise.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but as far as I know, 'pollute' is transitive. Then what is the object of 'pollutes' here?
  

Top answer

It is both transitive and intransitive. In spite of the dictionaries, the Corpus of Contemporary English is full of intransitive instances: - They watch our classic television, pollute with our old chemicals, and their sun's younger. - trade will not affect it very much because China and India will continue to pollute .

— Mister Micawber

  • It is both transitive and intransitive.
  • In spite of the dictionaries, the Corpus of Contemporary English is full of intransitive instances: - They watch our classic television, pollute with our old chemicals, and their sun's younger.
  • - trade will not affect it very much because China and India will continue to pollute .
  • - They did have an exchange like you were talking about to exchange these permits to pollute .
  • - where statutes are enforced, officials allow profitable industries to pollute at will.
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3 Answers
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It is both transitive and intransitive. In spite of the dictionaries, the Corpus of Contemporary English is full of intransitive instances:

- They watch our classic television, pollute with our old chemicals, and their sun's younger.
- trade will not affect it very much because China and India will continue to pollute.
- They did h
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So it can be intransitive.Emotion: surprise I wonder why dictionaries don't have that entry.

Thanks!
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Even the best don't catch everything. My Webster's Collegiate is full of marginal notes.
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