Transitive or intransitive
Hello all,
I've got some issues regarding the transitivity of the verb "to speak" in the following sentence:
"He spoke a few words to the German girl."
In this situation, the verb is transitive or intransitive? I know that "to the German girl" is an indirect object and I believe "a few words" is the direct object in the context, so what gives the transitivity of "spoke"?
I would gladly appreciate the help!
Top answer
He spoke a few words to the German girl. You are half-right. "A few words" is direct object of "spoke", but "to the German girl" is not an indirect object.
- He spoke a few words to the German girl.
- You are half-right.
- "A few words" is direct object of "spoke", but "to the German girl" is not an indirect object.
- It's a preposition phrase serving as complement of "spoke".
- Preposition phrases can't function as indirect objects.
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He spoke a few words to the German girl.
You are half-right. "A few words" is direct object of "spoke", but "to the German girl" is not an indirect object. It's a preposition phrase serving as complement of "spoke". Preposition phrases can't function as indirect objects.
A transitive verb / clause is defined as one that actually has a direct object.
0Zefelix this situation, the verb is transitive.
Here are the various categories describing verbs with respect to their objects.
Intransitive (does not take an object)
Transitive (takes an object)
Ditransitive (takes two objects)
0It's better to talk of the uses of verbs, rather than whether a particular verb takes or doesn't take an object. This then allows for those verbs that can occur in both transitive and intransitive clauses.
A transitive clause is thus defined as one that actually contains an object, and an intransitive clause is one that does not.
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