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Anonymous Posted 15 years ago
Grammar

Transitive vs intransitive verb

Hi,

There are two sentences:

1. "She looked at him in great surprise, wondering what he meant."

2. "Happiness depends how you look at life."

Both sentences are from the Longman Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.

My question is: why does the verb "look at" is intransitive in the first sentence and transitive in the second one,?

(The dictionary describes both usages accordingly: the 1. has the intransitive "look at", the 2. the transitive one.)
  

Top answer

Hi, They both seem intransitive to me. I don't really see 'look at' as a phrasal verb. The verb 'look' is intransitive.

— Clive

  • Hi, They both seem intransitive to me.
  • I don't really see 'look at' as a phrasal verb.
  • The verb 'look' is intransitive.
  • Clive
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4 Answers
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Hi,

They both seem intransitive to me.

I don't really see 'look at' as a phrasal verb. The verb 'look' is intransitive.

Clive
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Thank you, Clive, for your useful reply.
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Also, the 2nd sentence seems wrong. I would expect:

2. "Happiness depends on how you look at life."
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Mister MicawberAlso, the 2nd sentence seems wrong. I would expect:

2. "Happiness depends on how you look at life."
Thank you, MM, for your useful reply. You're right. In the original text there is "on". I've mistakenly omitted it.
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