Using transitive and intransitive verbs
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What is an intransitive verb? | page 4 of 5 |
Choice of active or passive voice with intransitive verbs
The grammar of English allows speakers and writers to represent actions and events as involving one, two, or three participants. An action or event involving just one participant is typically represented in English by an intransitive verb:
A father and his son were in stable condition last night in Maryborough after their home-built light plane crashed during take-off. (Bank of English)
This example is an active voice clause, with a subject (the plane) but no object. Therefore, since there is no object, it is not possible to produce a passive voice version.
Note though, that verbs such as crash, which are normally thought of as "intransitive" can sometimes be used transitively:
A maximum security patient at a hospital for the criminally insane crashed a car which he took for a test drive from a Brisbane yard.
In this case, a passive voice version is possible:
The car
was crashed by a maximum security patient ...
Verbs which can be used transitively or intransitively with the same meaning are referred to as ergative verbs.
For further information about verbs which behave in this way, see 
Using transitive and intransitive verbs: Using ergative verbs.
For further information about the use of active and passive voice with intransitive
verbs, see Using passive voice: Passive voice
and transitivity.
Choice of active or passive voice with intransitive verbs
