Using transitive and intransitive verbs
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A special type of direct object | page 1 of 4 |
Introduction
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 two or more
participants is typically represented in English by a transitive verb. With most
transitive action verbs, it is clear that the direct object is in some way directly
affected by the action.
However, there are a small number of action verbs which, when used transitively take direct objects which do not seem to be affected by the action or event. Instead, these direct objects only provide information about the extent or scope of the activity suggested by the verb.
This file gives details of this phenomenon and outlines the reasons why speakers and writers choose verbs which take these special direct objects.
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Introduction
Some examples
