Using transitive and intransitive verbs
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What is a transitive verb? | page 2 of 4 |
A definition of transitive verbs 
A transitive verb can be defined as any verb which needs to be followed by a direct
object 
.
Consider the following sentence:
Roger hit Piggy.
In this example, Roger is the "doer" and the subject of the verb, and Piggy is the direct object, or in other words the participant who is directly affected by the action. Note that it would normally be meaningless to say:
Roger hit.
Note also that a transitive verb can easily be passivised:
Piggy was hit by Roger.
In summary then, a transitive verb must have two participants; the subject and
the direct object .
Omitting the direct object
It is worth noting that in certain cases where the direct object is understood it can be omitted:
When triads hit [^], they hit [^] hard. (SCMP 23/5/95)
In this example, even though the direct object has been omitted, it is still a necessary part of the process, and can be recovered by asking the question "Who was hit?" (The answer is likely to be something like "victims", "their target", etc.)
Note also that some verbs readily allow the object to be omitted in this way, eg drink,
eat, smoke , while with others it is quite rare.
Note however, that Hong Kong students have a tendency to omit the direct object after verbs which require some sort of direct object:
Suddenly, my mother shouted to me that she wanted to drink a soft drink; therefore, I went to buy [^] for her quickly. (TeleNex Students)
For further information, see 
Using transitive and intransitive verbs: Students' problems
(p 2).
A special type of direct object
With most transitive action verbs, it is clear that the direct object is in some way directly affected by the action. However, there are some action verbs which, when used transitively, take direct objects which only provide information about the extent or scope of the activity suggested by the verb:
Sing a song of sixpence, a pocket full of rye. (Traditional Nursery Rhyme)
... live a life of luxury ...
With these examples it doesn't make much sense to ask what happened to the "song", or what happened to the "life", in the same way that you could ask what happened to, say, a "victim". In these examples the direct object seems merely to repeat the meaning conveyed by the verb.
For further information about direct objects which behave in this way, see 
Using transitive and intransitive verbs: A special type of direct
object.
A definition of transitive verbs
