|
Verbs generally
fall into one of two categories. Some of them are intransitive. This means that
the action the verb describes applies to just one person, the actor. That is,
the action is incapable of transferring to another person or
thing. This may sound a little complicated, but it should make intuitive sense
after a few examples of sentences with intransitive verbs.
| Examples: |
The plant grows. |
.regilo tUlen
(regilo tūlen) |
| |
The ancient Ages live. |
.reDovatE oglan xavEt
(redovatē oglan tsavēt) |
| |
The guildsman works. |
.retelrov tEgen
(retelrov tēgen) |
In each of these
sentences, the verb is intransitive because the action applies only to the
actor of the verb. When we read regilo tUlen, we recognize that the action of growing
applies to the plant alone; the plant isn't growing leaves or flowers,
it itself grows. Similarly, retelrov tEgen tells us that the guildsman himself
is working, and not that he is working a machine or a crowd; the action
of the verb works refers solely to him.
Alternatively,
verbs can be transitive; this means that the action of the verb extends or transfers
to another person or object in addition to the actor. The person or object that
receives the action of the verb is called its direct object (because it is a
direct recipient of that action). Since the actors of transitive verbs act on a
person or a thing, direct objects will always be nouns. Some examples of
sentences with transitive verbs, and direct objects, include:
| Examples: |
The master instructs some students. |
.renava SokUen erTcUrtantE
(renava shokhūen erthchūrtantē) |
| |
We construct a new city. |
.miStaet erTpax nE
(mishtaet erthpats nē) |
| |
The guildsmen grow plants. |
.retelrovtE tUlEt gilotE
(retelrovtē tūlēt gilotē) |
Here, we see
that the action of the verb is not only performed by its actor, but also
extends to another person or thing that is affected by that action. In renava SokUen erTcUrtantE,
the action instructs is performed by the master but extends also
to his students, who receive the benefit of that action. Some
students, then, is the direct object of the verb instructs. In the
same way, the verb miStaet is enacted by an implied we while extending its action to erTpax nE.
In the third example, we see that the same verb can be both transitive and
intransitive, depending on the way it's used. Where before, the verb tUl, grow, was
intransitive and didn't take an object, here in a new context, it becomes
transitive and does take an object, plants.
Lesson 11
|
