Page 81 - Advanced English Grammar in Use

V e r b s w i t h a n d w i t h o u t o b j e c t s

Study the sentences in this table:

subject + verb object other parts Note: A good dictionary will list
the meanings of verbs and tell you
Did you see your sister at the weekend? whether each meaning is transitive

He described the new building. or intransitive or both.
They arrived three hours late.
He coughed.

Some verbs (e.g. see, describe) are followed by an object. These are called transitive verbs.
«Other verbs that are transitive in their most common meanings include arrest, avoid, do, enjoy,
•find, force, get, give, grab, hit, like, pull, report, shock, take, tell, touch, want, warn.
Some verbs (e.g. arrive, cough) are not followed by an object. These are called intransitive verbs.
eOther verbs that are intransitive in their most common meanings include appear, come, fall, go,
•happen, matter, sleep, swim, wait.
If a verb can't be followed by an object, it can't be made passive (see Unit 29).
В Some verbs can be both transitive and intransitive. Compare:
• I closed the door. and • The door closed.
' Verbs like this are often used to talk about some kind of change. Other examples are break,
burn, empty, increase, open, shut, spoil.
Some transitive verbs can have their objects left out when the meaning is clear from the context:
• He has smoked (cigarettes) since he was 10. • She plays (the saxophone) beautifully.
Other verbs like this include answer, ask, cook, dance, drink, eat, fail, phone, read, sing, wash,
win, write.

After some verbs we typically or always add a completion - a phrase which completes the
meaning of the verb - which can be an adverb or prepositional phrase. Compare:
• He paused for a few moments. or • He paused, (no completion needed)
• The disease originated in Britain, (not The disease originated.) (completion needed)

Some verbs which are typically or always followed by a completion are intransitive in their most
common meanings:
• I'm sure that blue car belongs to Matthew.
• We had to contend with hundreds of complaints, (not We had to contend.)
' Here are some more examples together with prepositions that commonly begin the completion:
alternate between, aspire to, care for, culminate in, object to.
Other verbs which are typically or always followed by a completion are transitive in their most
common meanings:
• I always associate red wine with France. (not I always associate red wine.)
• She put the report on the floor. (ио^ She put the report.)
Here are some more examples together with prepositions that commonly begin the completion:
base...on, compare...with, interest...in, lend...to, mistake...for, prevent...from, regard...as,
remind...of, supply...with.

Passive sentences = Verb + two objects =