A transitive verb takes an object; an intransitive one does not.
In precise terms
Transitivity describes how many arguments a verb requires. A transitive verb takes a subject and a direct object; an intransitive verb takes only a subject; ditransitive verbs take two objects.
An example
Ur bat edan dut.
I drank a glass of water.
What is going on here
Basque marks transitivity in the auxiliary itself: 'dut' is the form used when there is both a subject and an object. An intransitive clause would take a different auxiliary entirely, so the verb form announces the transitivity before the object is heard.
Why this matters when you are learning a language
Transitivity determines which case endings, prepositions and auxiliaries a clause needs. It is also where languages disagree most: a verb transitive in one language is frequently intransitive in another.
Across languages
English 'listen' is intransitive and needs 'to'; Spanish 'escuchar' is transitive and takes a bare object. Basque and other ergative languages make transitivity central to their whole case system.
Related terms
- ObjectBeginner — The part of a clause that the action is done to.
- ValencyAdvanced — How many participants a verb requires.
- Direct and indirect objectsIntermediate — The direct object is what the action affects; the indirect object is usually the recipient.
- ErgativityAdvanced — A case system where the doer of a transitive action gets a special marking that intransitive subjects do not.
Where to go next
- Language guides — See grammatical and lexical categories used in context.
- Terminology quiz — Test the terms on this page.