transitivity (n.)

A category used in the GRAMMATICAL analysis of CLAUSE/ SENTENCE CONSTRUCTIONS, with particular reference to the VERB’s relationship to DEPENDENT elements of structure. The main members of this category are transitive (tr, trans), referring to a verb which can take a direct OBJECT (as in he saw the dog), and intransitive (intr, intrans), where it cannot (as in *he arrived a ball). Many verbs can have both a transitive and an intransitive use (cf. we went a mile v. we went), and in some languages this distinction is marked MORPHOLOGICALLY. More complex relationships between a verb and the elements dependent upon it are usually classified separately. For example, verbs which take two objects are sometimes called ditransitive (as opposed to monotransitive), as in she gave me a pencil. There are also several uses of verbs which are marginal to one or other of these categories, as in pseudo-intransitive constructions (e.g. the eggs are selling well, where an AGENT is assumed – ‘someone is selling the eggs’ – unlike normal intransitive constructions, which do not have an agent transform: we went, but not *someone went us). Some grammarians also talk about (in)transitive PREPOSITIONS. For example, with is a transitive preposition, as it must always be accompanied by a NOUN phrase COMPLEMENT (object), and along can be transitive or intransitive: cf. She arrived with a dog v. *She arrived with and She was walking along the river v. She was walking along.