September 27, 2023
What is a transitive verb?
Verbs can be either only transient, only intransitive or can be use as either. Transitive verbs by definition take a direct object and intransitive verbs do not. That is to say, transitive verbs have an object on which they act or which they transform. For any given verb you will need to check how it can be used.
- Intransitive verbs are 2-3 times more common than transitive verbs in russian.
- All russian transitive verbs have intransitive counterparts (commonly using the reflexive ся, i.e. мыть / мыться ).
- Мартин пошёл мыть руки (Transitive: Martin went to wash his hands)
- Мартин решил, что пора мыться (Intransitive: Martin decided that is was time to wash)
A transitive verb needs to transfer its action to something or someone. In essence, transitive means to affect something else.
Rules
intransitive verbs require the genitive case, a preposition, or none at all, it will depend on the verb. Transitive verbs need some care and all the situations are listed below.
| Form | When? | Case |
|---|---|---|
| intransitive | Always | Genitive (or preposition) |
| Transitive | Object is abstract | Genitive |
| Object has some degree of uncertainty | Genitive | |
| Object is part of a large whole | Genitive | |
| You are using negation | Genitive | |
| None of the above | Accusative |
Transitive verbs
Some examples of transitive verbs are
- Читать (to read)
- Бить (to beat)
- Любить (to love)
- не любить (to not love)
- недолюбливать (to dislike)
- налить (to pour)
- Хотеть (to want)
- Ждать (to wait)
Example usage
Налейте мне красного вина | Pour me some red wine
- You only want a part of the bottle of wine therefore genitive
Я купиль вино | I bought a bottle of wine
- You bought an entire bottle wine therefore accusative
Я не купиль вина | I did not buy a bottle of wine
- You didn’t buy so using negation therefore genitive
Я жду мира
- I am waiting for peace, abstract therefore genative
Я жду мир в Украине
- I am waiting for peace in Ukraine, specfic therefore accusative
Intransitive verb
Most verbs of motion are intransitive, they have no object on which they act or which they transform.
Some examples of intransitive verbs are
- Ехать (to go)
- идти (to go)
- сидеть (to sit)
What is a direct object
By example, a direct object is :
Я купил яблоку - (I bought an apple)
яблоку is the direct object so therefore купил (купить) is a transitive verb.