TRANSITIVE AND INTRANSITIVE VERBS

1. What is a transitive verb?

• First, consider the word "transitivity." It contains the same root word as "transfer," which is no coincidence. A verb that is transitive involves the transfer of energy from one entity to another, namely from a subject to an object.

E.g.

ジェニーがドアを開けた。(Jenny opened the door.)

This is a typical transitive sentence. The subject, Jenny, transfers energy to the door, causing it to open. It involves one entity acting upon another, which explains why the Japanese term for "transitive verb" is 他動詞 — "other verb".

2. What is an intransitive verb?

• An intransitive verb is the opposite of a transitive one. There is no transfer of energy between a subject and object. Instead, the verb expresses a change in the subject.

E.g.

ドアが開いた。(The door opened.)

In this intransitive sentence, we have no idea how or why the door opened, we just know it happened. The sentence presents "open" as though it happens independently, or by itself. This explains the native Japanese term for intransitive verbs — 自動詞じどうし, or "self verb".
 

Transitive		Intransitive
落とす	to drop	落ちる	to fall
出す	to take out	出る	to come out; to leave
入れる	to insert	入る	to enter
開ける	to open	開く	to be opened
閉める	to close	閉まる	to be closed
つける	to attach	つく	to be attached
消す	to erase	消える	to disappear
抜く	to extract	抜ける	to be extracted
建てる	to build	建つ	to be built
点ける	to turn on	点く	to be turned on

 

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