There are several very common verbs which take a direct object in French, while the English equivalent is followed by a preposition (at, to, for) and object. There are, however, special cases where the transitivity of French and English verbs contrast. It's Joe-Bob on the telephone.ĭirect object in French / preposition + object in English C'est Joe-Bob au téléphone.Īnd reading the newspaper. Tex is eating a croissant and drinking some coffee.Įt il lit le journal. Tex mange un croissant et il boit du café. The following examples are transitive in both French and English.
Thus, verbs that are transitive in English are also transitive in French, and verbs that are intransitive in French are also intransitive in English. Intransitive verbs (as well as transitive ones) may be modified by adverbs or prepositional phrases: 'Joe-Bob sleeps in the car he sleeps all the time.'įor more examples and discussion, review the remarks on transitive vs intransitive verbs in the introduction.īecause transitivity has to do with meaning, most English and French verbs usually maintain the same distinction. In fact, because the verb is intransitive, it cannot take an object. The verb dormir (to sleep) in the last example, does not need any object to complete it. Intransitive verbs, on the other hand, have no object at all. Tex is the object of the preposition à in the second sentence since Joe-Bob is talking to him. The verb 'entendre' (to hear) always takes an object one hears someone or something.Ī transitive-indirect verb acts to or for its object. In the first sentence below, the telephone is the direct object. Intransitive verbs never have objects.Ī transitive-direct verb acts directly on its object.
Transitive verbs by definition have an object, either a direct object or an indirect object. Variable variance: transitive or intransitiveĭefinitions: transitive direct, transitive indirect, intransitive
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