Spanish word

intransitivo

Pronunciation

IPA/intɾansiˈtiβo/

Meaning

  • adjectiveintransitive

Example

Este verbo es intransitivo.

This verb is intransitive.

Illustration for intransitivo (intransitive)

More examples

Un verbo de movimiento suele ser intransitivo en español.

A verb of motion is usually intransitive in Spanish.

Core concept

Verb whose effect ends with the subject rather than affecting an object.

Common phrases

  • verbo intransitivo

    intransitive verb

Similar words

transitivo: Action whose result falls directly on a direct object.
reflexivo: Action directed back toward the subject itself.
impersonal: Sentence pattern lacking a specific grammatical subject.
pronominal: Verb form accompanied by a pronoun.

Definition in Spanish

Que se aplica a un verbo cuyo significado se completa sin objeto directo; la presencia de complemento directo no es necesaria para entender la acción.

Word origin

Derived from Latin in- 'not' and transitivus (from transire 'to go across'), indicating 'not transferred' and thus describing verbs that do not take a direct object.

Usage tips

  • The label 'intransitive' only concerns whether a direct object is required, not whether the action is unimportant or passive.

Opposites

Related words

  • intransitividadintransitivitynoun

Word lists with this word