Meguro Language Center BP3-06

Intransitive and transitive verbs

(vi) Intransitive verbs
z A verb that does not require a direct object is an Intransitive verb. The action or state
identified by an intransitive verb relates only to the subject of a sentence.
z Intransitive verbs take subjects only, and in this case the subject is the things or person
experiencing or undergoing the action of the verb.
z In Japanese there is a strong tendency to view and describe an event as something happening
by itself often beyond the control of an agent.

[something] [Intransitive verbs]

(vt) Transitive verbs
z A verb that requires a direct object is a Transitive verb. It usually expresses an action in
which the activity is directed towards someone or something, as indicated by a direct object.
z Transitive verbs take subjects, and direct objects (receiver of the action marked by ).

[someone or something] [object] [Transitive verb]

There are three types of transitive / intransitive verbs, as described below:

1. Absolute intransitive verbs: (used solely as intransitive verbs)

Irr.

etc.

2. Absolute transitive verbs: (used solely as transitive verbs)

etc.

3. Intransitive/Transitive pairs (page 2-7)

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 Meguro Language Center BP3-06

Intransitive/Transitive pairs Level 1

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1 fall drop

2 open open

3 close close

4 be audible listen

5 be visible look

6 be lit/lighted turn on

7 go off turn off, erase

8 get lost lose

9 be found find

10 be decided decide

11 change change

12 begin, start begin, start

(causative)
13 be finished / finish

14 stop stop

15 rise raise

16 go down lower

17 break break

18 crack, break break, smash

19 be repaired repair

20 get well, be cured, heal cure, heal

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 Meguro Language Center BP3-06

Intransitive/Transitive pairs Level 2

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21 increase increase

22 decrease decrease

23 continue, go on continue, keep up

24 come in, enter let in, put in

25 get out, leave put out, take out,

26 form in line place in line

27 sleep, go to bed put .... to bed

28 get/wake up get/wake up

29 reach, arrive

deliver

30 gather, meet get (bring) together

31
take(), cost()

spend

32 get on take in, put on

33 get off bring down, get down

34 sell, be in demand sell

35 cut, cut well cut, turn off

36 come off take

37 be left over, remain leave (behind)

38 advance, go forward advance, put forward

39 be late delay, put off

40 be finished finish

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 Meguro Language Center BP3-06

Intransitive/Transitive pairs Level 3

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41 get dirty make dirty

42 hit, run against hit .... against

43 be broken break

44 be born bear

45 grow, be brought up bring up, raise

46 be rescued/helped help/rescue

47 stand up stand, raise, set up

48 be built build

49
spill spill

50 cool, get cold cool, let .... cool

51 become cold make cold

52 get warm, be warmed warm (up), heat (up)

53 stick, included put on, put with, include

54 become tidy make tidy

55 go back make .... go back

56 be saved

save

57 be accumulated accumulate, heap up

58 be baked, toasted, roasted bake, grill, roast, burn

59 burn burn

60 be burned/scorched burn, scorch,

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 Meguro Language Center BP3-06

Intransitive/Transitive pairs Level 4

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61 turn around turn, spin

62 hit hit

63 be off, undone take off , remove, undone

64 be extended extend, postpone

65 grow, improve let longer, stretch

66 grow/come out (hair) grow (hair/beard)

67 get (be) wet wet, get .... wet

68 get dry dry

69 be torn tear, break (promise)

70 fall down push, knock down

71 be caught catch

72 get hard make hard

73 melt, dissolve melt, dissolve

74 be solved solve

75 leak (out) let .... leak

76 pass, go past spend

77 come off, slip off take off, remove

78 sound, ring sound, ring

79 curve, turn bend, curve

80 be profitable make a profit

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 Meguro Language Center BP3-06

Intransitive/Transitive pairs Level 5

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81 stream let .... flow

82 be surprised surprise

83 pass, go through let/pass .... through

84 spread, extend spread, extend

85 be transmitted tell, report

86 behave like a spoilt child spoil

87 become vacant empty, clean

88 sink, set sink

89 float set .... afloat

90 fly fly, let .... fly

91 peel (off) peel, pare

92 appear, turn up show

93 be sandwiched put .... between ....

94 be dyed dye

95 be added add

96 roll (over) roll

97 lean to tilt, incline

98 be crushed, smashed,
go bankrupt
crush, smash,

99 come out, escape pull out, leave out

100 run away, escape let .... go, set .... free

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 Meguro Language Center BP3-06

Intransitive/Transitive pairs Level 6

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101 gather, assemble line up, put in order

102 hide (oneself) hide, cover

103 move, transfer move, transfer

104 be taken, come out take, copy, reflect

105 shake, quake give .... a shake

106
slip (down, off) shift, move, stagger

107 increase increase

108 rub, chafe rub, chafe

109 move move

110 be beaten, lose beat

111 boil boil, heat

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