Transitivity

Transitivity is a category that indicates the number of objects a verb requires or takes in a given instance.

Natural language

In the UNLarium framework, transitivity may assume the following values:

{{#tree:id=nl_TRA|openlevels=0|root=Transitivity (TRA)|

• • no transitivity (NTRA): copula and linking verbs
  • intransitive (NTST): no object
    • unergative (NERG): the subject is the agent
    • unaccusative (NACC): the subject is not the agent
  • direct monotransitive (TST): one direct object
  • indirect monotransitive (ITST): one indirect object
  • ditransitive (DTST): one direct object and one indirect object
  • tritransitive (TTST): three objects

}}

Objects are to be considered elliptical (hidden) in verbal constructions if they can be inferred from the context.

I read the book = I read all the afternoon = direct monotransitive (TST) (no significant semantic change)

John kissed Mary = John kisses well = direct monotransitive (TST) (no significant semantic change)

John bought a car = John buys (and Peter sells) = direct monotransitive (TST) (no significant semantic change)

Different transitivity values mean different senses

The same verb may have different transitivity values, but only when associated to different UWs:

John lives in Paris = intransitive (NTST) (live = reside)

John lives a nightmare = direct monotransitive (TST) (live = experience)

Objects (essential) are not to be confounded with adjuncts (accidental)

John bought a car to Mary = direct monotransitive (TST) and not ditransitive (DTST)

Copula is to be considered without transitivity (NTRA)

Subject and object complements are not to be represented as part of the transitivity of the verb

You make me nervous = You make [me become nervous] = direct monotransitive (TST) and not ditransitive

I considered him to be an excellent choice = I considered [that he was an excellent choice] = direct monotransitive (TST) and not ditransitive

Transitivity is a property of the verb and not of the whole multi-word expression.

to make love = to make = direct monotransitive (TST) and not intransitive

to kill oneself = to kill = direct monotransitive (TST) and not intransitive

Examples

• English
  • unergative (NERG) = run (John ran)
  • unaccusative (NACC) = fall (John fell)
  • direct monotransitive (TST) = kiss (John kissed Jane)
  • indirect monotransitive (ITST) = depend (John depend on Jane)
  • ditransitive (DTST) = give (John gave Jane an apple)
  • tritransitive (TTST) = trade (John traded Jane an apple for an orange)

UNL

In UNL, transitivity, as a syntactic property, is not to be informed.