Transitivity
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{{#tree:id=nl_TRA|openlevels=0|root=Transitivity (TRA)| | {{#tree:id=nl_TRA|openlevels=0|root=Transitivity (TRA)| | ||
**no transitivity (NTRA): copula and linking verbs | **no transitivity (NTRA): copula and linking verbs | ||
| + | **transitive (TST) | ||
| + | ***direct monotransitive (TSTD): one direct object | ||
| + | **indirect monotransitive (TSTI): one indirect object | ||
| + | **ditransitive (TST2): one direct object and one indirect object | ||
| + | **tritransitive (TST3): three objects | ||
**intransitive (NTST): no object | **intransitive (NTST): no object | ||
***unergative (NERG): the subject is the agent | ***unergative (NERG): the subject is the agent | ||
***unaccusative (NACC): the subject is not the agent | ***unaccusative (NACC): the subject is not the agent | ||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
}} | }} | ||
;Objects are to be considered elliptical (hidden) in verbal constructions if they can be inferred from the context. | ;Objects are to be considered elliptical (hidden) in verbal constructions if they can be inferred from the context. | ||
| − | :I read all the afternoon = I read (something) all the afternoon = direct monotransitive ( | + | :I read all the afternoon = I read (something) all the afternoon = direct monotransitive (TSTD) |
| − | :John kisses well = John kisses (someone) well = direct monotransitive ( | + | :John kisses well = John kisses (someone) well = direct monotransitive (TSTD) |
| − | :John buys (and Peter sells) = John buys (something) = direct monotransitive ( | + | :John buys (and Peter sells) = John buys (something) = direct monotransitive (TSTD) |
;Different transitivity values mean different senses | ;Different transitivity values mean different senses | ||
:The same verb may have different transitivity values, but only when associated to different UWs: | :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 in Paris = intransitive (NTST) (live = reside) | ||
| − | ::John lives a nightmare = direct monotransitive ( | + | ::John lives a nightmare = direct monotransitive (TSTD) (live = experience) |
;Complements (essential) are not to be confounded with adjuncts (accidental) | ;Complements (essential) are not to be confounded with adjuncts (accidental) | ||
| − | :John bought a car to Mary = direct monotransitive ( | + | :John bought a car to Mary = direct monotransitive (TSTD) and not ditransitive (TST2), because "to Mary" is not a complement, but an adjunct of the verb "to buy" |
| − | :John gave a car to Mary = ditransitive ( | + | :John gave a car to Mary = ditransitive (TST2), because both "a car" and "to Mary" are complements of the verb "to give". |
;Copula is to be considered without transitivity (NTRA) | ;Copula is to be considered without transitivity (NTRA) | ||
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;Transitivity is a property of the verb and not of the whole multi-word expression. | ;Transitivity is a property of the verb and not of the whole multi-word expression. | ||
| − | :to make love = to make = direct monotransitive ( | + | :to make love = to make = direct monotransitive (TSTD) and not intransitive |
| − | :to kill oneself = to kill = direct monotransitive ( | + | :to kill oneself = to kill = direct monotransitive (TSTD) and not intransitive |
=== Examples === | === Examples === | ||
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**unergative (NERG) = run (John ran) | **unergative (NERG) = run (John ran) | ||
**unaccusative (NACC) = fall (John fell) | **unaccusative (NACC) = fall (John fell) | ||
| − | **direct monotransitive ( | + | **direct monotransitive (TSTD) = kiss (John kissed Jane) |
| − | **indirect monotransitive ( | + | **indirect monotransitive (TSTI) = depend (John depend on Jane) |
| − | **ditransitive ( | + | **ditransitive (TST2) = give (John gave Jane an apple) |
| − | **tritransitive ( | + | **tritransitive (TST3) = trade (John traded Jane an apple for an orange) |
== UNL == | == UNL == | ||
In UNL, transitivity, as a syntactic property, is not informed. | In UNL, transitivity, as a syntactic property, is not informed. | ||
Revision as of 12:07, 10 May 2010
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:
- Objects are to be considered elliptical (hidden) in verbal constructions if they can be inferred from the context.
- I read all the afternoon = I read (something) all the afternoon = direct monotransitive (TSTD)
- John kisses well = John kisses (someone) well = direct monotransitive (TSTD)
- John buys (and Peter sells) = John buys (something) = direct monotransitive (TSTD)
- 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 (TSTD) (live = experience)
- Complements (essential) are not to be confounded with adjuncts (accidental)
- John bought a car to Mary = direct monotransitive (TSTD) and not ditransitive (TST2), because "to Mary" is not a complement, but an adjunct of the verb "to buy"
- John gave a car to Mary = ditransitive (TST2), because both "a car" and "to Mary" are complements of the verb "to give".
- 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 (TSTD) and not intransitive
- to kill oneself = to kill = direct monotransitive (TSTD) and not intransitive
Examples
- English
- unergative (NERG) = run (John ran)
- unaccusative (NACC) = fall (John fell)
- direct monotransitive (TSTD) = kiss (John kissed Jane)
- indirect monotransitive (TSTI) = depend (John depend on Jane)
- ditransitive (TST2) = give (John gave Jane an apple)
- tritransitive (TST3) = trade (John traded Jane an apple for an orange)
UNL
In UNL, transitivity, as a syntactic property, is not informed.
