Verbs Classification - Transitive/Intransitive - study & use - Parts Of Speech-ESL/Learn English Grammar

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[Sidenote: _Study_ use, _not_ form, _of verbs here._]

206. Many verbs can be either transitive or intransitive, according to
their use in the sentence, It can be said, "The boy _walked_ for two
hours," or "The boy _walked_ the horse;" "The rains _swelled_ the
river," or "The river _swelled_ because of the rain;" etc.

The important thing to observe is, many words must be distinguished as
transitive or intransitive by _use_, not by _form_.


207. Also verbs are sometimes made transitive by prepositions.
These may be (1) compounded with the verb; or (2) may follow the verb,
and be used as an integral part of it: for example,--

     Asking her pardon for having _withstood_ her.--SCOTT.

     I can wish myself no worse than to have it all to _undergo_ a
     second time.--KINGSLEY.

     A weary gloom in the deep caverns of his eyes, as of a child that
     has _outgrown_ its playthings.--HAWTHORNE.

     It is amusing to walk up and down the pier and _look at_ the
     countenances passing by.--B. TAYLOR.

     He was at once so out of the way, and yet so sensible, that I
     loved, _laughed at_, and pitied him.--GOLDSMITH.

     My little nurse told me the whole matter, which she had cunningly
     _picked out_ from her mother.--SWIFT.


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