If a verb is only listed in the dictionary as a transitive verb, can it be correctly used without a direct object, i.e. as an intransitive verb? We can use the verb “force” as an example, which is only listed as a transitive verb. He always forces. Can it be correct? Although the meaning is … Read more
Instead of the probably correct structure: Our software XYZ allows the user to resize and modify PNG images. I’m looking for a way to do it without specifying a person (or people): Our software XYZ allows to resize and modify PNG images. Does the latter sound strange for a native English speaker? Which one is … Read more
Is the following sentence correct? We refine it when we can revisit a vertex. The “it” refers to nothing (it seems to be the dummy pronoun), but the sentence seems correct to me. I think “it” is needed, because “refine” is a transitive verb. What I want to say in this sentence is that we … Read more
Behold! Did my lawn mower bescumber my neighbor’s fence (transitive), or did it bescumber on my neighbor’s fence (intransitive)? Or should I switch to passive voice and say my neighbor’s fence was bescumbered by my lawn mower, and avoid awkward questions? Indeed, is it possible to avoid awkward questions at all when discussing bescumbering? I … Read more
I’m no linguist, grammarian and not even an english speaker, please bear with me. I’m looking for a quick way to identify transitive vs intransitive constructs, for example, in the sentence “the plant has buried leaves” even on google NLP, is incorrectly identified as transitive direct with action, where the plant decided to bury its … Read more
A coworker and I have been discussing the grammar of an error message on a computer when downloading a file that is too big. The debate is between whether it should say “The file exceeds the maximum file size limit,” or “The file is exceeding the maximum file size limit.” I looked up information about … Read more
The online OED defines to debrief as follows transitive to obtain information from Examples Leonov and Belyaev..will stay at the space station for several days to be debriefed (1965) The online Merriam-Webster defines it as transitive a. to interrogate b. to review carefully However, it cites the following as “recent examples from the web” for … Read more
To suicide is an intransitive verb meaning “to kill oneself”. I’ve seen it sometime used it transitevly meaning “made to commit suicide” as in the following examples: From “The Enigma of Ralph A. Blakelock” by David Gebhard, Phyllis Stuurman, 1969 A collective American tragedy as well as an individual one, Blakelock in a sense was … Read more
I recently read in a book about someone who “procrastinated her tax return”, which seemed very strange to me. Is this usage common, and if so is it considered correct? Answer Transitive In the 19th century and before, the transitive use of procrastinate in the sense ‘delay, postpone’ is quite frequent: This motion was opposed … Read more
The Lost Symbol, page 537, the author writes: “…, mankind will at last unearth the Word and herald in a wondrous new age of enlightenment.” I checked the Cambridge dictionary and “herald” is a transitive verb. So, why is there a preposition after the verb? Is “herald in” a phrasal verb? Isn’t it more correct … Read more
