3.4 Intransitive and transitive verbs

Rule: Intransitive verbs cannot have a direct object; transitive verbs require a direct object.

Examples of errors:

1. The Bavarians have always wanted a king to reign them.
2. our society is reigned by categorical imperatives.
3. During Fasching people disguise so no one can recognize them.
4. This is the way homosexuality often manifests.
5. Working for one's own needs makes independent of an employer.
6. In some ways the institution of marriage reminds of prostitution.
7. She thanks for the handkerchief and walks away.
8. I know her so clever that she will bee whether there is something wrong with Daniel or not.

Reign in (1) and (2) is an intransitive verb--one that cannot take a direct object. The recipient of the action (patient) in the case of intransitive verbs must be expressed by an adverbial (prepositional phrase), Queen Elizabeth reigns over England (England being the patient, or that which suffers the action of the verb).

The verbs in (3)-(8) are transitive verbs--they require a direct object. If the pronoun object is coreferential with the subject, as in (3), it must be reflexive. Make and remind can be used ditransitively (cf. Quirk et al. 1972:§12.60-70), as should be the case here, with noun phrase + adjective phrase complement (makes one independent) or noun phrase + prepositional phrase complement (reminds one of prostitution, thanks them for the handkerchief). The noun phrase cannot be omitted in these complement types, however.

There are a few verbs that allow a noun phrase + adjective or noun phrase as complement (cf. Quirk et al. 1972:@12.67,69), e.g.:

I thought/considered/declared/called/believed her silly (or a silly twit).
He made me angry.
He painted his car blue.

In these cases, the noun phrase following the main verb is the direct object (her, me, his car) and the second noun phrase (a silly twit) or adjective (silly, angry, blue) is the object complement. Know in (8) is not one of these verbs, nor does it allow an adjective complement alone, but it does allow a somewhat similar complement construction consisting of a noun phrase object + prepositional phrase:

I knew her as a clever girl.

This can have one of three interpretations:

I knew her when she was a clever girl.
I knew her, and she was a clever girl.
I knew her when I was a clever girl.

Often the direct object clause can considered ellipted, e.g.:

She's a great girl.
Yes, I know (that she is a great girl).