Re: (In)transitive verbs

Christophe Grandsire wrote:

>
> They still do. Dutch and German are a big example of this. They have
> "separable verbs", the closest thing to phrasal verbs, where the
> prefix separates from the verb (and goes at the end of the sentence)
> in all finite forms, but goes back in front of the verb (before the
> past participle prefix if there is one) in all infinite forms, and
> "unseparable verbs" which also look like they are formed of a prefix
> added to a verb (prefix usually of prepositional or adverbial origin)
> but this prefix never separates. It still has an effect though: it
> prevents the past participle prefix (ge- in both Dutch and German) to
> be added to those verbs.
>
> An example of separable verbs (in Dutch) is "meemaken" (participate),
> clearly made of "met": with ("mee-" in prefix form) and "maken": make.
> In finite forms the prefix separates, giving "ik maak... mee", but in
> infinite forms it prefixes back on the verb, making for instance the
> past participle "meegemaakt".
>
> An example of unseparable verb (in Dutch again) is onderzoeken (to
> research, to examine). Despite its clear etymology ("onder": under and
> "zoeken": look for, seek), it is a single piece, giving thus "ik
> onderzoek..." and "onderzoekt" as past participle (note the absence of
> the ge- prefix here).
>
> Germanic verbs can be such fun! :))


Aren't they?  I really like the Germanic languages, and their
interesting grammar.  Not so much English, though.  Thank you France,
for butchering our language ;-).

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