Re: HELP--Quick Transitivity Questions

Jim Grossmann sikayal:

> In my language, there are no reflexive or reciprocal pronouns;  verbs are
> made reflexive or reciprocal by a clause initial particle.
>
> In such clauses, are the verbs intransitive by virtue of their having no
> object in that clause, or transitive by virtue of the fact that, with the
> same meaning, they can take objects in other clauses?
If the clause-initial particle is a pronoun, then the verb is
transitive--it's object is the particle.  However, you seem to say that
the particle isn't a pronoun, in which case the verbs are intransitive.

> In English, are passivized verbs intransitive?
Yes.


Jesse S. Bangs jaspax@u.washington.edu

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