Elementary Arabic Morphology 1

The Division of The Verb Into Being Transitive or Intransitive

  1. What is an intransitive verb?

  2. What is a transitive verb?

  3. An intransitive verb is a verb that suffices itself with its actor. For example: جَلَسَ (he sat). So, for example, if one said**:** جَلَسَ زَیدٌ (Zayd sat) it would be a complete sentence.

  4. A transitive verb is a verb that does not suffice itself with its actor. For example: کَسََرَ (he broke). So, if one said: کَسَرَ الخادِمُ (the servant broke) it would be an incomplete sentence unless one mentions the objective compliment afterwards. For example: کَسَرَ الخادِمُ ﺇبریقاً (the servant broke a pitcher.)