The name of the relationship established between the subject and the verb and between the verbs and the complements is verbal predication. As for predication, transitive verbs can have three classifications: direct transitives, indirect transitives, and direct and indirect transitives. Stay tuned!
Transitive Verbs:Transitive verbs need a complement, which will be called an object, in order for them to have full meaning. They can be:
Direct transitives: Direct transitive verbs do not have full meaning, so they need a complement. When complements, also called objects, have no preposition, they are called direct objects. Look at the example:
Clarissa played a song.
Analyzing the phrase, we realize that "a song" is the complement required by the verb, which needs it to have a full meaning, because who play, touch something. Therefore, the verb touch is considered a direct transitive verb.
Indirect transitives:
Like direct transitives, they are also meaningless. The difference between the two is that indirect transitives need, in addition to the complement, a
preposition. These add-ons are called indirect objects. Look at the example:Children love to play.
Analyzing the sentence, we realize that "to play" is the complement required by the verb to play, which was accompanied by a preposition, the in. The verb to play, then, is an indirect transitive verb.
Direct and indirect transitives:
In this case, two complements will be required, one with a preposition and one without. Look at the example:
Isabela offered her boyfriend a chocolate.
The verb to offer it is both direct and indirect transitive at the same time, because whoever offers, offers something to someone.
Offered something → a chocolate (no preposition).
Offered to someone → to the boyfriend (there is preposition).
By Luana Castro
Graduated in Letters
