Language/French/Grammar/Indirect-and-Direct-Transitive-Verbs

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Indirect Transitive Verbs versus Direct Transitive Verbs


Indirect transitive verbs

A verb is said to be indirect transitive when it is accompanied by an indirect object complement.

Example:

  • "Il joue aux petites voitures".

He plays toy cars

Here "petites voitures" is the complement of indirect object or COI (complément d'objet indirect).

A verb can be used in the active, passive or pronominal voice.

Indirect transitive verbs, therefore verbs which accept an indirect object complement, do not accept transformation in the passive voice.


We cannot use the passive voice when the verb of the sentence does not admit a direct object complement, as for example in the case of an indirect transitive verb, or in the case of an intransitive verb.

Direct transitive verbs

With the active voice the subject performs the action:

  • Le chat mange la souris

The cat eats the mouse


The verb “manger” (to eat) is of direct transitive type.


In the passive voice it is the subject who undergoes the action: “La souris est mangée par le chat” (The mouse is eaten by the cat).


Direct transitive verbs, therefore verbs which accept a direct object complement, accept transformation in the passive voice.

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