7.6 Transitive and Intransitive Verbs
There are two types of verbs in Punjabi: transitive and intransitive. The verbs that take an object are transitive verbs, and the verbs that do not require an object are intransitive verbs.
In other words, the verbs which leave a question of “what” or “to whom” are transitive verbs. For example: The verb ਲਿਆਉਣਾ (to bring) is a transitive verb. If I say “ਕਿਰਪਾ ਕਰਕੇ ਲਿਆਓ” (please bring), the question is raised in the mind of the reader what or to whom ਲਿਆਓ because the meaning of “bring” requires it.
In English, there are some verbs which are used as transitive & intransitive both.
Examples (to stop, to open, etc.):
- ਬੱਸ ਰੁਕੀ (Bus stopped.)
- ਡਰਾਇਵਰ ਨੇ ਬੱਸ ਰੋਕੀ (The driver stopped the bus.)
- ਦਰਵਾਜ਼ਾ ਖੁੱਲ੍ਹ ਗਿਆ (The door opened.)
- ਬੱਚੇ ਨੇ ਦਰਵਾਜ਼ਾ ਖੋਲਿਆ (The child opened the door.)
In Punjabi instead of using the same verb as transitive & intransitive, we have different related pairs.
Examples:
- ਰੁਕਣਾ (to stop, intransitive)
- ਰੋਕਣਾ (to stop, transitive)
- ਖੁੱਲ੍ਹਣਾ (to be opened, intransitive)
- ਖੋਲ੍ਹਣਾ (to open, transitive)
Rules to Form Intransitive to Transitive
Some transitive verbs in Punjabi are formed by adding “—ਾਉਣਾ” to an intransitive verb stem.
| Intransitive | Stem | + | —ਾਉਣਾ | Transitive |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ਹਟਣਾ (to move, intransitive) | ਹਟ | + | ਾਉਣਾ | ਹਟਾਉਣਾ (to move) |
| ਮੁੱਕਣਾ (to be finished) | ਮੁੱਕ | + | ਾਉਣਾ | ਮੁਕਾਉਣਾ (to complete, to finish) |
| ਲੁੱਟਣਾ (to rob) | ਲੁੱਟ | + | ਾਉਣਾ | ਲੁਟਾਉਣਾ (to spend lavishly) |
| ਲੁਕਣਾ (to go into hiding) | ਲੁਕ | + | ਾਉਣਾ | ਲੁਕਾਉਣਾ (to hide) |
| ਪੜ੍ਹਨਾ (to read, to study) | ਪੜ੍ਹ | + | ਾਉਣਾ | ਪੜ੍ਹਾਉਣਾ (to teach) |
| ਸਿੱਖਣਾ (to learn) | ਸਿੱਖ | + | ਾਉਣਾ | ਸਿਖਾਉਣਾ (to teach) |
| ਸੁਣਨਾ (to hear, to listen) | ਸੁਣ | + | ਾਉਣਾ | ਸੁਣਾਉਣਾ (to tell, to recite) |
| ਮਿਲਣਾ (to meet) | ਮਿਲ | + | ਾਉਣਾ | ਮਿਲਾਉਣਾ (to mix) |
- All the conjunct verbs combined with ਕਰਨਾ are transitive verbs. 3rd person subjects must come with ਨੇ in the perfect tense with transitive verbs. ਨੇ has no English equivalent, it is just a perfective marker.
- Conjunct verbs combined with ਹੋਣਾ, ਲੱਗਣਾ, and ਆਉਣਾ are intransitive verbs.
Test Yourself
Activity 1: Writing
Transform the following intransitive verbs into transitive.
| Intransitive | Transitive |
|---|---|
| ਬਣਨਾ (to be made) | |
| ਪੱਕਣਾ (to be cooked) | |
| ਉੱਠਣਾ (to rise, to get up) | |
| ਉੱਡਣਾ (to fly) | |
| ਸਜਣਾ (to be decorated) | |
| ਸਮਝਣਾ (to understand) | |
| ਹਿੱਲਣਾ (to move (int.)) | |
| ਚਲਣਾ (to walk, to move) | |
| ਡਰਨਾ (to be afraid of) | |
| ਮੁੱਕਣਾ (to finish (int.)) |
Activity 2: True or False
ਧੰਨਵਾਦ!
