Intransitive Verbs VS. Transitive Verbs

Last time, you tackled some advanced topics involving Japanese adjectives, such as “科か学がくに詳くわしい人ひと” and “近ちかいカフェ VS. 近ちかくのカフェ.” Your knowledge of Japanese parts of speech is greatly increasing. In this lesson, you will also take on advanced topics in Japanese verbs.

Usage of Verbs When They Can Be Both Intransitive and Transitive

If you try to categorize intransitive verbs, there will be two groups: The first is volitional (actions with people’s intention), such as “走はしる: to run” and “泳およぐ: to swim.” The second is non-volitional (actions without people’s intention), such as “開あく: to open,” and “落おちる: to drop.” The latter group likely has equivalent transitive verbs. In English, you can use verbs like “to open” as both an intransitive and a transitive verb, e.g. “The door will open,” and “I will open the door.” However, Japanese requires you to use different forms for intransitive and transitive verbs respectively.

The Difference Between Intransitive and Transitive Verbs

Intransitive Verbs: 開あく to open

When you walk toward an automatic door, the door automatically opens. In such a situation, the door has to be the subject set by the particle は or が, and there is no object because the door alone will move. That is to say, intransitive verbs indicate automatic or natural actions.

Transitive Verbs: 開あける to open

When you open a door, needless to say, the door is opened by you. In such situations, the door has to be the object set by the particle を, and there have to be subjects because someone will open the door. That is to say, transitive verbs indicate intentional actions.

As you already know, subjects can be omitted when the context clearly tells what or who you’re referring to. In the second example, the subject: 私わたし is omitted. Don’t be confused by the structure.

Advanced Topic: Sentences with Some Elements

Even if you use intransitive verbs, you sometimes need to use the particle を. Take it easy. By understanding the particles’ functions, you can easily figure out the meanings of sentences.

Intransitive Verbs: 出でる: to go out, leave, depart

Transitive Verbs: 出だす: to take out, let out, put out

The second example sounds a little weird, but he/she may be a train driver or engineer. The point here is that the particle を can appear in sentences with intransitive verbs if it doesn’t work as a direct object.

Note: In the second example above, you may have noticed that the particle から is used with 駅えき while the particle を is used with 駅えき in the first example. This is because using the same particles multiple times in a single sentence may cause confusion and therefore is not recommended in Japanese grammar.

[私 は / が] 電車でんしゃを駅えきを 出だす / 出だします。=> Wrong!

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Vocabulary List: How to Distinguish Between Intransitive and Transitive Verbs

Although the multiple forms are hard to memorize, there are several patterns in the conjugations. We will show you frequently used verbs below. Please do not try to memorize them all at once, but tackle them step by step.

Pattern 1

If verbs end with -aru, they are intransitive verbs.

They become transitive verbs by replacing -aru with eru.

*終おえる sounds a little formal and 終おわる can be used as transitive verb as well.

Pattern 2

If verbs end with -reru, they are intransitive verbs.

They become transitive verbs by replacing -reru with su.

Pattern 3

If verbs end with -reru, they are intransitive verbs.

They become transitive verbs by replacing -reru with ru.

Pattern 4

If verbs end with -areru, they are intransitive verbs.

They become transitive verbs by replacing -areru with u.

Pattern 5

If verbs end with -su, they are transitive verbs.

They become intransitive verbs by replacing -su with ru.

Pattern 6

If verbs end with -asu, they are transitive verbs.

They become intransitive verbs by replacing -asu with eru.

Pattern 7

If verbs end with -asu, they are transitive verbs.

They become intransitive verbs by replacing -asu with u.

Pattern 8

If verbs end with -osu, they are transitive verbs.

They become intransitive verbs by replacing -osu with iru.

Others

Summary

1. When verbs can be both intransitive and transitive verbs:
   • Intransitive verbs indicate automatic or natural actions
   • Transitive verbs indicate intentional actions
   • Transitive verbs need objects set by the particle を
   • Intransitive verbs can be with the particle を unless it works as direct object
2. Using the same particles multiple times in a sentence is not recommended

Again, you don’t have to memorize the vocabulary which we have shown so far all at once. All you need to know here is what we have summarized above. You can naturally increase your vocabulary as you proceed with your learning. Now, you have completed even the advanced topics in the parts of speech section. Great Job! Next, you will learn one of the unique elements to Japanese: Sentence Ending Particles.

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Sentence Ending Particles: ね, よ, and よね

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