Some English verbs are both transitive and intransitive in English, which causes difficulty in teaching and learning them as a second language. I think this document will be helpful.

1. 2016
20162
016
ENGLISH VERBS THAT
ARE BOTH
TRANSITIVE AND
INTRANSITIVE
AND
THEIR TURKISH
EQUIVALENTS
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Y G O K N E L @ O U T L O O K . C O M

2. ENGLISH VERBS THAT ARE TRANSITIVE AND INTRANSITIVE
2
ENGLISH VERBS THAT ARE BOTH TRANSITIVE AND
INTRANSITIVE AND THEIR TURKISH EQUIVALENTS
Some English verbs are both transitive and intransitive. There are few verbs
used in this fashion in Turkish. Therefore, those who are studying English or
Turkish as a second language face some difficulties in learning them. In the
following list, you can find some frequently used English verbs that are used
both transitively and intransitively. The Turkish equivalents of such verbs
and how their allomorphs change are given in the examples below.
Note: There is only the indefinite article “bir” in Turkish which means the in-
definite English articles “a” or “an”. No articles like “the” are used in Turkish.
The absence of this article before a noun indicates that the noun is definite.
In Turkish, the identical vowels, such as “u-u”, “i-i” “ı-ı”, “ü-ü” that follow
each other combine and verbalize as single vowels. The single
underlined consonants, such as “r” and “n”, detach from their syllables and
attach to the first vowels of the following allomorphs during the
syllabication process. Additionally, the double underlined vowels “e” drop.
Yumurta-lar kayna-ıyor. (The “a” in kayna-ıyor drops, and the “n” attaches
to the vowel “ı”.)
(yu*mur*ta*lar / kay*nı*yor ↷)
The eggs are boiling. (The Turkish and English verbs are intransitive.)
Fatma yumurta kayna-at-ıyor. (The “a-a” vowels combine) (Transitive)
(fat*ma / yu*mur*ta / kay*na*tı*yor ↷)
Fatma is boiling eggs. (Transitive)
In the first Turkish sentence above, the intransitive verb “kayna” has
changed into “kayna-at” (kay*nat) transitive verb frame to take the object
“yumurta”. However, the English verb “boil” has not changed. This shows
us that the English verb “boil” is both transitive and intransitive. In the fol-
lowing sentences, the explanations in parentheses are about the Turkish
sentences. However, when necessary, both the Turkish and English verbs
are explained in parentheses. In the following examples, the subjects and
subject allomorphs are blue, the objects are black, the verbs are red, the
modifiers and articles are purple, and the prepositions and adverbs are
green. Some verbs may be reflexive instead of being intransitive.
Ateş yan-ıyor. (Intransitive) (yan)
(a*teş / ya*nı*yor ↷)
The fire is burning. (Intransitive) (burn)

3. ENGLISH VERBS THAT ARE TRANSITIVE AND INTRANSITIVE
3
Ateş parmak-lar-ın-ı yak-ar. (Transitive) (yak)
(a*teş / par*mak*la*rı*nı / ya*kar ↷)
Fire burns your fingers. (Transitive) (burn)
Dükkân-lar saat yedi-de kapan-ır. (Reflexive) (kapan)
(dük*kân*lar / sa*at / ye*di*de / ka*pa*nır ↷ )
Shops close at seven. (Reflexive) (close)
Onlar dükkân-lar-ı yedi-de kapat-ır-lar. (Transitive) (kapat)
(on*lar / dük*kân*la*rı / sa*at / ye*di*de / ka*pa*tır*lar ↷)
They close the shops at seven. (Transitive) (close)
Note: When the Turkish common and proper nouns are used as objects,
they are suffixed by the [i, ı, ü, u] allomorphs. However, when the English
common nouns are used as definite objects, they are used with the article
“the”. Proper nouns do not take the article “the” in English.
Dükkân-lar saat yedi-de kapat-ıl-ır. (Passive)
(dük*kân*lar / sa*at / ye*di*de / ka*pa*tı*lır ↷)
(The) Shops are closed at seven. (Passive)
Renk-ler sonbahar-da değiş-ir. (Intransitive) (değiş)
(renk*ler / son*ba*har*da / de*ği*şir ↷)
Colors change in the autumn. (Intransitive) (change)
(O) giysi-ler-i-/n/i değiş-tir-iyor. (Transitive) (değiştir)
(o ~/ giy*si*le*ri*ni / de*ğiş*ti*ri*yor ↷)
He is changing his clothes. (Transitive.) (change)
Şimdi mutfak-ta yemek pişir-iyor. (Transitive) (yemek pişiriyor)
(şim*di / mut*fak*ta / ye*mek / pi*şi*ri*yor ↷)
She is cooking in the kitchen now. (Intransitive) (cook)
Balık pişir-iyor. (Transitive) (pişir)
(o / ba*lık / pi*şi*ri*yor ↷)
She is cooking fish. (Transitive) (cook)
Yemek piş-ti. (Intransitive) (piş)
(ye*mek / piş*ti ↷)
The meal has cooked. (Intransitive) (cook)
Meyve-ler olgunlaş-ınca ağaçlar-dan düş-er. (Intransitive) (düş)
(mey*ve*ler / ol*gun*la*şın*ca / a*ğaç*lar*dan / dü*şer ↷)
Fruits drop from trees when they ripen. (Intransitive) (drop)

4. ENGLISH VERBS THAT ARE TRANSITIVE AND INTRANSITIVE
4
Kalem-i-/n/i düşür-dü. (Transitive) (düşür)
(ka*le*mi*ni / dü*şür*dü ↷)
She dropped her pencil. (Transitive) (drop)
Bazı nehir-ler yaz-ın kuru-ur. (Intransitive) (kuru)
(ba*zı / ne*hir*ler / ya*zın / ku*rur ↷)
Some rivers dry up in the summer. (Intransitive) (dry)
El-ler-in-i ben-im havlu-um-da kurula-ma. (Transitive) (kurula)
(el*le*ri*ni / be*nim / hav*lum*da l ku*ru*la*ma ↷)
Don’t dry your hands on my towel. (Transitive) (dry)
Savaş son-a er-di. (“Son-a er” = “end”) (Intransitive) (sona er)
(sa*vaş / so*na / er*di ↷)
The war ended. (Intransitive) (end)
Savaş-ı son-a erdir-di-ler. (Transitive) (Sona erdir)
(sa*va*şı / so*na / er*dir*di*ler ↷)
They ended the war. (Transitive) (end)
Bir bomba patla-dı. (Intransitive) (patla)
(bir / bom*ba / pat*la*dı ↷)
A bomb exploded. (Intransitive) (explode)
Bir bomba patlat-tı-lar. (Transitive) (patlat)
(bir / bom*ba / pat*lat*tı*lar ↷)
They exploded a bomb. (Transitive) (explode)
İnekler tarla-da beslen-iyor-lar. (Reflexive) (beslen)
(i*nek*ler / tar*la*da / bes*le*ni*yor*lar ↷)
The cows are feeding (grazing) in the field. (Reflexive) (feed)
Köpek-im-i her sabah besle-er-im. (Transitive) (besle)
(kö*pe*ği*mi / her / sa*bah / bes*le*rim ↷)
I feed my dog every morning. (Transitive) (feed)
Sokak-lar kış-ın çamur-la dol-ar. (Intransitive) (dol)
(so*kak*lar / kı*şın / ça*mur*la / do*lar ↷)
The streets fill up with mud in winter. (Intransitive) (fill)
Kalem-im-i siyah mürekkep-le doldur. (Transitive) (doldur)
(ka*le*mi*mi / si*yah / mü*rek*kep*le / dol*dur ↷)
Fill my pen with black ink. (Transitive) (fill)

5. ENGLISH VERBS THAT ARE TRANSITIVE AND INTRANSITIVE
5
İş henüz bit-me-di. (Intransitive) (bit)
(iş / he*nüz / bit*me*di ↷)
The work hasn’t finished yet. (Intransitive) (finish)
İş-im-i henüz bitir-me-di-im. (Transitive) (bitir)
(i*şi*mi / he*nüz / bi*tir*me*dim ↷)
I haven’t finished my work yet. (Transitive) (finish)
Kuşlar hava-da uç-ar. (Intransitive) (uç)
(kuş*lar / ha*va*da / u*çar ↷)
Birds fly in the sky. (Intransitive) (fly)
Çocuk-lar uçurtma uçur-uyor-lar. (Transitive) (uçur)
(ço*cuk*lar / u*çurt*ma / u*çu*ru*yor*lar ↷)
The boys are flying kites. (Transitive) (fly)
Patates-ler kızar-ıyor. (Intransitive) (kızar)
(pa*ta*tes*ler / kı*za*rı*yor ↷)
The potatoes are frying. (Intransitive) (fry)
Balık kızart-ıyor. (Transitive) (kızart)
(o~ / ba*lık / kı*zar*tı*yor ↷)
She is frying fish. (Transitive) (fry)
Pamuk Adana’da yetiş-ir. (Intransitive) (yetiş)
(pa*muk / a*da*na*da / ye*ti*şir ↷)
Cotton grows in Adana. (Intransitive) (grow)
Adana’da pamuk yetiştir-ir-ler. (Transitive) (yetiştir)
(a*da*na*da / pa*muk / ye*tiş*ti*rir*ler ↷)
They grow cotton in Adana. (Transitive) (grow)
Kapı-/n/ın arka-/s/ı-/n/a saklan-ıyor. (Reflexive) (saklan)
(ka*pı*nın / ar*ka*sı*na / sak*la*nı*yor ↷)
He is hiding behind the door. (Reflexive) (hide)
Mektup-lar-ı-/n/ı sakla-ar. (Transitive) (sakla)
(mek*tup*la*rı*nı / sak*lar ↷)
She hides her letters. (Transitive) (hide)
Zorluk-lar-ım.ız art-ıyor. (Intransitive) (art)
(zor*luk*la*rı*mız / ar*tı*yor ↷)
Our difficulties are increasing. (Intransitive) (increase)

6. ENGLISH VERBS THAT ARE TRANSITIVE AND INTRANSITIVE
6
Hız-ın-ı artır-ma. (Transitive) (artır)
(hı*zı*nı / ar*tır*ma ↷)
Don’t increase your speed. (Transitive) (increase)
Çiçek-ler sabah-leyin aç-ar. (Intransitive) (aç)
(çi*çek*ler / sa*bah*le*yin / a*çar ↷)
Flowers open in the morning. (Intransitive) (open)
Sabah-leyin pencere-ler-i aç-ar-ız. (Transitive) (aç)
(sa*bah*le*yin / pen*ce*re*le*ri / a*ça*rız ↷)
We open the windows in the morning. (Transitive) (open) (The verb "aç"
is used both transitively and intransitively in Turkish as it is used in English.)
At-lar yarış-ıyor. (Intransitive) (yarış)
(at*lar / ya*rı*şı*yor ↷)
The horses are racing. (Intransitive) (race)
At-lar-ı yarıştır-ıyor-lar. (Transitive) (yarıştır)
(at*la*rı / ya*rış*tı*rı*yor*lar ↷)
They are racing the horses. (Transitive) (race)
Elma-lar sıcak hava-da olgunlaş-ır. (Intransitive) (olgunlaş)
(el*ma*lar / sı*cak / ha*va*da / ol*gun*la*şır ↷)
Apples ripen in warm weather. (Intransitive) (ripen)
Note: "Ol" is a verb root, "ol-gun" is an adjective stem, "ol-gun-laş" is an
intransitive verb frame, and "ol-gun-laş-tır" is a transitive verb frame.
Sıcak hava elma-lar-ı olgunlaştır-ır. (Transitive) (olgunlaştır)
(sı*cak / ha*va / el*ma*la*rı / ol*gun*laş*tı*rır ↷)
Warm weather ripens the apples. (Transitive) (ripen)
Zil çal-ıyor. (Intransitive) (çal)
(zil / ça*lı*yor ↷)
The bell is ringing. (Intransitive) (ring)
Zil-i çal. (Transitive) (çal)
(zi*li / çal ↷)
Ring the bell. (Transitive) (ring)
("Çal" and "ring" verbs are both transitive and intransitive in Turkish and
English.)

7. ENGLISH VERBS THAT ARE TRANSITIVE AND INTRANSITIVE
7
Bazen kaya-lar tepe-ler-den aşağı yuvarlan-ır. (Reflexive) (yuvarlan)
(ba:*zen / ka*ya*lar / te*pe*ler*den / a*şa*ğı / yu*var*la*nır ↷)
Sometimes rocks roll down the hills. (Reflexive) (roll)
Bazı kimse-ler tepe-den aşağı kayalar-ı yuvarla-ıyor-lar. (Transitive)
(ba:*zı / kim*se*ler / te*pe*den / a*şa*ğı / ka*ya*la*rı / yu*var*lı*yor*lar ↷)
Some people are rolling rocks down the hill. (Transitive) (roll)
Bazı gemiler nehir-de yüz-üyor. (Intransitive) (yüz)
(ba:*zı / kız*lar / ne*hir*de / yü*zü*yor ↷)
Some ships are sailing in the river. (Intransitive) (sail)
Çocuk-lar model kayık-lar-ı-/n/ı yüzdür-üyor. (Transitive) (yüzdür)
(ço*cuk*lar / mo*del / ka*yık*la*rı*nı / yüz*dü*rü*yor ↷)
The children are sailing their modal boats. (Transitive) (sail)
Yer sarsıl-ıyor. (Reflexive) (sarsıl)
(yer / sar*sı*lı*yor ↷)
The ground is shaking. (Reflexive) (shake)
İlaç-ı iç-me-den önce şişe-/y/i çalkala (sars). (Transitive) (çalkala)
(i*la*cı / iç*me*den / ön*ce / şi*şe*yi / çal*ka*la ↷)
Shake the bottle before you take the medicine. (Transitive) (shake)
İkinci Dünya Savaşı/n/-da birçok gemi bat-tı. (Intransitive) (bat)
(i*kin*ci / dün*ya: / sa*va*şın*da / bir*çok / ge*mi / bat*tı ↷)
A lot of ships sank during The Second World War. (Intransitive) (sink)
İkinci Dünya Savaşı/n/-da birçok gemi batır-dı-lar. (Transitive) (batır)
(i*kin*ci / dün*ya: / sa*va*şın*da / bir*çok / ge*mi / ba*tır*dı*lar ↷)
They sank a lot of ships during The Second World War. (Transitive) (sink)
Gömlek-im-e çay dökül-dü. (Reflexive) (dökül)
(göm*le*ği*me / çay / dö*kül*dü ↷)
Tea spilled on my shirt. (Reflexive) (spill)
Seyhan Nehri Akdeniz-e dökül-ür. (Reflexive) (dökül)
(sey*han / neh*ri / ak*de*ni*ze / dö*kü*lür ↷)
The Seyhan River pours into the Mediterranean Sea. (Reflexive) (pour)
Limonata-/y/ı yer-e dök-tü-üm. (Transitive) (dök)
(li*mo*na*ta*yı / ye*re / dök*tüm ↷)
I have spilled (spilt) the lemonade on the floor. (Transitive) (spill)

8. ENGLISH VERBS THAT ARE TRANSITIVE AND INTRANSITIVE
8
Araba-lar dur-du. (Intransitive) (dur)
(a*ra*ba*lar / dur*du ↷)
The cars stopped. (Intransitive) (stop)
Polis araba-lar-ı durdur-du. (Transitive) (durdur)
(po*lis / a*ra*ba*la*rı / dur*dur*du ↷)
The police officer stopped the cars. (Transitive) (stop)
Tekerlek-ler dön-üyor. (Intransitive) (dön)
(te*ker*lek*ler / dö*nü*yor ↷)
The wheels are turning. (Intransitive) (turn)
Motor tekerlekler-i döndür-ür. (Transitive) (döndür)
(mo*tor / te*ker*lek*le*ri / dön*dü*rür ↷)
The engine turns the wheels. (Transitive) (turn)
Parmak-ı-/n/a bir iğne bat-tı. (Intransitive) (bat)
(par*ma*ğı*na / bir / iğ*ne / bat*tı ↷)
A needle stuck in her finger. (Intransitive) (stick)
Parmak-ı-/n/a bir iğne batır-dı. (Transitive) (batır)
(par*ma*ğı*na / bir / iğ*ne / ba*tır*dı ↷)
She stuck a needle into her finger. (Transitive) (stick)
Bu pul iyi yapış-ma-ıyor. (Intransitive) (yapış)
(bu / pul / i*yi / ya*pış*mı*yor ↷)
This stamp doesn’t stick well. (Intransitive) (stick)
Zarf-a bir pul yapıştır-ama-dı-ım. (Transitive) (yapıştır)
(zar*fa / bir / pul / ya*pış*tı*ra*ma*dım) I
couldn’t stick a stamp on the envelope. (Transitive) (stick)
Köpek sokak-ta yürü-üyor. (Intransitive) (yürü)
(kö*pek / so*kak*ta / yü*rü*yor)
The dog is walking on the street. (Intransitive) (walk)
Köpeği-ni bahçe-de yürüt-üyor. (Transitive) (yürüt)
(kö*pe*ği*ni / bah*çe*de / yü*rü*tü*yor)
She is walking her dog in the garden. (Transitive) (walk)