Verbs are divided into predicative and copulative.
1. Predicative verbs
Predicative verbs make complete sense and can also be used alone.
- Nevica (it snows).
- Il sole splende (the sun shines).
Some examples of predicative verbs:
- Piovere (to rain)
- Cadere (to fall)
- Viaggiare (to travel)
- Piangere (to cry)
- Abitare (to inhabit)
- Amare (to love)
2. Copulative verbs
Copulative verbs “act as a bridge” between the subject and a noun or an adjective, with a similar function to that of the verb essere (to be):
- Emma è diventata una donna (Emma became a woman).
- La tua vita mi sembra noiosa (your life seems boring).
Some examples of copulative verbs:
- Sembrare (to seem)
- Diventare (become)
- Riuscire (to succeed)
- Risulatare (to result)
- Stare (stay)
- Rimanere (to remain)
- Apparire (to appear)
- Nascere (to be born)
- Vivere (to live)
- Morire (to die)
Transitive and intransitive verbs
1. Transitive verbs (verbi transitivi) are those verbs that can have a direct object:
- Paolo ama Laura (Paolo loves Laura)
- I bambini canteranno una canzone (the children will sing a song)
- Oggi mangiamo un panino (today we are eating a sandwich).
Transitive verbs are not always followed by an object complement. In fact, we can say: Emma scrive una lettera (Emma writes a letter) or Emma scrive (Emma writes). In the second sentence (Emma writes) the verb continues to be transitive, even if the direct object is not expressed. In this case we say that the transitive verb is used in an absolute form (forma assoluta).
2. Intransitive verbs (verbi intransitivi) are those verbs that cannot have a direct object:
- Il sole tramonta (the sun sets)
- La mamma dorme (the mother is sleeping)
- Il gatto scappò (the cat ran away).
Some intransitive verbs can become transitive when they are followed by the internal object complement (complemento oggetto interno), that is, a noun that has the same root as the verb or a very similar meaning:
- Vivere una vita avventurosa (live an adventurous life)
- Morire una morte certa (die a certain death)
- Piangere lacrime amare (cry bitter tears)
- Dormire sonni agitati (sleep restless).
Some verbs can be both transitive and intransitive, depending on the context:
| Transitive | Intransitive |
| Voglio cambiare la penna I want to change the pen Abbiamo finito le scorte We have run out of supplies Passami il latte! Pass me the milk! | Il tempo oggi è cambiato The weather has changed today Domani le vacanze finiscono Tomorrow the holidays end Il tempo passa in fretta Time passes quickly |
Next lesson:
La persona e il numero del verbo / The person and number of the verb