Transitive Verbs in French
In French, some verbs require a direct object to complete their meaning. These types of verbs are called verbes transitifs(transitive verbs). Without the direct object, the sentence feels incomplete!
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In this article, you'll learn what transitive verbs are and why they matter so much in French sentence structure. We'll also explore agreement rules and pronoun placement. Allons-y !(Let's go!)
Questions This Article Answers
What are transitive verbs in French?
What's the difference between a transitive and an intransitive verb?
When do transitive verbs trigger past participle agreement in French?
Where do you put direct object pronouns when using a transitive verb?
What Is a Transitive Verb?
A verbe transitif(transitive verb) is a verb that takes a direct object. That means something or someone is receiving the action of the verb directly, without the need for a preposition.
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In each case, the verb wouldn't make much sense without the direct object: une maison, mon vélo, les mensonges.
Transitive Verbs and Intransitive Verbs
Don't confuse a transitive verb with a verbe intransitif(intransitive verb)!
Intransitive verbs either:
- take no object at all
Some transitive French verbs can be used both transitively and intransitively. In other words, they can take a direct object, but don’t have to. Very common French transitive verbs that can be used both transitively and intransitively include écrire(to write), lire(to read), and manger(to eat).
Let's see examples with the verb manger. The first sentence uses the verb transitively, and the second uses it intransitively:
Here's a list of some common French verbs that can be both transitive and intransitive:
For each verb, FrenchDictionary indicates the various senses a verb can take depending on its transitivity, along with examples.
Want to know more about intransitive verbs in French? Check out this article!
Common Transitive Verbs
Here are some very common transitive verbs in French:
Don't Translate Literally!
Some transitive verbs in French require a preposition in English. For example:
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This means that some verbs can be transitive in French but intransitive in English, or vice versa!
Transitive Verbs and Agreement in Compound Tenses
When used in compound tenses, transitive verbs can trigger past participle agreement. Imagine that you're using a verb in a compound tense like the passé composé(compound past) or plus-que-parfait(pluperfect). If the auxiliary verb is avoir(to have) and the direct object comes before the verb, the past participle agrees with the direct object.
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But if the direct object comes after the verb, there is no agreement:
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You can check out these articles for more information about past participle agreement.
Pronoun Placement
If a transitive verb has a pronoun replacing the direct object, the pronoun goes before the verb (or before the auxiliary in compound tenses).
The only exception is the affirmative imperative, in which the pronoun goes after the verb and is linked to it by a hyphen.
Learn more about French verbs and tenses in these articles!
