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Re: transitive verb


The verb "utter" can be both transitive and intransitive:

1. He didn't utter a word. (transitive, direct object = "a word")

2. "Just leave me alone", he uttered loudly. (intransitive, no object)


In 1. "utter" is being used transitively; it has the noun phrase "a word" as direct object. But in 2. there is no direct object; "loudly" is an adverb, so "utter" is being used intransitively here.

PaulM

Re: transitive verb

Dear Mr. Matthews,

Thank you for your explanation. However, I remain confused; when I looked up the word vociferate online the explanation stated:

transitive verb: "to utter loudly"
intransitive verb: "to cry out loudly"

I'm struggling with the transitive verb explanation; is there a rule that I am not familiar with?

Re: transitive verb

The definitions you cite are for the word "vociferate", not for "utter". You should look up the word "utter" in your dictionary.



PaulM

Re: transitive verb

Thank you Mr. Matthews

Re: transitive verb

Thank you Mr. Matthews. To answer my own question; the noun "utter" is an object.

Re: transitive verb

mk
Thank you Mr. Matthews. To answer my own question; the noun "utter" is an object.



"Utter" cannot ever be a noun. It's a verb in "he uttered loudly", and an adjective in "an utter waste of time".

Here's a link to the Oxford Dictionary https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/utter


PaulM