Transitivity and Indirect Objects
In the previous chapter, we learned about case endings, and how we use them to answer the all-important question of “who is doing what.'' Now that you understand the reason we indicate a noun’s role and how to do so, we are going to introduce another type of object and another type of verb.
In this chapter, we will answer these questions:
- What is an indirect object? How do we indicate it?
- What is verb transitivity?
- What are si-verbs?
- When is it okay to omit case endings?
Consider the sentence “I give a gift to you”. Using what you learned in the previous chapter, try to identify as many roles as you can. What is the subject, verb, and direct object of that sentence?
The verb is obviously give. As we learned, the subject is the performer of the verb, so it makes sense that the subject is I- the one giving. That leaves two remaining nouns- you, and the gift. The direct object is the noun that is directly involved in the verb. What is being given? The gift. So, what role is the word you playing in this sentence?
This third noun role is called the indirect object.
The verb is obviously give. As we learned, the subject is the performer of the verb, so it makes sense that the subject is I- the one giving. That leaves two remaining nouns- you, and the gift. The direct object is the noun that is directly involved in the verb. What is being given? The gift. So, what role is the word you playing in this sentence?
This third noun role is called the indirect object.
1. “What is an indirect object? How do we indicate it?”
Where the direct object is affected by the verb, the indirect object is affected by the act of the subject performing the verb on the direct object (if applicable). Where the gift is the thing being affected by "give" (as the direct object), you are being affected by "I give the gift". Often, the indirect object is often a recipient of some kind. In English, this often takes the form “to <i.obj>”, such as in “I give a gift to you”.
Think like the Na’vi!
The word "to" will not always be the indirect object! English also uses "to" for indicating directions (i.e.I walk to my home) and for stating results (study to improve), among other uses. Na'vi has completely different mechanisms for these things. Recipient-to is the only use that takes the form of indirect object.
The word "to" will not always be the indirect object! English also uses "to" for indicating directions (i.e.I walk to my home) and for stating results (study to improve), among other uses. Na'vi has completely different mechanisms for these things. Recipient-to is the only use that takes the form of indirect object.
Like the roles discussed in the previous lesson, the indirect object is denoted with a case ending so it isn’t mistaken as the subject or direct object.
Using this information, here are just a few ways to say “I give a gift to you”. Since there are more words, there are of course more valid combinations.
- -RU goes after vowels (including diphthongs), but NOT pseudovowels (RR, LL)
- -R can also be used after vowels, and diphthongs AW and EW.
- -UR is for after consonants, pseudovowels, and diphthongs AY and EY
Using this information, here are just a few ways to say “I give a gift to you”. Since there are more words, there are of course more valid combinations.
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oel stxeliti tìng ngar
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tìng oel ngaru stxeliti
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ngaru stxeliti oel tìng
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The indirect object is sometimes used for things other than recipients, and not every instance of “to” in English will be an indirect object in Na’vi. Sometimes what might seem like an obvious direct object is actually an indirect object. But don’t fear- there’s an easy way to tell when this is the case. It all comes down to recognizing the transitivity of the verb you are dealing with.
2. “What is verb transitivty?”
Up until this point, the verbs we have used are what are known as transitive verbs. A transitive verb is one that has transitivity. That definition isn't particularly useful by itself, so the better question is "what is transitivity"?
Transitivity can be thought of as a permission to use direct objects. Transitive verbs are allowed to have direct objects- but they aren't required to use them. Compare this to intransitive verbs, which do not have direct object permission, and thus could never have a direct object.
Most of the time, if you can “<verb> something”, it is a transitive verb. You can "eat something", "show something", and "see something". If it doesn't make much sense, it is likely intransitive. For example, to "sleep something" or "run something" doesn't make much sense.
Transitivity can be thought of as a permission to use direct objects. Transitive verbs are allowed to have direct objects- but they aren't required to use them. Compare this to intransitive verbs, which do not have direct object permission, and thus could never have a direct object.
Most of the time, if you can “<verb> something”, it is a transitive verb. You can "eat something", "show something", and "see something". If it doesn't make much sense, it is likely intransitive. For example, to "sleep something" or "run something" doesn't make much sense.
Think like the Na’vi!
Be careful when doing the "<verb> something" test! Your English-brain will trigger a lot of false positives. For example, you might think "walk something" is ok, because you might imagine "walking a dog". But, if you unpack the relationships, what you are actually doing is "walking with the dog"- the dog is not being affected by "walk".
Be careful when doing the "<verb> something" test! Your English-brain will trigger a lot of false positives. For example, you might think "walk something" is ok, because you might imagine "walking a dog". But, if you unpack the relationships, what you are actually doing is "walking with the dog"- the dog is not being affected by "walk".
Sometimes you will run into verbs that you may assume are transitive, but actually aren't. The best way to check the transitivity of a verb is to look it up in a dictionary. A transitive verb will be marked as vtr. - verb transitive, where an intransitive verb will be vin. - verb intransitive.
Try it yourself!
Look up the following verbs in a Na’vi dictionary. Which of these can have a direct object? Which cannot? Are there any that surprised you? If they did, take a moment to consider the relationship between the nouns typically associated with that action.
Look up the following verbs in a Na’vi dictionary. Which of these can have a direct object? Which cannot? Are there any that surprised you? If they did, take a moment to consider the relationship between the nouns typically associated with that action.
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3. “What are si-verbs?”
A very common type of intransitive verb is a si-verb. Si-verbs take the form of a noun or adjective, followed by si. Examples include srung si, law si, and nari si. Note how all of these are two words, the second of which is si. The word si is almost never used on its own, but it can be likened to meaning “do”, or “engage in”. For example, srung is "help (the noun, of help itself)", where srung si is "engage in help" or "do help", a verb.
Think like the Na’vi!
All si-verbs are formed from another word. Whenever you encounter a new one, take a moment to look up the word it derives from. Doing this, you can easily learn two words instead of one, and remember them better, too! Efficient!
All si-verbs are formed from another word. Whenever you encounter a new one, take a moment to look up the word it derives from. Doing this, you can easily learn two words instead of one, and remember them better, too! Efficient!
Try it yourself!
Look up the following words in a Na’vi dictionary. Then, make a prediction about what the si-verb version of the word might mean. Then, look it up. Did any surprise you?
Look up the following words in a Na’vi dictionary. Then, make a prediction about what the si-verb version of the word might mean. Then, look it up. Did any surprise you?
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Always remember that all si-verbs are intransitive, even ones that to an English speaker would be transitive (such as srung si- “help”). If you run into these kinds of intransitive verbs that seem to have an obvious direct object, there is a good chance that it is actually the indirect object. Remember- an intransitive verb, by definition, cannot have a direct object - it doesn't have that permission. But the act of the subject performing the si-verb could affect something else- which is what the indirect object is for!
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oe ngaru srung si
I help [to] you |
kaltxì si po oer
[s]he greets [to] me |
hururu lew si sa’nok
mother covers [to] the pot |
From the Film!
The Na’vi gather in chant to beg the help of Eywa to help save a wounded Dr. Grace.
The Na’vi gather in chant to beg the help of Eywa to help save a wounded Dr. Grace.
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All: srung si poeru, ma Eywa Help her, Eywa |
Perhaps you may have noticed something odd about these examples: the subjects don’t have the subject case endings (-L and -ÌL) from before! This is not an accident or error, but rather a useful feature of the Na’vi language!
4. “When is it okay to omit case endings?”
To answer this question, we must think back to why Na’vi uses case endings in the first place. The goal of a case endings is to assign roles so we know who is doing what. Since all verbs have a subject, implied or otherwise, Na’vi took this as an opportunity to shorten things a little.
When using intransitive verbs, there is never a direct object (because again, they can’t have one- they don't have transitivity permission). Because you cannot confuse the subject with a direct object that can’t exist, the subject of an intransitive verb doesn't need to take a case ending. In order for this to work, though, we still must always mark the indirect object (as well as some other cases that we will cover in the future!)
But wait, there’s more! Remember that transitivity is a permission- you aren't required to use it, you're just allowed. Sometimes when using a transitive verb you don’t need to specify a direct object. For example, you could say “I eat” without specifying what thing you are eating- you just eat in general! Whenever you use a transitive verb without a specified direct object, you can treat it as an intransitive verb. Then, since we are using the verb intransitively, we don’t need to include the subject marker.
This is just one of the many ways Na’vi tries to be compact and efficient- dropping unnecessary information that could easily be implied.
When using intransitive verbs, there is never a direct object (because again, they can’t have one- they don't have transitivity permission). Because you cannot confuse the subject with a direct object that can’t exist, the subject of an intransitive verb doesn't need to take a case ending. In order for this to work, though, we still must always mark the indirect object (as well as some other cases that we will cover in the future!)
But wait, there’s more! Remember that transitivity is a permission- you aren't required to use it, you're just allowed. Sometimes when using a transitive verb you don’t need to specify a direct object. For example, you could say “I eat” without specifying what thing you are eating- you just eat in general! Whenever you use a transitive verb without a specified direct object, you can treat it as an intransitive verb. Then, since we are using the verb intransitively, we don’t need to include the subject marker.
This is just one of the many ways Na’vi tries to be compact and efficient- dropping unnecessary information that could easily be implied.
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oel yerikit taron
I hunt hexapede |
oe taron
I hunt [in general] |
Think like the Na’vi!
A noun without a case ending should be assumed to be an intransitive subject.
A noun without a case ending should be assumed to be an intransitive subject.
In Summary
1. What is an indirect object? How do we indicate it?
Where the direct object is affected by the verb, the INDIRECT object is affected by "<subject> <verb>ing <direct object>". It is usually a recipient of some kind.
The indirect object takes the -RU, -UR, or -R case endings.
2. What is verb transitivity?
Transitivity is permission to use a direct object. It is a property of verbs.
Transitive verbs (vtr.) are able to have a direct object.
Intransitive verbs (vin.) cannot have a direct object.
3. What are si-verbs?
Si-verbs are a common type of intransitive verb formed from a noun or an adjective, plus "si".
We cannot make our own si-verbs.
4. When is it okay to omit case endings?
The subject of an intransitive verb doesn’t need to be marked.
All transitive verbs can be used intransitively if the direct object doesn’t need to be specified- Just because a verb has transitivity doesn't mean it must use a direct object.
Where the direct object is affected by the verb, the INDIRECT object is affected by "<subject> <verb>ing <direct object>". It is usually a recipient of some kind.
The indirect object takes the -RU, -UR, or -R case endings.
2. What is verb transitivity?
Transitivity is permission to use a direct object. It is a property of verbs.
Transitive verbs (vtr.) are able to have a direct object.
Intransitive verbs (vin.) cannot have a direct object.
3. What are si-verbs?
Si-verbs are a common type of intransitive verb formed from a noun or an adjective, plus "si".
We cannot make our own si-verbs.
4. When is it okay to omit case endings?
The subject of an intransitive verb doesn’t need to be marked.
All transitive verbs can be used intransitively if the direct object doesn’t need to be specified- Just because a verb has transitivity doesn't mean it must use a direct object.
