Transitive & Intransitive Verbs (他動詞・自動詞)
Learning Objectives
- Understand the difference between Transitive (action) and Intransitive (state) verbs.
- Recognize common verb pairs.
- Use Transitive verbs with 〜てある to describe a state left by human intention.
- Use Intransitive verbs with 〜ている to describe a natural ongoing state.
In English, we use the word “open” for two different situations: “I open the door” (Action) and “The door opens” (State). Japanese usually has two separate but similar-looking verbs for these concepts: a Transitive verb (他動詞 - Tadoushi) involving human action, and an Intransitive verb (自動詞 - Jidoushi) describing an independent or natural state.
1. Transitive vs. Intransitive
- Transitive (他動詞): Someone is doing an action to an object. Therefore, it takes the direct object particle
を. - Intransitive (自動詞): Something happens to a subject on its own. Therefore, the subject takes the particle
が.
Here are some of the most common verb pairs:
| English Base | Transitive (Subject を Verb) | Intransitive (Subject が Verb) |
|---|---|---|
| Open | 開ける (akeru - I open it) | 開く (aku - It opens) |
| Close | 閉める (shimeru - I close it) | 閉まる (shimaru - It closes) |
| Turn on | つける (tsukeru - I turn it on) | つく (tsuku - It turns on) |
| Turn off | 消す (kesu - I turn it off) | 消える (kieru - It turns off/disappears) |
| Break | 壊す (kowasu - I break it) | 壊れる (kowareru - It breaks) |
| Drop/Fall | 落とす (otosu - I drop it) | 落ちる (ochiru - It falls) |
| Put in/Enter | 入れる (ireru - I put it in) | 入る (hairu - It enters) |
私は窓を開けました。
watashi wa mado o akemashita.
I opened the window. (Transitive - Focus on my action on the object `mado`).
風で窓が開きました。
kaze de mado ga akimashita.
The window opened because of the wind. (Intransitive - Focus on the state of the `mado`).
2. Intransitive Verb + 〜ている (Resulting State)
In N5, you learned that 〜ている means an ongoing action (e.g., I am eating). But when you attach 〜ている to an Intransitive verb, it means an action happened, and its resulting state continues.
電気がついています。
denki ga tsuite imasu.
The lights are (turned) on.
このパソコンは壊れています。
kono pasokon wa kowarete imasu.
This computer is broken.
お皿が落ちています。
osara ga ochite imasu.
The plate is fallen (on the floor).
[!TIP] Think of
〜ているwith intransitive verbs as “Nobody is doing anything right now, I am just observing how things look.”
3. Transitive Verb + 〜てある (Intentional State)
What if you want to say “The window is open,” but you want to emphasize that someone opened it on purpose and left it that way? Instead of using the intransitive verb, you use the Transitive verb combined with 〜てある.
When using 〜てある, the object partice を usually changes to the subject particle が.
壁にカレンダーが掛けてあります。
kabe ni karendaa ga kakete arimasu.
A calendar is hung on the wall (someone hung it there).
ビールは冷蔵庫に入れてあります。
biiru wa reizouko ni irete arimasu.
The beer has been put in the fridge (in preparation).
ノートに名前が書いてあります。
nooto ni namae ga kaite arimasu.
A name is written on the notebook.
Comparing the Three States:
- 私は窓を開けています。 (Transitive + iru) = “I am currently opening the window.” (Active action in progress).
- 窓が開いています。 (Intransitive + iru) = “The window is open.” (Natural observation of the window’s state).
- 窓が開けてあります。 (Transitive + aru) = “The window is left open.” (Someone opened it on purpose, perhaps because it’s hot).
Contextual Dialogue
Let’s see how Tanaka and Suzuki discuss the state of an office meeting room.
鈴木さん、会議の準備は終わりましたか。
Suzuki-san, kaigi no junbi wa owarimashita ka.
Suzuki, are the preparations for the meeting finished?
ええと、ドアが開いているから、中に誰かいるかもしれません。
Eeto, doa ga aite iru kara, naka ni dareka iru kamoshiremasen.
Let's see. The door is open, so someone must be inside.
あ、電気がついていますが、誰もいませんね。
A, denki ga tsuite imasu ga, dare mo imasen ne.
Oh, the lights are on, but nobody is there.
机の上を見ると……あ、もう資料が置いてあります。
Tsukue no ue o miru to...... a, mou shiryou ga oite arimasu.
Looking at the desk... ah, the documents have already been placed out.
エアコンもつけてありますね。誰かが準備してくれたんだと思います。
Eakon mo tsukete arimasu ne. Dareka ga junbi shite kureta n da to omoimasu.
The air conditioner is also purposely left on. Someone definitely prepared it for us.
よかった。じゃあ、私たちは何もしなくていいですね。ドアを閉めましょう。
Yokatta. Jaa, watashitachi wa nanimo shinakute ii desu ne. Doa o shimemashou.
Great. Then we don't have to do anything. Let's close the door.
Chapter Summary
- 1Transitive verbs describe a human action upon an object (takes を).
- 2Intransitive verbs describe something happening naturally or changing state (takes が).
- 3Intransitive Verb + 〜ている describes an ongoing natural state (e.g., 'The window is open').
- 4Transitive Verb + 〜てある describes a state left behind by a purposeful human action (e.g., 'The window has been left open').
Knowledge Check
Test your understanding of Transitive and Intransitive verbs!
Quiz
Which of the following is an Intransitive verb?