How Some Verbs in English Transitive Verbs Require an Object
Teacher: Welcome to daily tips on learning English. Today's tip is to be aware of how some verbs in English transitive verbs require an object.
Teacher: Not using an object after a transitive verb is a common mistake made by learners of English. For example, although in Chinese you can say "wo xi wuan (I like) or wo bu xi wuan (I don't like) " without mentioning what you are talking about. In English like requires an object. So, you can't say I like or I don't like. You must say I like it or I like them, I like her, I like you, I like Taiwan, or I don't like it, I don't like them, I don't like him, I don't like singing at a KTVs. You must use an object after like, because it's a transitive verb.
Teacher: Another common word misused, another common word which is misused is want. Want is also a transitive verb and must be followed by an object. You can not ask do you want as in the Chinese, ni yao bu yao (do you want), ni yao ma (you want)?
You must ask do you want some if you are asking about something uncountable like coffee or tea.
Do you want it, if you are asking about a singular countable object like, the last piece of pizza.
Do you want them, if you are asking about plural countable objects, such as some books.
Teacher: The two verbs like and want are the two most commonly misused transitive verbs, as in I like or I want. Be careful to complete the meaning of these transitive verbs by adding in objects.
Teacher: And when using a pronoun, be careful to choose the proper pronoun. In English, certain verbs are used only transitively. Some are used only intransitively. And some are used at times transitively and at other times intransitively.
Teacher: Today's tip is to pay special attention when learning verbs to learn whether or not the verb is transitive and not to neglect adding an object if it is.
Teacher: This's been today's tip on learning English. Tune in tomorrow for another tip.