Intransitive verbs versus transitive verbs

신경 안 쓰려고 해도 자꾸 신경이 쓰이네요. I try not to be concerned, but it keeps bothering me. 밥을 좀 먹어야 되는데 밥이 통 안 먹혀요. I must eat some food, but I just can’t seem to be able to. • Idiosyncratic uses The following patterns have no transitive counterparts and are best treated as fixed expressions. Some have passive-like meanings and others express uncon- trollable situations or feelings. 스트레스가 쌓인다. Stress keeps building up. 난처한 입장에 놓 다. I’ve been put in a difficult position. 시간에 매이지 말고 천천히 해. Don’t be pressured by the clock, and take your time. 기가 힌다. I’m at a loss for words. It’s ridiculous. 교통이 많이 힌다. The traffic is jammed. 그런 방법은 이제 먹히지가 않아. Such a method doesn’t work any more. 친구집에 혀살고 있어요. I’m living at my friend’s house as a parasite. 하루 종일 집에 틀어 혀 있었어. I was cooped up at home all day. 항상 시간에 쫓기게 돼. I find myself always crunched for time. 차가 밀린다. The traffic is backed up. 일이 많이 밀렸어요. I’m behind in my work. 추위가 풀렸다. The cold weather turned warm. 졸 생들이 잘 풀린다. The graduates are finding good jobs. 감기가 잔 걸렸어요. I have a full-blown cold. 그 일이 자꾸 마음에 걸린다. That incident weighs constantly on my mind. 그런 동은 법에 걸린다. That kind of behavior is against the law. 성공은 노력여하에 달렸다. Success depends on one’s efforts. 쪽 팔린다. It’s embarrassing. [familiarcasual] TV 를 통해 얼굴이 많이 팔렸다. His face became exposed to the public through TV. 15.3.2 Intransitive verbs with 지다 지다, which is linked to the main verb by -어아, can be used with a limited number of verbs. 지다 can also be used to turn a descriptive verb into an action verb; see 15.1.2. Transitive verbs Intransitive verbs with 지다 쏟다 pour X 찢다 tear X 세우다 establish X 부수다 break X 전하다 convey X 끄다 turn X off 쏟아지다 X be poured 찢어지다 X be torn 세워지다 X be established 부서지다 X be broken 전해지다 X be conveyed 꺼지다 X be turned off NOTE: A small number of intransitive verbs can be formed by either a suffix or 지다: 찢기다 or 찢어지다 for 찢다 ‘tear’ and 믿기다 or 믿어지다 for 믿다 ‘believe.’ Uses of intransitive verbs with 지다 • Passive 파도가 모래성을 허물었다. transitive The wave destroyed the sand castle. 모래성이 파도에 허물어졌다. passive The sand castle was destroyed by the wave. 검찰이 사건의 진상을 다. transitive The prosecutor revealed the true picture of the case. 사건의 진상이 검찰에 의해 혀졌다. passive The true picture of the case was revealed by the prosecutor. NOTE: With the 지다 and 되다 passives, the formal-sounding X 에 의해 is used instead of X 에게한테 to express ‘by someone.’ • Potentialuncontrollable 지다 can indicate that something happens in a way that is out of one’s control. When used in this way, the verb is usually in the present tense. 접시가 잘 깨진다. The dish breaks easily. 통조림이 안 따진다. This can won’t open . I can’t open it. 계획이 틀어졌어요. The plan fell through. 이 옷은 잘 안 빨아져요. This dress doesn’t wash well. 믿기지 않는다. 정말 안 믿어져. It’s unbelievable. I can’t believe it. 머리가 점점 벗겨져요. My hairline is gradually receding. 요즘은 책이 통 안 읽어진다. I can’t seem to be able to read these days. 칼이 안 들어서 고기가 안 썰어져. The meat won’t cut well because the knife is dull. 이 칫솔은 이가 잘 닦아져닦여. This tooth brush brushes well. 안 기다리려해도 자꾸 기다려진다. I can’t help but wait for him even if I try not to. 아침에 절로 눈이 떠진다. My eyes pop open automatically in the morning. The transitive counterparts of these verbs without 지다 indicate that the action is under one’s control. Notice the following contrasts between a transitive verb and its intransitive counterpart with 지다. 아무리 눈을 뜨려고 해도 눈이 안 떠져요. No matter how hard I try to wake up, my eyes won’t open. 전화를 내가 끊은 게 아니라 전화가 그냥 끊어졌어요. I didn’t hang up the phone, but it just got cut off. 과일 통조림을 좀 따야 되는데 이게 안 따지네요. I have to open this canned fruit, but it won’t open. • Idiosyncratic uses The following patterns have no transitive counterparts and are best treated as fixed expressions. Some of these denote uncontrollable actions and states. 전철이 끊어졌다끊겼다. The subway has shut down for the day. 발랑 까졌다. She’s wild and brash. 잠이 쏟아진다. I’m having a huge wave of drowsiness. 입이 안 떨어져요. I can’t seem to be able to open my mouth to say anything. 차마 발이 안 떨어져. I can’t seem to be able to move my feet to leave. 15.3.3 Intransitive verbs with 되다 Some Sino-Korean nouns that combine with 하다 to form a transitive verb can occur with 되다 to create an intransitive verb. Transitive with 하다 Intransitive with 되다 해결하다 solve X 사용하다 use X 왜곡하다 distort X 기대하다 expect X 해결되다 X be solved 사용되다 X be used 왜곡되다 X be distorted 기대되다 X be expected Uses of intransitive verbs with 되다 • Passive 대화 중에 누군가가 그 사람의 이름을 거론했다. transitive Someone mentioned his name during the conversation. 대화 중에 누군가에 의해 그 사람의 이름이 거론되었다. passive His name was mentioned by someone during the conversation. 유괴범이 어린아이를 치했습니다. transitive A kidnapper abducted the child. 어린아이가 유괴범에 의해 치되었습니다. passive The child was abducted by a kidnapper. • Potentialuncontrollable 긴장되는데요. I’m getting nervous. 자꾸 정이 되네요. I keep getting worried. 도저히 이해가 안 돼요. I can’t possibly understand. 이번 한국여 이 많이 기대됩니다. I’m looking forward to this trip to Korea. 공부를 해야 되는데 공부가 I have to study, but I can’t seem to be 잘 안 돼요. able to. 아무리 용서를 하려고 해도 No matter how hard I try to forgive him, 용서가 안 돼요. I just can’t. 15.3.4 Other special intransitive verbs Some nouns combine with 당하다 ‘sufferundergo’ or 받다 ‘receive’ to create compound intransitive verbs with a passive-like meaning. • With 당하다 강간당하다 be raped 사기당하다 be swindled 배반당하다 be betrayed 거절당하다 be rejected 무시당하다 be ignored 고소당하다 be sued 실연당하다 be lovelorn 왕따당하다 be alienated • With 받다 사랑받다 be loved 칭찬받다 be praised 존경받다 be respected 처벌받다 be punished 멸시받다 be despised 비난받다 be criticized 간섭받다 be interfered with 상처받다 be hurtbroken-hearted In addition, two special verbs – 속다 and 맞다 – are worth noting since they have a passive meaning in the absence of any suffix or auxiliary. 지영이가 사기꾼한테 속았다. Jiyoung got deceived by the swindler . 동생이 형한테 맞았다. The younger brother got hit by the older brother.