Action verbs versus descriptive verbs

15.3 Special sub-types of intransitive verbs

Several sub-types of intransitive verbs are identified based on the presence of particular suffixes andor special verbs. 15.3.1 Intransitive verbs with the suffix -이히기리 A limited set of transitive verbs form their intransitive counterparts with the help of the suffixes -이, -히, -기, or -리. A few examples are presented in the table below, followed by examples of their various uses. Transitive verbs Intransitive verbs with -이히기리 덮다 cover X 섞다 mix X 바꾸다 switch X 잠그다 lock X 덮 이다 X be covered 섞 이다 X be mixed 바뀌다 X be switched 뀌 꾸이 잠기다 X be locked 기 그이 꽂다 insert X 뽑다 pick X 찍다 photograph X 다 bury X 꽂 히다 X be inserted 뽑 히다 X be picked 찍 히다 X be photographed 히다 X be buried 끊다 cut X off 뜯다 pluck X 안다 hugcaress X 끊 기다 X be cut off 뜯 기다 X be plucked 안 기다 X be huggedcaressed 다 hear X 찌르다 pokestab X 끌다 pull X 들 리다 X be heard 찔 리다 X be pokedstabbed 끌 리다 X be pulled Uses of intransitive verbs with -이히기리 • P assive Passives turn a transitive sentence around and present it from the perspective of the one who is affected by the action rather than the one who performs it. 청소년들이 이 책을 많이 읽습니다. transitive Many teenagers read this book. 이 책이 청소년들에게 많이 읽 니다. passive This book is read by many teenagers. 고양이가 쥐를 잡았다. transitive The cat caught the mouse. 쥐가 고양이한테 잡 다. passive The mouse was caught by the cat. 견인차가 내 차를 끌어 갔다. transitive The tow truck towed my car. 내 차가 견인차에 끌려 갔다. passive My car was towed by the tow truck. The ‘by’ in ‘by many teenagers’ and similar phrases is usually expressed by -에게한테 with an animate noun and -에 with an inanimate noun. However, it is expressed by -에 의해서 in order to avoid ambiguity in cases where -에게한테 can be interpreted as ‘to someone’ instead of ‘by someone’ – as in 누군가에게 팔렸다 ‘sold to someone’ versus 누군가에 의해 팔렸다 ‘sold by someone.’ The passive form can also be used to express adversity, indicating that someone is negatively affected by an action. Unlike typical passive sentences, these patterns may include -을를 marked nouns. 소매치기한테 지 을 털렸어요. I got robbed of my wallet by a pickpocket. 우리 대표선수가 상대편에게 점을 잡 다. Our key player had his weakness discovered by the opposing team. • Potentialuncontrollable Verbs marked by -이히기리 can also be used to indicate that something happens out of one’s control. When used in this way, the verb is usually in the present tense. 글씨가 너무 작아서 잘 안 보여요. I can’t see the writing because it’s too small. 눈치가 보인다. I feel uneasy about what he’s thinking. 이제 마음이 놓인다. I feel relieved now. 여기는 고기가 잘 안 잡힌다. I can’t really catch fish here. 일이 손에 안 잡힌다. I can’t seem to be able to work. 밥이 안 먹혀요. I can’t seem to be able to eat. 졸려서 눈이 자꾸 감긴다. I’m so sleepy that my eyes keep falling shut. 나는 잘 웃는 사람한테 끌려. I get attracted to those who laugh a lot. 문이 안 열린다. The door won’t open. I can’t open it. 너무 떨린다. I’m so nervous. I can’t help it. 얘기가 곧이 안 들려요. The story doesn’t sound right to me. I can’t believe it. The transitive counterparts of these verbs without -이히기리 indicate that the action is under one’s control. Notice the following contrasts. 아무리 감을 잡으려고 해도 도대체 감이 안 잡혀요. No matter how hard I try to figure it out, I can’t possibly do that. 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.