English Reference Book

6. Transitive and Intransitive Verbs.a. Transitive. A verb that can take a direct object is called transitive (‘to give apresent’, ‘to repair an engine’).b. Intransitive. A verb that cannot take a direct object is called intransitive (‘rainfalls’, ‘we talk’, ‘the sun rises’).Some verbs, however, can be both transitive and intransitive depending on theirmeaning, for example ‘I smell gas’ (transitive) and ‘Your cooking smells’ (intransitive).The following verbs can never be transitive: appear, belong, exist, occur and swoon.7. Voice.a. Verbs can take 2 voices:(1) The active voice when the subject carries out the action (‘The RSM rejectedthe application.’).(2) The passive voice when the action is carried out on the subject (‘Theapplication was rejected by the RSM.’).b. In any form of defence writing a sentence with an active verb is generallyshorter, stronger and more direct than one with a passive verb. The passive form ispreferable only where the doer of the action is not known or is unimportant (‘My carwas stolen last night.’ ‘The new flying clothing will be delivered tomorrow.’).c. Be especially careful to avoid using a passive verb when framing an order,because such an order often fails to nominate the person responsible for carrying itout. Consider the sentence ‘When an extension of bar opening hours is required inthe Cpls’ Club, application is to be made to OC Admin Wg’. If OC PMS, OC GD Flt,the SWO, the PSI, OC Cpls’ Club, the OIC a function, the SNCO IC the function andthe Club barman all fail to apply for an extension, who is really to blame? The ordershould therefore read ‘When an extension of bar opening hours is required in theCpls’ Club, the OIC function is to apply to OC Admin Wg’.d. This point is particularly important in writing operation orders and recordingdecisions in minutes. For example, the order ‘The Challenger is to be returned toBrowning Lines’ does not place the responsibility upon an individual, and should read‘OC B Troop is to return the Challenger to Browning Lines’.e. Also, in operation orders, beware of hidden orders, which might be overlooked.Instead of writing ‘The Det Cdr is to nominate crews for sorties as required by SqnLdr Ops’, you must compose 2 separate orders for the 2 actors, the Det Cdr and SqnLdr Ops.4-13