Valency and transitivity

The Core Idea

Valency describes how many and what kind of complements a verb selects. Transitivity is one part of that wider system.
When a verb feels hard to use, the real issue is often the complement frame, not the conjugation. Valency makes that frame explicit.

Structure Snapshot

• intransitive / transitive direct / transitive indirect / bitransitive patterns

Main Rules at a Glance

How It Works

1. Intransitive verbs do not require an object: "cheguei", "saí".
2. Transitive direct verbs typically take a direct object: "comprei o livro".
3. Transitive indirect verbs require a prepositional complement: "gostar de música", "obedecer a regras".
4. Bitransitive verbs can take two complements: "dar algo a alguém", "mostrar algo para alguém".
5. Some verbs shift meaning when the valency changes, so transitivity must be learned with usage.

Usage and Register