Tuesday, June 26, 2018

transitivity - When is 終わる used as a transitive verb?


On Are 終わる and 済ませる synonyms?, there were some questions whether 終わる is used as a transitive verb.


Space ALC seems to have a few results for を終わる, but far more for を終わらせる and を終える. Looking at sense 4 of the Daijisen definition, it does seem 終わる can be used as a transitive verb:



しまいにする。終える。「会議を―・ります」




My question: How often is 終わる used as a transitive verb and when is it used in such a way compared to 終わらせる and 終える?



Answer



終わる is used both as a transitive verb and an intransitive verb, whereas 終える is used only as a transitive verb. When 終わる is used as a transitive verb, it is almost synonymous to 終える. The only exception I can think of is that a closing word of a speech or other verbal communication is usually …を終わります instead of …を終えます.


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