The two most fundamental divisions that can be made with Japanese verbs are 他動詞(たどうし) (transitive verbs - the subject is moving/acting upon something else), and 自動詞(じどうし) (intransitive verbs - the subject themself is moving/acting). Sometimes these terms are simplified even further to ‘other-move’ (transitive), and ‘self-move’ (intransitive).
Basically, this is the difference between verbs that require an object marked with
を (transitive verbs), and those that only require
が, to show that the subject itself is moving (intransitive).
In Japanese, there are many transitive/intransitive pairs of verbs, and these will need to be memorized.
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ローソクを消(け)す。
To put out a candle.
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風(かぜ)でローソクが消(き)える。
For a candle to be put out by the wind.
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木(き)からバナナが落(お)ちる。
The banana fell from the tree.
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木(き)からバナナを落(お)とす。
To drop a banana from a tree.
In Japanese, the two ways in which all verbs can be described are 動作(どうさ) (an act/motion), and 作用(さよう) (an act/motion upon something).
Although they are not traditionally grouped this way,
する and なる may also be thought of as a transitive/intransitive pair. This is due to always implying that something is being controlled (acted upon), while なる always implies that something happens on its own, or cannot be controlled.
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来年(らいねん)からアメリカに住(す)むことにした。
From next year I am going to live in America. (I have decided to live in America starting next year)
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来年(らいねん)からアメリカに住(す)むことになる。
From next year I am going to live in America. (I will be living in America starting next year due to work/school/family matters beyond my direct control)