Transitive verbs like want generally require a direct object, like the word it in (1):

(1)

I have an apple. Do you want it?

However, in informal contexts, some speakers of English can omit the objects of certain transitive verbs when it is clear what the omitted object is from context.

(2)

% I have an apple. Do you want?

For some speakers, (2) may have the same meaning as (1). We refer to this use of a traditionally transitive verb without an object as a lonely transitive. Several attested examples of lonely transitives exist: the examples in (3) were spoken, and the examples in (4) were texted.

(3)

a. [child asks for item at Izzy’s Bagels] A: They don’t have. (Zwicky 2002)

b.

Speaker A

“I have some leftover cookies.”

Speaker B

“Oh, can I take?” (Moran 2024)

(4)

a. Wait r we renting fridges? Or do you guys already have?

b. If you have the speaker or a disc bag please don’t forget to bring!! (Moran 2024)

This page describes some of the ongoing work being done by the YGDP on lonely transitives. As far as we know, not much research has been done specifically on this construction. Despite their similarities, lonely transitives appear to be different from other instances of object omission in English. For a description of these phenomena, see Related Phenomena.

Who says this?

It is unclear who exactly uses lonely transitives. Data from a 2020 YGDP survey suggests that people of various ages (18–60) accept lonely transitives, although most attested examples we have seen are from young people. There is also no clear geographic pattern in their distribution, as can be seen in the following map from Moran (2024), where a rating of 1 is totally unacceptable and a rating of 5 is totally acceptable.

Syntactic properties

The 2020 YGDP survey found that the most widely accepted forms of the lonely transitive construction involved using the verb want in a present-tense question with a second-person subject. Based on these results, we take the canonical form of a lonely transitive to be Do you want?, as in (5):

(5)

I have a phone charger. Do you want? (Do 2024)

However, lonely transitives can occur with a variety of objects, verbs, clause types, subjects, and tenses.

Indefinite & Definite Objects

The elided object in a lonely transitive varies depending on the context (linguistic and/or non-linguistic) in which the sentence is uttered. Both indefinite pronouns (e.g. one and some) and definite pronouns (e.g. it and them) are possible. In some cases—as in those with a unique definite object like the Mona Lisa in (6)—there is only one possible interpretation of the elided object:

(6)

I have the Mona Lisa. Do you want [IT]?

However, ambiguity arises in cases like (7), where the elided object can be interpreted as either one, some, or them depending on the context:

(7)

Speaker A

“I have some leftover cookies.”

Speaker B

“Oh, can I take [ONE/SOME/THEM]?” (Moran 2024)

In a situation like (7), the ambiguity may be clarified by non-linguistic context. There are several possibilities:

• Speaker B wants only one cookie; the elided object is one.
• Speaker B wants more than one cookie (but not all); the elided object is some.
• Speaker B wants all of the cookies; the elided object is them.
• Speaker B is undecided and leaves the amount up to Speaker A; the elided object can be one, some, or them.

Possible Verbs

The 2020 YGDP survey tested lonely transitives with three verbs: want, have, and need. Examples of each are shown in (9):

(9)

a. I have an apple. Do you want?

b.

Speaker A

I brought the chocolate bar.

Speaker B

Oh, can I have?

c. I forgot my keys. Do I need?

Want appeared to be the most widely accepted while need was the least. However, other attested verbs include bring, grab, and take:

(10)

a. If you have the speaker or a disc bag please don’t forget to bring [IT]!! (text)
b. I can grab! (text)
c. “Oh, can I take [ONE/SOME/THEM]?” (Moran 2024)

Do (2024) includes examples of other verbs like purchase and make:

(11)

a. We’ll need markers for our project. Can you bring?
b. That bookshelf is on sale. Should I purchase?
c. Does Caleb want an apple? I can grab for him.
d. I’m craving fried chicken for dinner. Can you make?

All of these verbs seem broadly acceptable as lonely transitives. Many denote a transfer or action involving a concrete object, but whether this is required remains unclear.

Clause Types

Lonely transitives seem to occur most frequently in interrogatives, but they can appear in declaratives and imperatives as well. Declarative lonely transitives tested by the YGDP are shown in (12), and some attested examples are shown in (13):

(12)

a.

Speaker A

“Do you need the keys?”

Speaker B

“No, I have.”

b.

Speaker A

“Do you need a key?”

Speaker B

“No, I have.”

c. Do you have some snacks? I think Kelly wants. (Do 2024)

(13)

a.

i have extra [boba straws]! it’s okay if u don’t have!! (text message, April 3, 2025)

b.

I’m planning on taking all the trash out when I go to dinner in about 30 btw so pile it outside your doors and I can grab [IT]! (Moran 2024)

Several attested examples of imperative lonely transitives exist as well:

(14)

a. If you have the speaker or a disc bag please don’t forget to bring [IT]!!

b.

Speaker A

“Yeah, I'll show you the pictures.”

Speaker B

“Alright, send me [THEM] send me [THEM].”

c.

Speaker A

“Thanks for the avocado.”

Speaker B

“Of course! If you want any more, please take [IT/SOME].”

d. if you have a disc and are near oc pls bring [IT]! (Moran 2024)

Person of the Subject

Lonely transitives most frequently appear with second-person subjects, but they can also occur with first- and third-person subjects. Judgments may vary across speakers. Examples tested by the YGDP with first- and third-person subjects are given below:

(15)

a.

Speaker A

“I brought the chocolate bar.”

Speaker B

“Oh, can I have?”

b. I forgot my wallet. Do I need?

(16)

a. I have an extra apple. Does Jim want?
b. We got some coupons. Do you think any of your friends need?
c. The library has this exact book. Does your sister still want? (Do 2024)

Tense

While lonely transitives are most widely accepted with the present tense, the past tense also appears to be acceptable, as in (17):

(17)

I have a phone charger. Did you want? (Do 2024)

The acceptability of the future tense is more questionable. Some speakers find (18) acceptable; others do not:

(18)

% I just lost my glasses. Will I need? (Do 2024)

The acceptability of tense (especially future) may depend on discourse context and how easily the elided object can be recovered.

Related phenomena

Recipe Object Omission (ROO)

Recipes and instructional manuals in English often contain a form of object deletion, referred to by Zwicky (2005) as Recipe Object Omission (ROO). Examples are shown in (19):

(19)

a. Keep out of reach of children.
b. Place egg whites in a saucepan. Beat until foamy. (Sadock 1976)
c. Take with food. Use with caution. (Zwicky 2005)

Both ROO and lonely transitives allow the omission of objects — something that is generally disallowed in English — but there are important differences:

• ROO occurs in a very restricted context (recipes and instructions), whereas lonely transitives can appear in informal conversation or text messages.
• ROO sentences are always imperative and cannot include an overt subject, as shown in (20)–(21):

(20)

Peel and slice the apples thinly. Sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon salt.

(21)

*You sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon salt. (Ruda 2014:342)

Based on attested examples, lonely transitives can occur with overt subjects — unlike ROO — and appear in a wider range of clause types (interrogative, declarative, imperative).

Unspecified Object Deletion

Some transitive verbs in English can be used without an overt object when the object is understood generically. This is known as unspecified object deletion. For example:

(22)

a. I often drink (alcohol) on Saturday nights.
b. She’ll eat (food) after coming home from school.

However, if the verb takes a non-generic object or refers to something previously mentioned, the object must be overt, as in (23):

(23)

a. I really like milk. I often drink *(milk) on Saturday nights.
b. She baked cookies yesterday, and she’ll eat *(them) after coming home from school.

It's possible that the sentences in (23) might be acceptable for some speakers of lonely transitives because the context provides a clear referent. But if so, those uses are no longer cases of unspecified object deletion — the verb is interpreted with a specific, recoverable object, rather than a generic one.

For additional related constructions, see the Come with page.

References