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Verbs with both active and passive meanings

She opened the door. / The door opened.​

Some verbs are used transitively and intransitively with different kinds of subject. The intransitive use has a meaning rather like a passive (see here) or reflexive (see here) verb. Compare:

  • She opened the door.
    The door opened.
  • The wind’s moving the curtain.
    The curtain’s moving.
  • Marriage has really changed her.
    She’s changed a lot since she got married.
  • We’re selling a lot of copies of your book.
    Your book’s selling well.
  • Something woke her.
    Suddenly she woke.
  • I can’t start the car.
    The car won’t start.

It scratches easily.​

The intransitive structure is used with many verbs referring to things we can do to materials: e.g. bend, break, crack, melt, polish, scratch, stain, tear, unscrew.

  • Be careful what you put on the table—it scratches easily. (= You can easily scratch it.)
  • These glasses are so fragile: they break if you look at them.
  • The carpet’s made of a special material that doesn’t stain.
  • The handle won’t unscrew—can you help me?