“Three intransitive verbs walk into a bar…” (bar joke)
“A guy walks into a bar…” is a typical form of what has been called the “bar joke.” An intransitive verb version is:
“Three intransitive verbs walk into a bar. They sit. They drink. They leave.”
The joke was published in McSweeney’s on November 8, 2011.
Wikipedia: Intransitive verb
In grammar, an intransitive verb does not allow an object. This is distinct from a transitive verb, which takes one or more objects. The verb property is called transitivity.
McSweeney’s
SEVEN BAR JOKES
INVOLVING GRAMMAR
AND PUNCTUATION.
BY ERIC K. AULD
[Originally published November 8, 2011.]
(...)
7. Three intransitive verbs walk into a bar. They sit. They drink. They leave.
Twitter
Stephanie Dunn
@SteffSez
My daily #geekout: “Three intransitive verbs walk into a bar. They sit. They drink. They leave.” Budum-CHING. Via @JennyHighLife
8:21 AM - 8 Nov 2011
Fritinancy
December 08, 2011
Into a Bar
There’s a fun little language meme over at alt.usage.english Google Group: bar jokes that hinge on fine points of grammar, punctuation, and linguistics. Peter Moylan of Newcastle, NSW, Australia, got the ball rolling on November 22*:
(...)
7. Three intransitive verbs walk into a bar. They sit. They drink. They leave.
Google Books
Grammar for Grown-ups:
A straightforward guide to good English
By Katherine Fry and Rowena Kirton
London: Square Peg
2012
Pg. 262:
7. Three intransitive verbs walk into a bar. They sit. They drink. They leave.
Twitter
Oxford Dictionaries
@OxfordWords
Three intransitive verbs walk into a bar. They sit. They Drink. They Leave. #grammarjokes
6:15 AM - 4 Feb 2016