analyze for

[khanhhung2512]

Hello, everybody.
I found the following sentence in my chemistry book:
"These increasingly important methods are used to analyze for trace pollutants in natural waters or for the tiny quantities of chemicals in human blood that may signal the development of a specific disease."
However, as I looked the word up in every dictionary, I found that 'analyze' is a transitive verb. Therefore, I think that the use of 'analyze' in the sentence above is incorrect.
What do you think about it?
Thanks for any help.
PS: Please show me every mistake I've made. Thanks again.

[Raymott]

Hello, everybody.
I found the following sentence in my chemistry book:
"These increasingly important methods are used to analyze for trace pollutants in natural waters or for the tiny quantities of chemicals in human blood that may signal the development of a specific disease."
However, as I looked the word up in every dictionary in every dictionary I looked up, I found that 'analyze' is a transitive verb. Therefore, I think that the use of 'analyze' in the sentence above is incorrect.
What do you think about it?
Thanks for any help.
PS: Please show me every mistake I've made. Thanks again.

It's correct. The methods analyze natural waters for trace pollutants.

[khanhhung2512]

It's correct. The methods analyze natural waters for trace pollutants.

So, how can I know whether a verb is transitive or intransitive in a particular sentence, e.g. the verb 'accept' in the following sentence: "They offered him the job, and he accepted?"
PS: Please show me every mistake I've made. Thanks again.

[Raymott]

So, how can I know whether a verb is transitive or intransitive in a particular sentence, e.g. the verb 'accept' in the following sentence: "They offered him the job, and he accepted?"
PS: Please show me every mistake I've made. Thanks again.

He accepted the job, or the offer. I'd call that transitive.
But I note that some dictionaries call that intransitive. How does it matter? The meaning is obvious.