Unergative verb: Difference between revisions
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{{Merge|Unaccusative verb|date=June 2007}} |
{{Merge|Unaccusative verb|date=June 2007}} |
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An '''unergative verb''' is |
An '''unergative verb''' is an [[intransitive verb]] distinguished semantically by having an [[Agent (grammar)|agent]] [[subject (grammar)|subject]]. For example, in English, ''run'', ''talk'' and ''resign'' are unergative verbs (while ''fall'' and ''die'' are [[Unaccusative verb|unaccusative]]). |
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The motivation behind the label ''unergative'' stems from the fact that in an [[ergative-absolutive language]], the only case which uniquely identifies a volitional argument is the ergative case, which marks the agent of a transitive verb. |
The motivation behind the label ''unergative'' stems from the fact that in an [[ergative-absolutive language]], the only case which uniquely identifies a volitional argument is the ergative case, which marks the agent of a transitive verb. |
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Revision as of 21:42, 25 May 2008
 | It has been suggested that this article be merged with Unaccusative verb. (Discuss) Proposed since June 2007. |
An unergative verb is an intransitive verb distinguished semantically by having an agent subject. For example, in English, run, talk and resign are unergative verbs (while fall and die are unaccusative).
The motivation behind the label unergative stems from the fact that in an ergative-absolutive language, the only case which uniquely identifies a volitional argument is the ergative case, which marks the agent of a transitive verb.
Some languages treat unergative verbs distinctly from other intransitives in morphosyntactical terms. For example, in some Romance languages these verbs use different auxiliaries when forming the compound tenses. See the article on unaccusative verbs for details.
Besides the above, unergative verbs differ from unaccusative verbs in the fact that, in some languages, they can be passivized. For example, in Dutch:
- Er wordt door Jan getelefoneerd.
- "*There is by Jan telephoned." (i. e. "A telephone call by Jan has been received")
References
- Lexicon of Linguistics (Utrecht institute of Linguistics)