{"id":6264,"date":"2022-10-19T06:00:48","date_gmt":"2022-10-19T11:00:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/?p=6264"},"modified":"2022-10-17T15:21:24","modified_gmt":"2022-10-17T20:21:24","slug":"ergative-verbs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/verbs\/ergative-verbs\/","title":{"rendered":"Ergative Verbs: Usage and Examples"},"content":{"rendered":"

We know that verbs are words that describe a mental or physical action, a state of being, or an occurrence. We also understand that they relate to a subject that is performing the action.<\/p>\n

Examples<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Riva writes<\/u> stories.<\/p>\n

Pietro mows<\/u> the lawn.<\/p>\n

Ijo laughed<\/u>.<\/p>\n

The rain fell<\/u>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

In each example, we have a subject noun (Riva<\/em>, Pietro,<\/em> Ijo<\/em>, rain<\/em>) with a verb (writes<\/em>, mows<\/em>, laughed<\/em>, fell<\/em>). Each verb also is either transitive<\/a> (takes a direct object: writes, mows<\/em>) or intransitive<\/a> (does not take an indirect object: laughed<\/em>, fell<\/em>).<\/p>\n

The subjects and objects in the examples are distinct in their function and order. In other words, we would not write sentences such as:<\/p>\n

Stories write Riva. (transitive)<\/p>\n

The lawn mows. (intransitive)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

What Are Ergative Pairs in English Grammar?<\/h2>\n

What if we have a verb that is both transitive and intransitive, and the object when the verb is transitive is the same as the subject when the verb is intransitive?<\/p>\n

Example<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

He dropped<\/u> the ball<\/u>. (transitive; ball <\/em>is the object)<\/p>\n

The ball<\/u> dropped<\/u>. (intransitive; ball <\/em>is the subject)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The same verb functions with the same meaning for both a transitive object and an intransitive subject. Both sentences make sense.<\/p>\n

When a verb can operate in this way, it is known as an ergative verb. Ergative verbs allow us to depict an action from the perspective of both the actor and the thing being acted upon. This ability places ergative verbs in their own particular category.<\/p>\n

Here are more examples of ergative verbs:<\/p>\n

Yoshiro dried<\/u> the leaves<\/u>.<\/em> (transitive)
\nThe leaves<\/u> dried<\/u>.<\/em> (intransitive)<\/p>\n

Shane roasted<\/u> the potatoes<\/u> <\/em>in the oven. (transitive)
\nThe potatoes<\/u> roasted<\/u> <\/em>in the oven.<\/em> (intransitive)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Other ergative verbs include words such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
boil<\/td>\ndrive<\/td>\nimprove<\/td>\nring<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
break<\/td>\nend<\/td>\nincrease<\/td>\nrun<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
catch<\/td>\nfire<\/td>\nmelt<\/td>\nsail<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
change<\/td>\nfreeze<\/td>\nopen<\/td>\nshake<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
crack<\/td>\ngrow<\/td>\nplay<\/td>\ntear<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Ergative verbs also can appear in passive constructions:<\/p>\n

Yoshiro dried<\/u> the leaves<\/u>.<\/em>
\nThe leaves<\/u> dried<\/u>.<\/em>
\nThe leaves<\/u> were<\/u> dried<\/u> by Yoshiro.<\/em><\/p>\n

Shane roasted<\/u> the potatoes<\/u>.<\/em>
\nThe potatoes <\/u>roasted<\/u>.<\/em>
\nThe potatoes<\/u> were<\/u> roasted<\/u> by Shane.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The same verb means the same thing in each form of expression.<\/p>\n

When to Use (and Not Use) Ergative Verbs<\/h2>\n

Some of these verbs can be ergative only with certain nouns. Consider the following sentence pairs:<\/p>\n

Pietro played<\/u> baseball<\/u>.
\n<\/em>The baseball<\/u> played<\/u>.<\/em><\/p>\n

They fired<\/u> their guns<\/u>.
\n<\/em>Their guns<\/u> fired<\/u>.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

You can see that one pair works with an ergative verb, and one does not.<\/p>\n

Let’s look at more examples:<\/p>\n

I broke<\/u> my arm<\/u>.
\n<\/em>My arm<\/u> broke<\/u>.<\/em>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Shania broke<\/u> her promise<\/u>.
\n<\/em>Her promise<\/u> broke<\/u>.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Once again, we have one pair that works with an ergative verb and one that does not.<\/p>\n

The verbs catch <\/em>and ring <\/em>are two others that can be ergative only with certain nouns.<\/p>\n

Example Ergative<\/em><\/strong>
\nSeth caught<\/u> his trousers<\/u> on the nail. (transitive)
\nHis trousers<\/u> caught<\/u> on the nail. (intransitive)<\/p>\n

Example Not Ergative<\/em><\/strong>
\nEshana caught<\/u> a cold<\/u>.
\nThe cold<\/u> caught<\/u>.<\/p>\n

Example Ergative<\/em><\/strong>
\nThe headmaster rang<\/u> the bell<\/u>.
\nThe bell<\/u> rang<\/u>.<\/p>\n

Example Not Ergative<\/em><\/strong>
\nThe dirt rang<\/u>\u00a0the tub<\/u>.
\nThe tub<\/u> rang<\/u>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

If you use or come across a verb that can function clearly in an ergative way, you have discovered a distinctive word indeed.<\/p>\n

Related Topics<\/h3>\n

Finding Nouns, Verbs, and Subjects<\/a>
\nSubject-Verb Agreement<\/a>
\nLinking Verbs: What Is a Linking Verb?<\/a><\/p>\n

Pop Quiz<\/h2>\n

Determine if the verb in each sentence can be ergative. If so, write its alternate active form.<\/p>\n

1. The buzzer ended the wrestling match. [Yes \/ No]<\/p>\n

2. Stanley has melted the plastic. [Yes \/ No]<\/p>\n

3. Joanka cleaned the table. [Yes \/ No]<\/p>\n

4. The frigid air froze the water. [Yes \/ No]<\/p>\n

5. Robby plays chess. [Yes \/ No]<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Pop Quiz Answers<\/h3>\n

1. The buzzer ended the wrestling match. Yes<\/strong>
\nAlternate: <\/strong>The wrestling match ended.<\/p>\n

2. Stanley has melted the plastic. Yes<\/strong>
\nAlternate: <\/strong>The plastic has melted.<\/p>\n

3. Joanka cleaned the table. No<\/strong><\/p>\n

4. The frigid air froze the water. Yes<\/strong>
\nAlternate: <\/strong>The water froze.<\/p>\n

5. Robby plays chess. No<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

We know that verbs are words that describe a mental or physical action, a state of being, or an occurrence. We also understand that they relate to a subject that is performing the action. Examples Riva writes stories. Pietro mows the lawn. Ijo laughed. The rain fell. In each example, we have a subject noun […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[23],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6264","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-verbs"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6264"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6264"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6264\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6273,"href":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6264\/revisions\/6273"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6264"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6264"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6264"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}