Ergative Verbs
Ergative verbs are a type of verbs that can be both transitive and intransitive. In this lesson, we will learn more about this type of verbs.
What Are Ergative Verbs?
Ergative verbs (also known as labile verbs or ambitransitive verbs) are verbs that can be both transitive and intransitive.
A verb that is ergative can be used:
- transitively (followed by an object)
or
- intransitively (without mentioning the object)
What Are Ergative Verbs Used for?
In an ergative verb use, the subject of the intransitive verb would be the object of the transitive form of the verb. Take a look at these examples:
I
The bell
I
The lasagna
The heat
The snow
using an ergative verb (grow) in a sentence
Tip!
Remember that the object of a transitive verb, which becomes the subject of an intransitive verb, usually refers to an object or a thing, not a person.
Common Ergative Verbs
Common ergative verbs in English are:
| Verbs of tranform or change | Verbs of cooking | Verbs of transportation | Verbs of movement |
|---|---|---|---|
| break | bake | drive | walk |
| transform | boil | fly | shake |
| burst | cook | reverse | turn |
| form | fry | run | move |
| heal | sail | sweep | |
| melt | |||
| tear |
Take a look at some examples:
The pilot
The plane
We
The corns
Review
Ergative verbs can be both transitive and intransitive verbs. The transitive form can mean the same or a little different from the intransitive verb.
Comments
You might also like
Phrasal Verbs
Phrasal verbs are used very commonly in English, even more so in informal situations. Phrasal verbs consist of a verb and a preposition or a particle.
Transitive and Intransitive Verbs
'She smiled beautifully'. 'She started a rumor'. One of these sentences has an intransitive verb and one has a transitive one. Want to know the difference?
Ditransitive Verbs
Ditransitive verbs are transitive verbs that take two objects. A direct object and an indirect object. Follow the article to read more about them.
Complex Transitive Verbs
There are five basic types of verbs: intransitive, linking, mono-transitive, di-transitive and complex-transitive verbs. In this lesson, we'll discuss the last.
