ergative verb
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ergative verb
noun ergative verbs
-
An ambitransitive verb where the patient is the object of the transitive, but becomes the experiencer of the intransitive use.
Break is an ergative verb because when we say "The window broke", the window is the thing getting broken, it is not the vandal.
Similar: labile verb
Translations
Every language
noun ambitransitive verb where the patient is the object of the transitive, but becomes the experiencer of the intransitive use
| Español | ergativo, ambitransitivo, inacusativo |
|---|---|
| 中文 | 作格動詞 /作格动词 zuògé dòngcí |
| Português | verbo ergativo, verbo inacusativo |
Talk about this word "ergative verb." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/ergative%20verb. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. ergative verb. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/ergative%20verb "ergative verb." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/ergative%20verb.Cite this
@misc{ergative_verb_2026,
title = {ergative verb},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/ergative%20verb},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
