ergative Definition
- 1a grammatical case that marks the subject of a transitive verb when the verb's object is not expressed or implied
- 2a verb that has different subjects in its transitive and intransitive forms
Using ergative: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "ergative" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
In the sentence 'The vase broke,' 'vase' is the ergative.
Example
In the sentence 'The window broke,' there is no ergative.
Example
In the sentence 'He shaved,' 'he' is the ergative.
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Summary: ergative in Brief
The term 'ergative' [ˈɜːɡətɪv] refers to a grammatical case that marks the subject of a transitive verb when the verb's object is not expressed or implied, or a verb that has different subjects in its transitive and intransitive forms. Examples include 'In the sentence 'The vase broke,' 'vase' is the ergative,' and 'In the sentence 'He shaved,' 'he' is the ergative.'
