Meaning Of The Word Ergative

Real Dictionary

What's the definition of Ergative? Find Ergative meanings, definitions and more at the Real Dictionary online.

Ergative Meaning

Ergative Definition
Ergative Definition

What's The Definition Of Ergative?

ergative
adjective: An ergative verb is a verb that can be both transitive and intransitive, where the subject of the intransitive verb is the same as the object of the transitive verb. For example, ' open' is an ergative verb because you can say 'The door opened' or 'She op

ergative in American English
designating, of, or in the case that is taken by the subject of a transitive verb in some languages, as Basque or Georgian, in which the direct object of a transitive verb and the subject of the related intransitive share the same case
adjective: noting a case that indicates the subject of a transitive verb and is distinct from the case indicating the subject of an intransitive verb

ergative in British English
adjective: denoting a type of verb that takes the same noun as either direct object or as subject, with equivalent meaning. Thus, " fuse" is an ergative verb: "He fused the lights" and "The lights fused" have equivalent meaning
noun: an ergative verb

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