Ergative verbs

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can be used both transitively and intransitively. The subject of the intransitive verb is the same as the object of the transitive verb.

When used intransitively they cannot take the passive voice. Ergative verbs can be divided into several categories: Verbs suggesting a change of state: break, burst, form, heal, melt, tear, transform, change / Verbs of cooking: bake, boil, cook, fry / Verbs of movement: move, shake, sweep, turn, walk / Verbs involving vehicles: drive, fly, reverse, run, sail / Some other verbs: play, marry, calm down, qualify… accelerate accumulate adjust age assimilate awake bake balance beat begin bend blow boil assimilate break brighten bruise buckle build up burn burst change clear close combine compress connect contribute cook cool condense co-ordinate

crash decrease detach develop dissolve divide double drive drop eat empty end evaporate expand fill finish flatten heal ignite incline increase integrate lower march marinate marry melt mix move open operate overheat

peel play plunge pour qualify radiate reflect reform refuel register relax rest redouble reflect reform restart return rotate run sell separate settle shorten shut sink slide slow down sound speed up spill spin splash

split spread squeeze stall start stop straighten strengthen stretch sweep tear terminate thaw thicken thin tighten touch transfer translate triple turn unfold unroll unzip vibrate weaken widen withdraw worsen wrinkle up

VERB

TRANSITIVE (verb has an object)

INTRASITIVE (verb has no object)

close boil break change stop play eat

John closed the door. Mike boiled a pan of water. I broke the glass. Susan changed her attitude. He stopped his car. They were playing football.. I was eating a sandwich.

The door closed. The pan of water boiled. The glass broke. Susan’s attitude changed. The car stopped. They played well. Don’t talk while you’re eating.

Intransitive verbs do not have a passive form. Intransitive verbs do not have a direct object after them. The subject is doing the action of the verb and nothing receives the action. Active form Passive form Transitive - He closed the door. The door was closed (by him). Intransitive - The door closed. ----- (no passive) / We do not know who closed the door.

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