Google
English-Test.net
Find penpals and make new friends today!
 
to honor; to admire; to esteem; to hold in high regard
respect
distract
expire
yield
full quiz correct answer
 
Username
Password
 Remember me? 
Search   Album   FAQ   Memberlist   Profile   Private messages   Register   Log in 

Ergative verbs



 
ESL/EFL Worksheets and Handouts for Students Printable, photocopiable, clearly structured
Designed for teachers and individual learners
For use in a classroom, at home, on your PC
ESL Forum | English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
Neither ... nor ... know where (usage of plural verb know) | Meaning of 'to be treated to sth'
listening exercisestell a friend
Message
Author
Ergative verbs #1 (permalink) Tue Oct 31, 2006 18:18 pm   Ergative verbs
 

Basically, I understand the definition of `ergative verbs`.
However there are examples which I find quite difficult to understand...

1.She photographs very well.
2.Her voice records well.

... Can you explain something more about the ergative verbs?
Butterfly
I'm new here and I like it ;-)


Joined: 28 Oct 2006
Posts: 47
Location: Bulgaria, Sofia

Ergative #2 (permalink) Tue Oct 31, 2006 18:35 pm   Ergative
 

Hi,

An ergative verb in English is where the verb doesn't have an agent for a subject but the verb in a way expresses the action itself without having a separate subject

If you take the verb 'grow' you can make it transitive (have an object) as in: The farmer grows wheat in this farm When grow is used in an ergative way, you could say: Wheat grows very well on this farm. In this sentence the subject and the object are in a way the same - 'wheat'. Other examples: The kettle is boiling/Snow melts in the sun/.

A
_________________
English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Present Simple
Alan
Co-founder
Alan Townend

Joined: 27 Sep 2003
Posts: 13891
Location: UK

In this story you'll learn everything about the passive voiceEnglish grammar exercises — improve your English knowledge and vocabulary skillsAre you a native speaker of English? Then you should read this!Sign up for FREE and explore English! Click to subscribe to email English course
Display posts from previous:   
Neither ... nor ... know where (usage of plural verb know) | Meaning of 'to be treated to sth'
ESL Forum | English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms All times are GMT + 1 Hour
Page 1 of 1
Latest topics on English Forums
Have you got any 'gizmos' at home?Baddie/goodie: words just for films and cartoons?'Tease by' vs 'Tease with'When to use 'that' and 'which'Expression: It’s high time you + past participle…'Gambler who swindled old out of…': the headline style'Revise' vs 'Revise for'Meaning of "straightforward"Expressions which mean I think...Meaning of "to be over the moon"Split infinitive'This canny lady…' - positive or negative?Expression requiring inversion: 'By no means, for example!'

 
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
Subscribe to FREE email English course
First name E-mail