Talk:ergative verb

Ergative verb Is this just a name for a verb which can be used both transitively and intransitively, or are there some verbs in this category which are not ergative? (I'm too tired to think this out at present!)

Dbfirs 22:44, 8 February 2007 (UTC)


 * In order to be ergative. when used in the intransitive sense, it has to change the subject into the object. For example, "paint" is both transitive and intransitive, but it is not ergative, because when we say "Bob paints", this does not conjure an image of someone throwing paint on Bob. :)
 * Thanks. I understand the term now.   Dbfirs 22:52, 8 February 2007 (UTC)