ergative case
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Ergative case — The ergative case is the grammatical case that identifies the subject of a transitive verb in ergative absolutive languages.In such languages, the ergative case is typically marked (most salient), while the absolutive case is unmarked. New work… … Wikipedia
ergative Grammar — [ ə:gətɪv] adjective 1》 (in some languages, e.g. Basque) relating to or denoting a case of nouns that identifies the doer of an action as the object rather than the subject of a verb. 2》 (in English) denoting verbs which can be used both… … English new terms dictionary
Ergative-absolutive language — An ergative absolutive language (or simply ergative language) is a language that treats the argument ( subject ) of an intransitive verb like the object of a transitive verb but distinctly from the agent ( subject ) of a transitive verb. Ergative … Wikipedia
Ergative verb — In linguistics, an ergative verb is a verb that can be either transitive or intransitive, and whose subject when intransitive corresponds to its direct object when transitive.In EnglishIn English, most verbs can be used intransitively, but… … Wikipedia
ergative — er•ga•tive [[t]ˈɜr gə tɪv[/t]] adj. 1) gram. of or designating a verb in which the subject of the intransitive construction is also the object of the transitive construction: The boat capsized. They capsized the boat[/ex] 2) gram. a) of or… … From formal English to slang
ergative — ergativity, n. /err geuh tiv/, adj. 1. Gram. a. (in certain languages, as Basque, Eskimo, and some Caucasian languages) noting a case that indicates the subject of a transitive verb and is distinct from the case indicating the subject of an… … Universalium
ergative — 1. adjective /ˈɜːɡətɪv,ˈɝɡətɪv/ Used of various situations where the subject of transitive constructions have different grammatical cases or thematic relations to those of intransitive constructions. The case systems of ergative languages are… … Wiktionary
ergative — I. ˈərgəd.iv adjective Etymology: International Scientific Vocabulary ergat + ive of a grammatical case : denoting agency or instrumentality II. noun ( s) 1 … Useful english dictionary
Ergative — The term ergative is used in grammar in three different meanings:* Ergative case, * Ergative absolutive language * Ergative verb … Wikipedia
ergative — /ˈɜgətɪv/ (say erguhtiv) adjective 1. Grammar causative. In a sentence like John moved the table, John is the agent or cause of the action, and the word John is the ergative subject. 2. Linguistics (of a language) having an ergative case. {Greek… …
