Level: intermediate
Ergative verbs are both transitive and intransitive. The object when it is transitive is the same as the subject when it is intransitive:
| Peter closed the door. The door closed. |
Transitive: N + V + N Intransitive: N + V |
| I boiled some water. The water boiled. |
Transitive: N + V + N Intransitive: N + V |
Common ergative verbs are:
| begin break change close crack |
drop dry end finish grow |
improve increase move open shake |
start stop tear turn |
I broke the glass.
I dropped the glass and it broke.The referee started the match.
The match started at 2.30.We grew some tasty potatoes.
The potatoes were growing well.The wind shook the trees.
The trees shook in the wind.
Verbs to do with cooking are often ergative:
| bake boil |
cook defrost |
freeze melt |
roast |
You should roast the meat at 200 degrees.
The meat was roasting in a hot oven.I always defrost meat before I cook it.
I am waiting for the meat to defrost.Melt the chocolate and pour it over the ice cream.
The chocolate was melting in a pan.
Verbs to do with vehicles are often ergative:
| back crash drive |
fly reverse |
run sail |
start stop |
I'm learning to fly a plane.
The plane flew at twice the speed of sound.He crashed his car into a tree.
His car crashed into a tree.
Some verbs are ergative with only a few nouns:
| catch: dress, coat, clothes, trousers, etc. |
| fire: gun, pistol, rifle, rocket, etc. |
| play: music, guitar, piano, CD, DVD, etc. |
| ring: bell, alarm, etc. |
She caught her dress on a nail.
Her dress caught on a nail.He fired a pistol to start the race.
A pistol fired to start the race.Shall we play some music?
Some music played in the background.There's a fire! Ring the alarm!
The fire alarm rang at 11.42 a.m.
- Ergative verbs 1
Comments
Hi Rsb,
It's because finish is both intransitive and transitive, but postpone is transitive only. Here's a link to postpone in the Cambridge Dictionary - the 'T' after verb shows that it's transitive.
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/postpone
Best wishes,
Jonathan
The LearnEnglish Team
Sir,
Separate is also a transitive and intransitive verb?
If we use verb 'separate' as an intransitive, does it works as an action verb also or works as an state verb for example,
The couple separated after 25years of marriage.
Hi rsb,
Yes! Separate is transitive and intransitive, and it is an action verb in this example.
Best wishes,
Jonathan
The LearnEnglish Team
Jonathan sir,
How it is action verb in this context?
And
"meeting has started" how it is an action verb in this context also?
Hi Rsb,
The meaning of separate in this context is this (I quote it from the Cambridge Dictionary):
It's an action verb because it means starting to live in a different place (not the state of living in a different place), and 'starting' something is an action. This is also why has started is an action verb in your second example.
Best wishes,
Jonathan
The LearnEnglish Team
Thank you so much sir for making us clear on a often left topic.
Sir
Could we say like this
"many people got drowned when the ship overturned"
Using 'got' in the sentence and drowned as an adjective.
2nd "scare" is an ergative?
Hello Rsb,
Yes, you could say it that way.
You can find out this information yourself by checking the dictionary entry for 'scare'. When verbs are listed as 'I or T' (intransitive or transitive), they are usually ergative verbs.
All the best,
Kirk
The LearnEnglish Team
Hi sir,
"Drown" can be both transitive and intransitive verb? Suppose,
1. He drowned me into the sea.-transitive verb
2. She drowned into the sea.- intransitive verb
Are these sentences correct?
Hello Rsb,
Yes, 'drown' can be transitive or intransitive. I'm afraid your sentences are not correct, however: you should use the preposition 'in' instead of 'into'.
All the best
Kirk
The LearnEnglish Team
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