B2 – Upper Intermediate
Ergative Verb
An ergative verb, also known as a labile verb can appear in both:
- a transitive structure (with a direct object), and
- an intransitive structure (where the object becomes the subject)
Crucially, the same participant is involved in both forms.
Diagnostics
To identify an ergative verb:
- Can the object become the subject without passive marking?
- Does the meaning remain plausible without an agent?
- Does it describe a change of state?
Basic Alternation Pattern
Transitive:
- She broke the glass.
Intransitive:
- The glass broke.
“The glass” is:
- Direct object in the first sentence
- Subject in the second
This alternation is called the causative–inchoative alternation.
Key Property
Unlike passives:
- The glass was broken. (passive: implies an agent)
- The glass broke. (ergative: no agent implied)
Ergative forms often suggest spontaneity or lack of external cause.
Common Ergative Verbs
Change-of-state verbs
- break, melt, freeze, crack, shatter, dissolve
Change-of-position/state
- open, close, start, stop, roll, turn
Examples:
- She opened the door. / The door opened.
- They melted the butter. / The butter melted.
- He rolled the ball. / The ball rolled.
Semantic Constraints
Not all verbs alternate.
Typically ergative:
- involve physical or observable change
- allow affected entity to be subject
Not ergative:
- Correct: She kicked the ball.
- Incorrect: The ball kicked.
Because “kick” requires an agent—it doesn’t describe a spontaneous change.
Subtle Meaning Differences
Even when both forms are grammatical, meaning can shift:
- She closed the door. → intentional action
- The door closed. → may imply automatic or unintentional action
Ergative vs Passive
| Feature | Ergative | Passive |
|---|---|---|
| Agent expressed? | No | Optional (“by…”) |
| Form | Active | Passive (be + past participle) |
| Focus | Change of state | Action done to object |
Compare:
- The window broke. (ergative)
- The window was broken (by someone). (passive)
Extended Patterns
a. With adverbs (cause implied)
- The door suddenly opened.
- The ice slowly melted.
Still ergative, even with implied cause.
b. Instrument subjects (borderline cases)
- The key opened the door.
Not ergative—this is still transitive with a non-human agent.
Cross-Linguistic Insight
The term “ergative” comes from ergative-absolutive languages, where:
- subjects of intransitive verbs pattern like objects of transitive verbs
English is not ergative, but these verbs show ergative-like behavior.
Less Obvious Ergative Verbs
Some are less intuitive:
- The price increased. / They increased the price.
- The temperature dropped. / They dropped the temperature.
- The software crashed. / The update crashed the software.
Ergative vs Middle Voice
- This book sells well. (middle voice)
- The book sold quickly. (ergative-like)
Middle voice focuses on general property, not a specific event.
Common Errors
Incorrect: The cake baked by itself. (when meaning passive)
Correct: The cake baked. (ergative, neutral)
Correct: The cake was baked. (passive, agent implied)
Incorrect: The ball kicked.
Correct: The ball rolled.
Correct: The ball bounced.