Ambitransitive verb: Difference between revisions
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The main semantic groups of verbs which tend to be labile cross-linguistically are: | The main semantic groups of verbs which tend to be labile cross-linguistically are: | ||
1. motion verbs | {|- | ||
|1. motion verbs | |||
|- | |- | ||
2. destruction verbs | |2. destruction verbs | ||
|- | |- | ||
3. phasal verbs | |3. phasal verbs | ||
|- | |- | ||
4. sound emission verbs | |4. sound emission verbs | ||
|} | |||
=== Examples === | === Examples === | ||
Revision as of 22:03, 1 March 2009
An ambitransitive verb is a verb which can be used either as a transitive verb or intransitive verb without any morphological marking of its valence alternation.
Semantic groups
The main semantic groups of verbs which tend to be labile cross-linguistically are:
| 1. motion verbs |
| 2. destruction verbs |
| 3. phasal verbs |
| 4. sound emission verbs |
Examples
English
Malcolm is reading a book. (read is transitive)
Malcolm is reading. (read is intransitive)
Subtypes
S/A aligned ambitransitive verbs
German
| Inge liest ein Buch. | (transitive lesen has A and P) |
| ‘Inge is reading a book.’ |
| Inge liest | (intransitive lesen has an agent-like S) |
| ‘Inge is reading.’ |
| *Ein Buch liest. | (intransitive lesen cannot take a patient-like S) |
| *‘A book is reading.’ |
S/P aligned ambitransitive verbs
English
Carl opens the door. (transitive open has A and P)
The door opens. (intransitive open has a patient-like S)
*Carl opens. (intransitive open cannot have an agent-like' S)
Unaligned ambitransitive verbs
German
| Dietlind kocht eine Suppe. | (transitive kochen has A and P) |
| ‘Dietlind is cooking a soup.’ |
| Dietlind kocht. | (intransitive kochen can have an agent-like S) |
| ‘Dietlind is cooking (something).’ |
| Die Suppe kocht. | (intransitive kochen can have a patient-like S) |
| ‘The soup is being cooked (by somebody).’ |