Difference between revisions of "Ambitransitive verb"
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Linguipedia (talk | contribs) (New page: An '''ambitransitive verb''' is a verb which can be used either as a transitive verb or intransitive verb without any morphological marking of its [[Valenzalternation|valence alter...) |
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An '''ambitransitive verb''' is a verb which can be used either as a [[transitive verb]] or [[intransitive verb]] without any morphological marking of its [[Valenzalternation|valence alternation]]. | An '''ambitransitive verb''' is a verb which can be used either as a [[transitive verb]] or [[intransitive verb]] without any morphological marking of its [[Valenzalternation|valence alternation]]. | ||
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+ | === Semantic groups === | ||
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+ | The main semantic groups of verbs which tend to be labile cross-linguistically are: | ||
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+ | {|- | ||
+ | |1. motion verbs | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |2. destruction verbs | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |3. phasal verbs (Bulgarian ''zapochvam'' 'begin') | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |4. sound emission verbs (Russian ''igrat''' 'play', Bulgarian ''svirja'' 'play', German ''spielen'' 'play', French ''sonner'' 'sound, play' | ||
+ | |} | ||
=== Examples === | === Examples === |
Revision as of 17:12, 15 June 2014
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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 (Bulgarian zapochvam 'begin') |
4. sound emission verbs (Russian igrat' 'play', Bulgarian svirja 'play', German spielen 'play', French sonner 'sound, play' |
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).’ |