Unergative verb

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unergative_verb

An unergative verb is an intransitive verb[1] that is distinguished semantically by having an

agent argument, which treats the argument like the ergative argument of a transitive verb in
split-S systems.

For example, in English, run, talk and resign are unergative verbs, and fall and die are
unaccusative verbs.[1]

Some languages treat unergative verbs differently from other intransitives in

morphosyntactic terms. For example, in some Romance languages, such verbs use
different auxiliaries when in compound tenses.

Besides the above, unergative verbs differ from unaccusative verbs in that in some
languages, they can occasionally use the passive voice.

In Dutch,for example, unergatives take hebben (to have) in the perfect tenses:

Ik telefoneer – ik heb getelefoneerd.

"I call (by phone). – I have called."

In such cases, a transition to an impersonal passive construction is possible by using the

adverb er, which functions as a dummy subjec and the passive auxiliary worden:

Er wordt door Jan getelefoneerd.

"*There is by Jan telephoned." (literally "A telephone call by Jan is going on.")

By contrast, Dutch ergative verbs take zijn ("to be") in the perfect tenses:

Het vet stolt – het vet is gestold

"The grease solidifies – The grease has solidified."

In that case, no passive construction with worden is possible. In other words, unergatives
are truly intransitive, but ergatives are not.

See also

References
1. ^ "Unergatives and Unaccusatives". Retrieved September 27, 2013.

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