ERGATIVE CASE Meaning and
Definition
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The ergative case is a grammatical case found in certain languages, including languages of the ergative-absolutive alignment type. The ergative case is typically used to mark the subject of a transitive verb, when the subject of the verb is actively performing the action or causing the action to occur. In contrast, the direct object of the transitive verb, known as the absolutive argument, is usually in a different case, such as the accusative case.
The ergative case is characterized by its distinct marking or inflection on the noun or pronoun that functions as the subject of the transitive verb. This case is often indicated by affixes or other grammatical markers, such as specific word order patterns. The use of the ergative case helps to show the syntactic and semantic relationships between the arguments of the transitive verb.
In languages with ergative case systems, the subject of an intransitive verb typically shares the same case marking as the direct object of a transitive verb, called the absolutive case. This alignment contrasts with nominative-accusative alignment systems, where the subject of an intransitive verb and the subject of a transitive verb are marked by the same case, known as the nominative case. The ergative case is an important feature in typology and linguistic analysis, as it influences the structure and formation of sentences in languages that exhibit this grammatical case.
Common Misspellings for ERGATIVE CASE
- wrgative case
- srgative case
- drgative case
- rrgative case
- 4rgative case
- 3rgative case
- eegative case
- edgative case
- efgative case
- etgative case
- e5gative case
- e4gative case
- erfative case
- ervative case
- erbative case
- erhative case
- eryative case
- ertative case
- ergztive case
- ergstive case
Etymology of ERGATIVE CASE
The word "ergative" comes from the Greek word "ergon" (ἔργον) which means "work" or "action". In linguistics, the term "ergative" refers to a grammatical case that marks the subject of a transitive verb while treating the subject of an intransitive verb differently. This term was coined by linguists to represent this particular grammatical function.
The term "case" refers to the grammatical category that indicates the function of a noun or pronoun in a sentence. It can show the relationship between the noun and other elements in a sentence, such as the subject, object, or indirect object.
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