In this article, we will learn about ergative verb.
An ergative verb is a verb that can be either transitive or intransitive.
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Students often misuse words like "increase" and "decrease".
They often write sentences such as:
1. Inflation was increased.
2. Costs were decreased.
When it would be more appropriate to write:
1. Inflation increased.
2. Costs decreased.
They know that academic writing is impersonal and objective and they avoid the active voice and choose the passive, not knowing that there is a more appropriate alternative.
The annual rate of inflation increased to 1.7% in July, from 1.4% in June.
Verbs such as increase are unusual verbs in everyday English but they are very common in academic language.
Linguists often call them,
"ergative verbs" or they are referred to as having a "middle" voice as opposed to an "active" or "passive" voice.
You could say there were three possibilities:
1. Active voice:
The government increased taxes.
2. Passive voice:
Taxes were increased by the government.
3. Middle voice:
Taxes increased.
In academic writing,
when the focus on what is happening, not who is causing it, sentences such as sentence 3 are used very often.
Examples
Here are some more pairs of sentences showing verbs used ergatively:
The technician boiled the water. → The water boiled.
The subject rang the bell. → The bell rang.
The pilot flew the plane. → The plane flew
The student broke the machine. → The machine broke
The technician varies the volume. → The volume varies.
The government closed the factory. → The factory closed.
The tutor enrolled him on a two year course. → He enrolled on a two year course.
These are some other verbs that are commonly used in this way:
accelerate, begin, bend, boil, break, broaden, bruise, build up, burn, burst, change, close, combine, connect, cool, condense, crack, decrease, deflate, develop, diminish, disperse, drop, dry, end, enroll, evaporate, expand, finish, float, flood, fracture, freeze, grow, harden, ignite, improve, increase, industrialize, inflate, join, lengthen, lock, loosen, lower, melt, mend, merge, move, multiply, open, plunge, reload, reunite, revolve, rewind, rock, roll, run, scatter, separate, shake, shut, spill, spin, split, stand, start, stiffen, stop, strengthen, stretch, swing, tear, terminate, tighten, toughen, transfer, turn, turn on, turn off, twist, vaporize, weaken, whiten.
