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Youngbuts Posted 12 years ago
Grammar
passive-ergative verbs
Hi everyone!
I have a question about passive voice. Would you take a look at the below?
Active
1-1)The door closed.
1-2) The door closes.
Passive
2-1)The door was closed.
2-2)The door is closed.
I have just heard the use of verbs like #1 is called as ergative verbs. But I cannot figure out what is their difference between #1s and #2s. Do they have any difference in meaning?
If my door was closed when you came in, you better close it.
If my door closed when you came in, you better close it.
Do both of them sound natural?
Many thanks in advance!
I have a question about passive voice. Would you take a look at the below?
Active
1-1)The door closed.
1-2) The door closes.
Passive
2-1)The door was closed.
2-2)The door is closed.
I have just heard the use of verbs like #1 is called as ergative verbs. But I cannot figure out what is their difference between #1s and #2s. Do they have any difference in meaning?
If my door was closed when you came in, you better close it.
If my door closed when you came in, you better close it.
Do both of them sound natural?
Many thanks in advance!
Top answer
If my door was closed when you came in, you better close it. If the state of the door when you approached my office was "closed", then open it, come in and close it behind you. If my door closed when you came in, you better close it.
- If my door was closed when you came in, you better close it.
- If the state of the door when you approached my office was "closed", then open it, come in and close it behind you.
- If my door closed when you came in, you better close it.
- The state of the door when you approached my office could have been either open or closed.
- It closed after you when you came in.
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2 Answers
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If my door was closed when you came in, you better close it. If the state of the door when you approached my office was "closed", then open it, come in and close it behind you.
If my door closed when you came in, you better close it. The state of the door when you approached my office could have been either open or closed. It
If my door closed when you came in, you better close it. The state of the door when you approached my office could have been either open or closed. It
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1 Active construction: The janitor closed the door.
2 Passive construction with agent: The door was closed by the janitor.
3 Passive construction with implied agent: The door was closed. (It was closed by someone. closed is a verb.)
4 Statal passive construction: The door was closed. (It was in a closed state. closed is an adjective.)
2 Passive construction with agent: The door was closed by the janitor.
3 Passive construction with implied agent: The door was closed. (It was closed by someone. closed is a verb.)
4 Statal passive construction: The door was closed. (It was in a closed state. closed is an adjective.)
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