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Mr genuine Posted 8 years ago
Grammar

Sell and close

For non native English speakers, it's difficult to find out which verbs have two grammatical aspects, being active or passive.

For example:

close:

1) to stop being open (active)

2) to make something stop being open (passive)

sell:

1) to give something to someone in exchange for money (active)

2) be bought (passive)


My questions: Can you name other similar verbs? And please tell me what the name of these verbs is.


Thanks.

  

Top answer

'close' belongs to a category of verbs called ergative verbs. org/wiki/Category:English_ergative_verbs 'sell' is a verb that can be used in a 'middle voice construction'. These trousers wear well.

  • 'close' belongs to a category of verbs called ergative verbs.
  • org/wiki/Category:English_ergative_verbs 'sell' is a verb that can be used in a 'middle voice construction'.
  • These trousers wear well.
  • This Volvo drives like a tank.
  • The calendars are selling like crazy.
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1 Answers
0

'close' belongs to a category of verbs called ergative verbs.

See https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Category:English_ergative_verbs

'sell' is a verb that can be used in a 'middle voice construction'.

These trousers wear well.
This Volvo drives like a tank.

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