Universal 1145:
- Original
- Languages with basic passives commonly have more than one formally distinct passive construction.
- Standardized
- IF there is one (basic) passive construction, THEN there are commonly also other, formally distinct passive constructions.
- Keywords
- diathesis, voice
- Domain
- syntax
- Type
- implication
- Status
- achronic
- Quality
- statistical
- Basis
- languages in Keenan 1985a
- Source
- Keenan 1985a: 267
- Counterexamples
Basic passives. Main features:(i) no agent phrase is present,(ii) the main verb (in its non-passive form) is transitive,(iii) the main verb expresses an activity, taking agent subjects and patient objects.