Skip to content

Universal 1148:

Posted in Universals Archive

Universal 1148:

Original
If a language presents basic passives then it always passivizes ‘give’, ‘show’, etc. in such a way that the derived subject is the Patient of the active verb. Passives in which the Recipient is the subject may or may not exist.
Standardized
IF there is a basic passive, THEN ditransitive verbs (e.g. ‘give’, ‘show’) are passivized in such a way that the derived subject is the Patient of the active verb.
Keywords
diathesis, passive, ditransitive verb, patient
Domain
inflection, syntax
Type
no genuine implication; rather: provided that
Status
achronic
Quality
absolute
Basis
languages in Keenan 1985a
Source
Keenan 1985a: 277
Counterexamples

One Comment

  1. FP
    FP

    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.

    1. May 2020

Comments are closed.