Universal #1144

Legacy number: 1144

 Number  1140
 Original  Passive constructions without morphology on the verb are rare or non-existent.
 Standardized  IF there is a passive construction, THEN the verb is morphologically marked (vis-à-vis a basic, active construction).
 Keywords  diathesis, voice
 Domain  inflection, syntax
 Type  no genuine implication; rather: provided that
 Status  achronic
 Quality  statistical
 Basis  79 languages from the GRAMCATS database, see Haspelmath 1990: 71-72
 Source  Haspelmath 1990: 27, 62

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Discussion
Notes
1. Haspelmath: 1990: 27: a construction is called passive if: (i) the active subject corresponds either to a non-obligatory oblique phrase or to nothing; and (ii) the active direct object (if any) corresponds to the subject of the passive; and (iii) the construction is somehow restricted vis-à-vis another unrestricted construction (the active), e.g. less frequent, functionally specialized, not fully productive. 2. Cf. #1563.
Comment
Frans Plank · 3 Aug 2006
1. Haspelmath: 1990: 27: a construction is called passive if:
<table class = "texttable">
<tr>
<td> (i)</td>
<td> the active subject corresponds either to a non-obligatory oblique phrase or to nothing; and</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td> (ii)</td>
<td> the active direct object (if any) corresponds to the subject of the passive; and</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td> (iii)</td>
<td> the construction is somehow restricted vis-à-vis another unrestricted construction (the active), e.g. less frequent, functionally specialized, not fully productive.</td>
</tr>
</table>

2. Cf. <a class="innerLink" href="browse.php?entry_id=1563"><img src="../img/entry.gif" border="0">