Universal #1429

Legacy number: 1429

 Number  1425
 Original  If a language has any passives it has ones characterized as basic; moreover, it may have only basic passives.
 Standardized  IF there are non-basic passives, THEN there are basic passives.
 Keywords  diathesis, passive
 Domain  syntax
 Type  implication
 Status  achronic but presumably diachronically motivated
 Quality  absolute
 Basis  languages in Keenan 1985a
 Source  Keenan 1985a: 247

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Discussion
Counterexamples
Ute (Uto-Aztecan) has impersonal passives without having basic passives (Keenan 1985a: 276).
Notes
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.
Comment
Frans Plank · 3 Aug 2006
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.