Don Karnage
Member
- Joined
- Jul 13, 2023
- Member Type
- Interested in Language
- Native Language
- Ukrainian
- Home Country
- Ukraine
- Current Location
- Ukraine
Dear teachers,
I've heard about ergative verbs and now it is clear why the sentance "The door closed" is correct.
But I still can't understand why some verbs, which are not included in ergative verbs list, still are used in active voice instead of passive.
For example. "The company was founded in 1990". We have passive voice here, it's clear. But here is the sentance I saw on 'dictionary.cambridge.org' : "a society founded on egalitarian principles". Why isn't passive voice used here?
Other examples:
- Category: American companies established in 2008. (why not "companies that were established..."?)
- 10 successful startups founded during 2008 Great Recession.
- Most popular books published in 1990.
- The goal is to record most books written or edited by Western Michigan University faculty, staff and students.
I've heard about ergative verbs and now it is clear why the sentance "The door closed" is correct.
But I still can't understand why some verbs, which are not included in ergative verbs list, still are used in active voice instead of passive.
For example. "The company was founded in 1990". We have passive voice here, it's clear. But here is the sentance I saw on 'dictionary.cambridge.org' : "a society founded on egalitarian principles". Why isn't passive voice used here?
Other examples:
- Category: American companies established in 2008. (why not "companies that were established..."?)
- 10 successful startups founded during 2008 Great Recession.
- Most popular books published in 1990.
- The goal is to record most books written or edited by Western Michigan University faculty, staff and students.