Using transitive and intransitive verbs

ugs.gif (980 bytes) Using ergative verbs page 9 of 10

Ergative verbs related to household cleaning

Some ergative verbs can be classified under the area of household cleaning:

Due to the room's east-facing aspect, the existing fabrics had not faded at all. (Bank of English)

She was by now more appropriately dressed in a navy suit, but the skirt appeared to have shrunk in the wash. (SCMP 11/7/92)

The following verbs are related to household cleaning:

    bleach     clean*     fade     mark*
    polish up*     shrink     stain*

Note that there is a tendency for some ergative verbs to be used to make general statements (often dealing with the potential for something to happen). With such verbs the present simple tense is normally used. These verbs are marked with an asterisk (*) .

04conten.gif (549 bytes) Introduction
04conten.gif (549 bytes) A definition of ergative verbs
04conten.gif (549 bytes) Reasons for using ergative verbs
04conten.gif (549 bytes) Areas of meaning with ergative verbs
04conten.gif (549 bytes) Ergative verbs related to starting and stopping
04conten.gif (549 bytes) Ergative verbs related to increasing and decreasing
04conten.gif (549 bytes) Ergative verbs related to physical damage
04conten.gif (549 bytes) Ergative verbs related to food preparation
square.gif (58 bytes) Ergative verbs related to household cleaning
04conten.gif (549 bytes) Ergative verbs related to movement in general