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Ergative verbs. e.g. slam, splash, rattle, rustle, and beep can be used in a transitive and intransitive way, with the object in the transitive structure (e.g., the door) being the subject in the intransitive structure.
Ergative pairs account for many of the most commonly used verbs in English, some of which are listed below, with examples:
✴️ burn
I've burned the toast.
The toast has burned.
✴️ break
The wind broke the branches.
The branches broke.
✴️ burst
She burst the balloon.
The balloon burst.
✴️ close
He closed his eyes.
His eyes closed.
✴️ cook
I'm cooking the rice.
The rice is cooking.
✴️ fade
The sun has faded the carpet.
The carpet has faded.
✴️ freeze
The low temperature has frozen the milk.
The milk has frozen.
✴️ melt
The heat has melted the ice.
The ice has melted.
✴️ run
Tim is running the bathwater.
The bathwater is running.
✴️ stretch
I stretched the elastic.
The elastic stretched.
✴️ tighten
He tightened the rope.
The rope tightened.
✴️ wave
Someone waved a flag.
A flag waved.
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