Ambitransitive verb

From Glottopedia

An ambitransitive verb is a verb which can be used either as a transitive verb or intransitive verb without any morphological marking of its valence alternation.

[edit] Examples

English

Malcolm is reading a book. (read is transitive)

Malcolm is reading. (read is intransitive)

[edit] Subtypes

[edit] S/A aligned ambitransitive verbs

German

Inge liest ein Buch.	(transitive lesen has A and P)
‘Inge is reading a book.’

Inge liest	(intransitive lesen has an agent-like S)
‘Inge is reading.’

*Ein Buch liest.	(intransitive lesen cannot take a patient-like S)
*‘A book is reading.’

[edit] S/P aligned ambitransitive verbs

English

Carl opens the door. (transitive open has A and P)

The door opens. (intransitive open has a patient-like S)

*Carl opens. (intransitive open cannot have an agent-like' S)

[edit] Unaligned ambitransitive verbs

German

Dietlind kocht eine Suppe.	(transitive kochen has A and P)
‘Dietlind is cooking a soup.’

Dietlind kocht.	(intransitive kochen can have an agent-like S)
‘Dietlind is cooking (something).’

Die Suppe kocht.	(intransitive kochen can have a patient-like S)
‘The soup is being cooked (by somebody).’