Commonthroat: Difference between revisions
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''I showed the tree to my friend.'' | ''I showed the tree to my friend.'' | ||
= Voice and Coverbs = | == Voice and Coverbs == | ||
== The Passive Voice == | === The Passive Voice === | ||
Most sentences are in the ''active voice'', which is when the subject of the sentence does something to the object. In English, we’d say ''The dog bit the man''. The subject (the dog) is doing something (biting) to the object (the man). Here’s a typical Commonthroat sentence in the active voice. | Most sentences are in the ''active voice'', which is when the subject of the sentence does something to the object. In English, we’d say ''The dog bit the man''. The subject (the dog) is doing something (biting) to the object (the man). Here’s a typical Commonthroat sentence in the active voice. | ||
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''Wetnose was struck.'' | ''Wetnose was struck.'' | ||
== The Reciprocal Voice == | === The Reciprocal Voice === | ||
Many languages have a way of expressing that the subject and the object of a sentence acted upon one another. English uses the reciprocal construction ''one another''. ''The dog and the man bit one another''. | Many languages have a way of expressing that the subject and the object of a sentence acted upon one another. English uses the reciprocal construction ''one another''. ''The dog and the man bit one another''. | ||
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''The congregation spoke amongst themselves.'' | ''The congregation spoke amongst themselves.'' | ||
== The Reflexive Voice == | === The Reflexive Voice === | ||
The agent can also be the patient of the same action. This is called the ''reflexive voice''. It’s used when someone does something to himself. English uses reflexive pronouns ''myself'', ''yourself'', ''herself'', etc. | The agent can also be the patient of the same action. This is called the ''reflexive voice''. It’s used when someone does something to himself. English uses reflexive pronouns ''myself'', ''yourself'', ''herself'', etc. | ||
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''The members of the congregation spoke each to himself.'' | ''The members of the congregation spoke each to himself.'' | ||
== Words that Change Meaning Depending on Voice == | === Words that Change Meaning Depending on Voice === | ||
Some words take on a different meaning when used with a certain voice. For example, the word <code>rDB</code> /chuff, long falling weak whine/ means ''to say'' or ''to speak''. In the reciprocal voice, <code>pr rDB</code>, it means ''to discuss''. The word <code>sf</code> /yip, short high strong whine/ in the active voice means ''to yip'', as in to utter the sound denoted by the letter <code>s</code>. In the reciprocal voice <code>pr sf</code> it means ''to chit-chat'' or ''to make small talk''. | Some words take on a different meaning when used with a certain voice. For example, the word <code>rDB</code> /chuff, long falling weak whine/ means ''to say'' or ''to speak''. In the reciprocal voice, <code>pr rDB</code>, it means ''to discuss''. The word <code>sf</code> /yip, short high strong whine/ in the active voice means ''to yip'', as in to utter the sound denoted by the letter <code>s</code>. In the reciprocal voice <code>pr sf</code> it means ''to chit-chat'' or ''to make small talk''. | ||