In linguistics, the term 'noncausative' refers to verbs or constructions that do not express a cause-and-effect relationship between actions or events. A noncausative verb neither implies that one event causes another nor denotes an agent that brings about a change. It typically denotes states or involuntary actions without external influence.
Noncausative meaning with examples
- In the sentence 'The glass broke', the verb 'broke' is noncausative as it does not imply an external agent causing the action; rather, it represents a spontaneous event that occurs without deliberate impetus.
- In the phrase 'The baby cried', the verb 'cried' is noncausative, indicating a natural expression of emotion rather than being caused by an external factor or agent.
- 'She was sleeping' contains the noncausative verb 'sleeping,' which describes a state of being rather than an action performed with intention or agency.
- Consider the noncausative usage in 'The car stalled', where the verb 'stalled' signifies an event that happened on its own, devoid of any causative agent.
- In 'The flowers wilted', the verb 'wilted' behaves noncausatively, showing the natural process of wilting that is not instigated by an external force but results from internal conditions.
Noncausative Synonyms
automatic autonomous effortless inactive instinctive intransitive naturally-occurring nonagentive noninducing nonperformative nonresultative passive self-generated spontaneous statistic subjective uncontrolled unintentional unmanipulated unprovokedNoncausative Antonyms
active agentive causative controlled deliberate directive facilitated inducing influenced intentional manipulative motivated operational performative prompted provoked reactive resultative stimulated transitiveNoncausative Crossword Answers
9 Letters
NONCAUSAL