noncausative

9.1

A verb that describes an action happening by itself without someone causing it

adjective
/nɒnˈkɔːzətɪv/

Specialized

: no causativo

In English, the verb 'fall' is considered noncausative, while 'drop' is causative.

Examples

Many languages distinguish between causative and noncausative verb forms.
The noncausative use of 'open' describes an event happening without an agent.
The verb noncausative describes actions that do not cause an effect.
In linguistics, a noncausative verb does not imply an action causing another action.
In linguistics, a verb is called noncausative when it does not indicate that one action causes another.
Many languages use specific noncausative forms to express actions that occur without an external agent.
The term noncausative refers to verbs that denote states or occurrences without implying causation.

Synonyms

noncausal

vsnoncausative

8.8

One thing does not make another happen

applies specifically to verbs or constructions rather than general relations

noncontributory

vsnoncausative

Specialized

7.9

Not needing payments from employees or not helping to cause something

concerns lack of causing events rather than absence of payments

Antonyms

causative

6 7.2

That makes something happen

Surface Forms

noncausative positive

Morphology

noncausative = causative (transparent) = non + cause + ative

Formed by the productive negation prefix 'non-' attached to the adjective 'causative', giving the clear meaning 'not causative'.

Etymology

Noncausative is made of the parts non- ('not') and cause (seen in causative) meaning 'make something happen'. So a noncausative verb describes something that happens without someone causing it, like 'fall' rather than 'drop'.