Theme 14. The verb: the category of voice

Plan

1. The voice and its categorial meaning.

2. The semantics of passive and non-passive forms that constitute the category of voice.

3. Non-passivized verbs.

4. The problem of the category of voice.

5. The transitive verbs and the category of voice.

The category of voice establishes a very important relation between the doer of an action and the object of this action. Voice is directional in a sense that it can render an action directed either to the subject or to the object. This category is constituted by the opposition of sets of forms: indefinite forms which are unmarked for the voice and the so-called passive voice forms, which are specially marked. The expression of the categorial meaning of voice becomes central in the categorial semantics of the grammatically marked forms, other meanings being additional, subservient, concomitant in this respect.

Voice forms

Indicative mood (unmarked) Indicative mood (marked)

Present indefinite

Past indefinite