Alternation ‘Instrumental subject alternation’ (Uncoded)

An instrument used in a certain transitive action (such as in 'John hit the fence with a stick') and expressed as an adjunct to the related verb becomes the subject of the clause: 'The stick hit the fence'. Thus the former agent of the action is removed and becomes implicit. Some verbs require modification by a prefix in order to participate in this alternation. A different construction involves the instrumental use within an impersonal construction with a suppressed Agent (vodoj zalilo polja [water-INSTR poured fields-ACC] ‘the water poured into the filelds/the filelds filled with water'). Yet, the latter construction is productive with transitive verbs if speaking about uncontrolled force (which might but need not be expressed by an instrumental phrase).

Verb Meaning Verb form Basic coding frame Derived coding frame Occurs Comment # Ex.