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Created March 6, 2025 04:21
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j_ergativity_rules.md
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j_ergativity_rules.md

This classifier helps determine whether a Japanese verb is transitive or intransitive based on its ending. Follow these rules in order.

Primary Classification Rules (Covers ~85% of common verbs)

  1. If the verb ends in su → TRANSITIVE
    • Examples: 壊す (kowasu), 直す (naosu), 返す (kaesu), 増やす (fuyasu)
    • This includes ALL verbs ending in asu, osu, esu, etc.
    • Intransitive counterpart typically ends in reru, ru, or eru
  2. If the verb ends in reru → INTRANSITIVE
    • Examples: 壊れる (kowareru), 忘れる (wasureru), 生まれる (umareru)
    • This includes ALL verbs ending in areru
    • Transitive counterpart usually ends in su or ru
  3. If the verb ends in aru → INTRANSITIVE
    • Examples: 上がる (agaru), 集まる (atsumaru), 変わる (kawaru)
    • Transitive counterpart usually ends in eru
  4. If the verb ends in seru → TRANSITIVE
    • Examples: 寝かせる (nekaseru), 乗せる (noseru), 着せる (kiseru)
    • Intransitive counterpart often ends in ru
  5. If the verb ends in iru → LIKELY INTRANSITIVE
    • Examples: 起きる (okiru), 降りる (oriru), 落ちる (ochiru)
    • Exceptions include: 着る (kiru - to wear), 煮る (niru - to boil)

Secondary Classification Rules (Adds ~10% coverage)

  1. For verbs ending in eru (not reru or seru):

    a. If derived from an -aru verb → TRANSITIVE

    • Examples: 上げる (ageru) ← 上がる (agaru), 集める (atsumeru) ← 集まる (atsumaru)
    • Pattern: If there's a related aru verb with similar meaning

    b. If paired with an -asu verb → INTRANSITIVE

    • Examples: 遅れる (okureru) ↔ 遅らす (okurasu), 増える (fueru) ↔ 増やす (fuyasu)

    c. If ends in -keru or -geru → LIKELY TRANSITIVE

    • Examples: 付ける (tsukeru), 開ける (akeru), 上げる (ageru), 曲げる (mageru)
    • Often paired with intransitive ku/gu verbs: 付く (tsuku), 開く (aku)

    d. If ends in -meru → LIKELY TRANSITIVE

    • Examples: 決める (kimeru), 閉める (shimeru), 高める (takameru)
    • Often paired with intransitive maru verbs: 決まる (kimaru), 閉まる (shimaru)

    e. If paired with plain -u transitive verbs → LIKELY INTRANSITIVE

    • Examples: 見える (mieru) ↔ 見る (miru), 聞こえる (kikoeru) ↔ 聞く (kiku)
    • Often expresses the potential or passive meaning of its pair

  2. If the verb ends in oru or uru → LIKELY INTRANSITIVE

    • Examples: 座る (suwaru), 困る (komaru), 帰る (kaeru)
    • Notable exceptions: 取る (toru), 切る (kiru), 売る (uru) are transitive

  3. If the verb ends in aku or oku → LIKELY INTRANSITIVE

    • Examples: 動く (ugoku), 開く (aku), 乾く (kawaku)
    • Paired with transitive forms ending in asu (動かす, 開ける, 乾かす)

  4. If the verb ends in u (other forms) → CHECK SPECIFIC PATTERNS

    • Many basic u verbs are actually transitive:
      • 読む (yomu), 飲む (nomu), 書く (kaku), 使う (tsukau), 買う (kau)
    • Verbs ending in tsu are often intransitive (立つ, 育つ)
    • Verbs ending in mu are mixed (読む is transitive, 痛む is intransitive)

Coverage Statistics

  • Primary rules (1-5): approximately 75% of common verbs
  • eru sub-rules (rule 6a-6e): approximately 15% of common verbs
  • Remaining secondary rules (7-10): approximately 8% of common verbs
  • Unclassified: approximately 2% of verbs require memorization or context

How to Use This Classifier

  1. Identify the verb ending
  2. Apply the Primary Classification Rules first (rules 1-5)
  3. For eru verbs, apply the detailed sub-rules in rule 6
  4. If still not resolved, apply the remaining Secondary Classification Rules (rules 7-10)
  5. For the few difficult cases remaining, check a dictionary or examine the verb's pair

Common Pairs to Remember

Intransitive Transitive Meaning
開く (aku) 開ける (akeru) to open
閉まる (shimaru) 閉める (shimeru) to close
始まる (hajimaru) 始める (hajimeru) to begin
終わる (owaru) 終える (oeru) to end
付く (tsuku) 付ける (tsukeru) to attach
切れる (kireru) 切る (kiru) to cut
出る (deru) 出す (dasu) to exit/take out
入る (hairu) 入れる (ireru) to enter/put in
見える (mieru) 見る (miru) to be visible/see
聞こえる (kikoeru) 聞く (kiku) to be audible/hear

Example Applications

Classifying 壊す (kowasu):

  1. Ends in su → TRANSITIVE (Rule 1)

Classifying 壊れる (kowareru):

  1. Ends in reru → INTRANSITIVE (Rule 2)

Classifying 動く (ugoku):

  1. Not covered by rules 1-8
  2. Ends in oku → INTRANSITIVE (Rule 9)

Classifying 読む (yomu):

  1. Not covered by rules 1-9
  2. Falls under Rule 10: common u verb → Need to check list → TRANSITIVE

Classifying 始める (hajimeru):

  1. Ends in eru → Not covered by rules 1-5
  2. Apply rule 6a: Is it derived from aru? Yes, from 始まる (hajimaru) → TRANSITIVE

Classifying 見える (mieru):

  1. Ends in eru → Not covered by rules 1-5
  2. Apply rule 6a-6d: No match
  3. Apply rule 6e: Is it paired with a plain u transitive verb? Yes, 見る (miru) → INTRANSITIVE
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