It is sometimes used as a colloquialism, but as books can't read - let alone do it well - it isn't really correct.Is the sentence below correct?
The book reads well.
I don't think its use should only be colloquial. I see no problem with the form; it's just a middle verb. ;-)
I wouldn't make such a distinction to be honest; I can see your point, but it 'reads' naturally to me.![]()
True. And I always thought 'middle voice' meant there wasn't an actor. However, I was wrong in thinking that. According to SIL (See link below), if it is a verb in the middle voice, then, yes, the subject would have to act, whereas if it's a verb in the mediopassive voice, the subject is not expressed and the verb has a stative meaning, which is what we have here with The book reads well. It's a mediopassive construct. Terminology. :roll::lol:Even a middle verb has to relate to its subject. The construction might be the same:
Glass breaks easily
The book reads well
but there is a difference: glass can break, but books can't read.
I don't agree. You said it was colloquial in usage
I see no sense in saying that non-native speakers are expected to show standards that are not expected of native speakers, and nothing to see that this is colloquial.
I say it is colloquial because I have never actually heard anybody say it, though I have heard 1970s teenagers say 'the car drives well' so I put it in the same category.
Claudia Haase on Middle Constructions in English (2000) explains:Andrew said:Mediopassive. :up: You may be right, and I am not confident enough to say you are wrong.
First, what about stative, the book is readable? Second, couldn't the phrase 'has stative meaning' (See SIL) mean stative like? With mediopassive constructs the patient holds the subject position. There isn't an actor.Andrew said:'The book reads well' is sometimes given as an example of mediopassive, on Wikipedia for instance, but I have a bit of trouble with the idea of 'read' having a stative meaning because...
Google:
Results 1 - 10 of about 19,100 for "book reads well"
Results 1 - 10 of about 1,060 for "text reads well"
Results 1 - 10 of about 1,100 for "story reads well"
Results 1 - 10 of about 301 for "play reads well"
Results 1 - 10 of about 121 for "script reads well"
Results 1 - 10 of about 9,570 for "book read well"
This suggests that the usage is fairly widespread. Also, if you try some of the searches, you will see that many of them are from Amazon reviews, so many people feel that the usage is appropriate for such contexts.
Yes. See flood definition - Dictionary - MSN Encarta and https://www.usingenglish.com/forum/frequently-asked-questions/32588-without-been.html.Hi,
I think mine is a related question – can flood be intransitive?
1.The sink flooded.
2.The sink was flooded.
Thanks.
Casiopea said:Second, couldn't the phrase 'has stative meaning' (See SIL) mean stative like? With mediopassive constructs the patient holds the subject position. There isn't an actor.
The actor is left unstated, but it is there:In short, 'reads' is always an action, and needs a subject to perform it - 'reads' has to be done.
You're welcome, but...I thought you might have at least one question after having read the information on both those sites. I know I do. :-DThanks, Cas.
I don't understand when should I use both with "of". Would "on both OF those sites" be considered incorrect?You're welcome, but...I thought you might have at least one question after having read the information on both those sites. I know I do. :-D
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