This parameter considers the degree to which person marking[1] (PM) of argument P[2] on transitive verbs is obligatory. Verbs expressing conscious, willful action should be chosen, and the first- and second-person patients should be examined as well. Marking refers to any morphological strategy.[3] If a language requires specific circumstances for the application of person marking of P on the verb, examples displaying those circumstances should be considered, and the language should be analyzed as showing P agreement.

Types:

NoPatPM: Transitive verbs do not morphologically mark the person of the patient.[4]

PatPM: Transitive verbs show agreement with the patient in terms of person, regardless of whether the patient appears as a noun or pronoun or does not explicitly appear at all.

PatPMN: Transitive verbs only show agreement with the patient in terms of person if the patient appears as a noun.[5]

PatPMnotN: Transitive verbs only show agreement with the patient in terms of person if the patient does not appear as a noun.[6]

PatPMnon3: Transitive verbs only show agreement with the patient in terms of person if the patient is first or second person.[7]

[1] This type of verbal agreement has traditionally been considered objective conjugation, but the latter actually refers to a broader phenomenon that includes agreement with specific grammatical features of the patient. For more, see the parameter Patient marking on the verb.

[2] P (patient) refers to the entity affected by the action of a transitive verb (its object or result).

[3] Morphological marking includes the use of non-independent person pronouns or clitics that attach to a word or phrase other than the verb. To be considered an independent pronoun, a pronoun must be able to appear in functions other than verbal agreement.

[4] This parameter value includes languages in which the verb marks a different grammatical feature of the patient (such as number, topicalization, or definiteness) even if this kind of patient marking occurs only for specific persons. In the latter case, the morphological form of the verb depends on the person of the patient but does not mark it.

[5] Agreement is not shown if P appears as a personal pronoun.

[6] P appears as an independent personal pronoun or it does not appear in the sentence as an independent word.

[7] Agreement is not shown if P appears as a third-person noun or is otherwise understood to be third person.