Intransitive verbs with null arguments (Hungarian)

ZeroIntr: Avalent verbs, characterized by being able to form a non­elliptical, grammatical clause without a single argument, exist as a subclass of intransitive verbs.


(1) es-ik.

rain-prs.3sg

’It is raining.’


(2) havaz-ik.

snow-prs.3sg

’It is snowing.’


(3) tavaszod-ik.

spring.become-prs.3sg

’Spring is getting closer.’


In Hungarian, some of the weather verbs have zero valency (Kenesei et al. 1998: 66, Salo 2011, Bartens 1995).

Author: 

Nikolett F. Gulyás