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ergative case

File:Lugal_Kiengi_Kiuri,_King_of_Sumer_and_Akkad,_on_a_seal_of_Shulgi.jpg · Wikimedia Commons · See Wikimedia Commons

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ergative case

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Also known as ergativity, ERG

grammatical case that identifies the subject of a transitive verb in ergative–absolutive languages

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Cuneiform inscription Lugal Kiengi Kiuri 𒈗𒆠𒂗𒄀𒆠𒌵, "King of Sumer and Akkad", on a seal of Sumerian king Shulgi (r. c. 2094–2047 BCE). The final ke4 𒆤 is the composite of -k (genitive case) and -e (ergative case).

In grammar, the ergative case (abbreviated erg) is the grammatical case that identifies a nominal phrase as the agent of a transitive verb in ergative–absolutive languages.

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