What is middle verb?

[lolwhites]

As a Brit, I'm not sure about This book reads easily. It seems a bit clumsy to me though I wouldn't go so far as to call it incorrect. However, I see nothing wrong with the sentence A Practical English Grammar by Thompson and Martinet reads like a text book on Quantum Physics

[Andrew Patterson]

I have no particular grudge against that textbook, but I would agree that that sentence does not sound in the slightest bit clumsy.

I think that "reads" can be a middle verb provided it is followed by "like".

[metal56]

As a Brit, I'm not sure about This book reads easily. It seems a bit clumsy to me though I wouldn't go so far as to call it incorrect. However, I see nothing wrong with the sentence A Practical English Grammar by Thompson and Martinet reads like a text book on Quantum Physics

Whereas Crystal reads like a dream.

[metal56]

Mom: What was that noise? (Coming into the room) Did you do that?

Young son: No Mom, the milk spilt itself.

Heavier:



To me, Bush’s most insidious grammatical choice is his use of what is often called ‘middle voice’. For example, I could write that “over 6000 people were killed by terrorists in the US bombings”. This is an example of the passive voice, i.e. where the agent of the action (the terrorists), either comes after the verb, or is left out all together. Alternatively, I could write that “over 6000 people died”, which is middle voice. If I write “people were killed…”, I am constructing these deaths as being caused by an external agent, even if I don’t actually name the agent. But saying “people died” construes the event in quite a different fashion: with middle voice, there is no agent. The process is merely a ‘happening’ beyond the control of active human agents.


When Bush said in his speech that “Our war begins with Al Qaeda, but it does not end there” he used middle voice. What is the effect of this? “Our war” becomes a happening, not brought about by people acting on other people and things. It simply “begins”. It is a self-generating process.

http://webs.uvigo.es/h06/weba575/lcaXX/ ... of-war.htm

[Norm Ryder]

Andy, maybe your differences with the Oxford Dictionary of English Grammar definition aren't so great when you look at the examples it gives (other than "have"). "Blue suits you" or "That jumper fits me" are not so far from "These vegetables sell well". The grammatical subjects can't be called "agents"; and the grammatical objects in the ODEG sentences can't be used as the subject of a related passive (as the examples show). Or am I missing the point of your analysis?

In Oz, by the way, you'll hear "This book is a good read", and it's used often enough in newspaper book reviews-- but maybe that's just another example of our UK-US bilingualism!

Norm

[metal56]

In Oz, by the way, you'll hear "This book is a good read", and it's used often enough in newspaper book reviews-- but maybe that's just another example of our UK-US bilingualism!

Norm

No, that's just good use of the middle (reflexive) voice.

[Andrew Patterson]

In Oz, by the way, you'll hear "This book is a good read", and it's used often enough in newspaper book reviews-- but maybe that's just another example of our UK-US bilingualism!

You'll often hear, "This book is a good read," in th UK too. You won't hear, "This book reads well," however.

[metal56]

You'll often hear, "This book is a good read," in th UK too. You won't hear, "This book reads well," however.

But you will hear, "This report/proposal reads well".

[Stephen Jones]

To say something reads well is not the same as saying it is a good read.

It is at least theoretically possibly for something to read well but to be of no interest whatsoever, and or something to be a damm good read even if getting through it is like passing an obstacle course.

[Andrew Patterson]

But you will hear, "This report/proposal reads well".

Not in the UK you won't.[/quote]

[Andrew Patterson]

But you will hear, "This report/proposal reads well".

Not in the UK you won't.

[metal56]

But you will hear, "This report/proposal reads well".

Not in the UK you won't.

Is the UCL a good enough resource to prove you wrong?


MUST be linked to the text of the report. Appendix. ... Check the “overall picture”
Make sure it is all there. Make sure it reads well Check the details. ...
www.ee.ucl.ac.uk/undergrads/3rdyear_rep ... rwazeh.ppt

Or:

An individual report is produced with the pupil's name and "his" / "her" "he" / "she" entered as appropriate so that the report reads well. The attainment levels chosen are stored with the pupil record so that an on-going record of achievement is maintained.
http://www.realcom.co.uk/assessment.html

Or, From the Principal
Dr Fiona Hammans:

Dear Parents

We have just received the final draft Ofsted report, following the inspection in school. I hope to get the final summary Inspection Reports (one for the whole school and a separate one for the Sixth Form) to you all at the start of the next term.

The report reads well and as staff and governors, we are very pleased with it. There is clear recognition of how the school has improved in recent years, with continued rising standards and good quality teaching.
http://www.banbury.oxon.sch.uk/Document ... pr2003.htm

[Norm Ryder]

I was surprised to see that I'd written "This book is a good read" in my post. I'd meant to say that in Australia one does hear "This report (or this article) reads well". I was comparing the two different statements in my mind at the time and my concentration obviously lapsed badly! Produced some interestingcross-currents, though, didn't it?

Come to think of it, I don't think I have actually heard or seen "This book reads well" ... but only "this report" or "this article". Would that say anything about its acceptance in formal usage; or just that it can be used only of shorter pieces of writing?

Are there any Aussies out there prepared to confirm or deny that one might hear the expression "This report reads well" elsewhere round the country?

Norm