Navigating the Confusion of Ergative Verbs in English | January 27 2026, 00:52

In English, ergative verbs cause me significant cognitive confusion. These are verbs that can be used in both directions: written, people change can be translated as “people change” and “people change themselves”.

For example, on the screenshot right now “illustrator will install next”. Somehow not will be installed next.

Or the sentence “she photographs well” is understood as “she is photogenic”.

“The book sold 1mln copies”, obviously not about the book’s ability to sell.