SEMANTIC EXPANSION AND METAPHORICAL USE OF ERGATIVE VERBS IN ENGLISH

This article explores how ergative verbs in English extend their meaning and acquire metaphorical uses. Ergative verbs, which can alternate between transitive and intransitive constructions, often go beyond literal action to convey abstract, emotional, or figurative meanings. Through the analysis of literary texts, newspapers, and modern corpora, the study identifies common patterns of semantic extension and examines the mechanisms behind metaphorical usage. Drawing on Levin and Rappaport Hovav, Dixon, Goldberg, Crystal, Lakoff & Johnson, and Sweetser, the research highlights the interaction between verb semantics, argument structure, and context. Findings show that understanding these patterns is essential for language learning, translation, and stylistic interpretation.