voicevalency

Voicevalency is a term used in linguistics to describe the tendency of a verb to require a particular voice, either active or passive. This is distinct from grammatical voice, which refers to the form of the verb itself. Some verbs inherently "prefer" or are more naturally expressed in one voice over another. For example, verbs of perception like "see" or "hear" often appear in the active voice, as in "I saw the bird." While a passive construction like "The bird was seen by me" is grammatically correct, it can sometimes sound less natural or direct. Conversely, verbs related to states or conditions might lend themselves to passive constructions. For instance, "The decision was made yesterday" is a common and natural phrasing.

The concept of voicevalency suggests that certain verbs have a stronger affinity for one voice due to their semantic content and typical usage patterns. This affinity is not an absolute rule, and context can always dictate the most appropriate voice. However, understanding voicevalency can help explain why certain sentence structures sound more idiomatic or conventional than others. It's a subtle aspect of verb behavior that contributes to the fluidity and naturalness of language. Linguists study voicevalency to better understand how meaning influences grammatical choices and how speakers intuitively select the most fitting voice for their intended message.