Editing Absolutive case (section)

==In ergative–absolutive languages==
In languages with [[ergative–absolutive alignment]], the absolutive is the case used to mark both the subject of an [[intransitive verb]] and the object of a [[transitive verb]] in addition to being used for the citation form of a noun. It contrasts with the marked [[ergative case]], which marks the subject of a transitive verb.

For example, in [[Basque language|Basque]] the noun {{lang|eu|mutil}} {{gloss|boy}} takes the bare singular [[article (grammar)|article]] {{lang|eu|-a}} both as the subject of the intransitive clause {{lang|eu|mutila etorri da}} ({{gloss|the boy came}}) and as the object of the transitive clause {{lang|eu|Irakasleak mutila ikusi du}} ({{gloss|the teacher has seen the boy}}) in which the agent bears the ergative ending {{lang|eu|-a-k}}.

In a very few cases, a marked absolutive has been reported, including in [[Nias language|Nias]] and [[Sochiapam Chinantec]].