Editing Mam language (section)

===Verbal predicates===
Verbal predicates are either transitive or intransitive according to the number of arguments cross-referenced in the verb complex. The number of arguments cross-referenced by the verb complex is not consistent with the transitivity of the verb root or the number of participants in an event. England notes examples of transitive verb roots that only appear in their antipassive or passive forms where they only cross-reference a single participant.

*Transitive verb root with obligatory antipassive voice{{sfn|England|1983|p=178}}
{{interlinear|glossing=link|indent=5
|ma-yax 0-jejeeya-n xuʔj t-uj nim-b'ee
|REC-INTENS ABS.3.SG-laugh-AP woman ERG.3.SG-REL/in big-road
|"The woman laughed a lot in the road."}}

*Transitive verb root with obligatory passive voice{{sfn|England|1983|p=180}}
{{interlinear|glossing=link|indent=5
|ma 0-kan-eet jun n-sentaabi-ya t-uj tz'iis
|REC ABS.3.SG-find-PAS one ERG.1.SG-cent-ENC ERG.3.SG-REL/in garbage
|"I found my penny in the garbage." (Lit. "My penny was found in the garbage")}}

Another possibility is the use of intransitive motion verbs to express transitive events.{{sfn|England|1983|p=181}}

*Intransitive motion verbs expressing transitive events{{sfn|England|1983|p=181}}
{{interlinear|glossing=link|indent=5
|k-tzaaj-al aʔ w-uʔn-a
|ABS.3.SG-come-POT water ERG.1.SG-REL/agent-ENC
|"I will bring water." (Lit. "Water will come by me.")}}

{{interlinear|glossing=link|indent=5
|t-wiixh o 0-kub' t-ee ich'
|ERG.3.SG-cat PAST ABS.3.SG-go_down ERG.3.SG-REL/patient mouse
|"His cat killed mice." (Lit. "His cat went down at mice.")}}

The basic word order in verbal sentences with two nominal arguments is [[Verb–subject–object|VSO]].{{sfn|England|
1983|p=193}} Other word orders are not acceptable.

{{interlinear|glossing=link|indent=5
|ma 0-kub' ky-tzyu-ʔn xiinaq cheej
|REC ABS.3.SG-DIR ERG.3.PL-grab-DEP man horse
|"The men grabbed the horse."}}

If only one argument appears in a transitive sentence and the argument is compatible with either person marker on the verb, it has a patient interpretation.{{sfn|England|1983|p=194}}

{{interlinear|glossing=link|indent=5
|ma 0-kub' ky-tzyu-ʔn xiinaq
|REC ABS.3.SG-DIR ERG.3.PL-grab-DEP man
|"They grabbed the man." (Not "The men grabbed it.")}}

Mam speakers use a higher proportion of intransitive sentences than speakers of other Mayan languages. England and Martin (2003) found a low frequency of transitive sentences in Mam texts.{{full citation needed|date=September 2024}} Pye (2017) found a low use of overt subjects in transitive sentences in adults speaking to children. One adult produced overt subjects in 6% of transitive sentences. The same adult produced overt subjects in 41% of intransitive sentences and produced overt objects in 49% of transitive sentences.{{sfn|Pye|2017|pp=114-115}}