Actor / Source
Who or what starts the event?
Signification
The participant that acts, causes, initiates, controls, or is presented as the source of an event.
Comment le repérer
Ask who is doing, causing, or starting the event.
Exemples
I|Peter|the dog|the machine|the wind
the teacher explains|the wind opens
The dog bit the postman.
Visual guide
ACTOR / SOURCE who starts the event? [the dog] -> bit -> postman [the wind] -> opens [the teacher] -> explains = doer/causer/source
Actor clues may differ order: [dog] bit postman case: [dog-NOM/ERG] agreement: dog -> verb pronoun form: I / me topic: [dog-TOP] voice: by [dog] role = event starter
Vue par langue
Dans votre langue maternelle
The actor is usually before the verb and explicit subjects are normally required.
Marie travaille.
Marie works.
Dans votre langue d’apprentissage
Dans les phrases anglaises simples, l’acteur est généralement placé avant le verbe et peut déterminer l’accord sujet-verbe.
She opened the door.
She = l’acteur/la source, c’est-à-dire celle qui déclenche l’action.
Les apprenants venant de langues à ordre des mots plus libre peuvent déplacer l’acteur trop facilement ou oublier le sujet obligatoire.
Same block, different coding
Both languages use this block strongly, but they signal it differently. Focus on form changes, not only meaning.