Actor / Source
Who or what starts the event?
Significado
The participant that acts, causes, initiates, controls, or is presented as the source of an event.
Como identificar
Ask who is doing, causing, or starting the event.
Exemplos
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
Vista por língua
Na tua língua materna
Actors usually appear before the verb, but subjects can be omitted when clear; Brazilian speech often uses explicit pronouns.
A Maria trabalha.
Maria works.
Na tua língua de aprendizagem
In basic English clauses, the actor is usually before the verb and can trigger subject-verb agreement.
She opened the door.
she = the actor/source
Learners from flexible word-order languages may move the actor too freely or omit required subjects.
Same block, different coding
Both languages use this block strongly, but they signal it differently. Focus on form changes, not only meaning.