
Case markers often distinguish between the various arguments of a predicate, such as the Agent and Patient. However, as discussed in Comrie (2008), in some languages, case markers instead active arguments (i.e. agents) from non-active arguments (e.g. patients). These will be called Active-Inactive systems. <br><br>

A 'yes' value for this property indicates that the language uses case markers to distinguish between inactive and active arguments on <b>Full NPs</b> (not just pronouns). For example, in Georgian, according to Comrie (2008) the non-active suffix <i>-i</i> attaches to all non-active arguments, even in a copular clause such as <i>vaxt'ang<b>-i</b> ekim<b>-i</b> iqo</i> 'Vakhtang-PAT doctor-PAT be.AOR.3sg'. The active marker <i>-m</i>, however, attaches to all active/agentive arguments, even in intransitive clauses such as <i>nino<b>-m</b> daamtknara</i> 'Nino-AGT yawn.AOR.3sg'.<br><br>

<b>Note:</b> Languages have no overt case marking will be marked <b>N/A</b> for this property. <br><br> 

<b>Glossing Convention:</b> The 'active' case marker will be glossed agent <b>AGT</b>, and the inactive marker will be glossed patient <b>PAT</b>.<br><br>

<b>Reference</b><br>
Comrie, Bernard. 2008. Alignment of Case Marking. In Haspelmath et al. (2008), chapters 98-99. Available online at <a href=â€http://wals.info/feature/98â€>http://wals.info/feature/98</a href>. 

