Chapter 10
Sentence Semantics
Exercise 10.2Thematic Roles
Identify the thematic role(s) of each of the underlined expressions in the following sentences. Note any dual roles.
We persuaded Mary to apply for the job as bus driver.
He supplied the reporters with information.
Earle has been earning money through his poetry.
We were playing a game of monopoly for relaxation.
Angela was reading stories to the children this morning.
The police suspected him of committing the crime.
The climber finally reached the summit of the mountain.
The captain of the swim team swam 20 laps.
I checked a book out of the library yesterday.
We had to carry the couch up three flights of stairs to Jerry's apartment.
The accountant made a mistake in the calculations.
Jane envies my success.
I saw Margaret's friend at the party.
He lent his friend some money.
The news about Jesse consoled me.
He visited California before his marriage.
He is lifting weights for his health.
The hurricane destroyed the house.
His cleverness never ceases to amaze me.
The coach had the player fumble the ball.
A virus got into the computer.
The trees lost their leaves.
A blood clot killed the patient.
They filled the pool with water.
Father wrote a check for me.
This shoe hurts my foot.
Give an active (not passive) sentence where the verb burn occurs with a subject which is:
Agent
Patient
Instrument
Force
Neutral
Label the thematic roles of the accompanying arguments. Then write a thematic grid for burn.
Given the following sentences, write a thematic grid for the verb smell.
The room smelled musty.
I smelled the fragrance of flowers in the air.
Will you smell the milk to see if it is sour?
The clothes smelled fresh.
Which of the following sentences has the implication of ‘total affectedness’ or ‘completeness’? Explain using the notion of thematic roles. What test might you use to make your determination?
I showed the problem to Michael.
I showed Michael the problem.
Sort the following verbs into three types based on the thematic roles that they assign. Give a thematic role grid for each type.
heal
soothe
approach
pass
escape
contribute
donate
reach
beat up
depart
waken
supply
bequeath
console
deliver
| a. |
we |
– |
Agent |
|
Mary |
– |
Theme/Agent |
|
|
the job |
– |
Goal |
|
|
bus driver |
– |
Role |
|
| b. |
He |
– |
Agent/Source |
|
the reporters |
– |
Goal/Theme |
|
|
information |
– |
Neutral |
|
| c. |
Earle |
– |
Agent |
|
money |
– |
Factitive or Goal (?) |
|
|
poetry |
– |
Source |
|
| d. |
We |
– |
Agent |
|
a game of monopoly |
– |
Range or Factitive (?) |
|
|
relaxation |
– |
Goal |
|
| e. |
Angela |
– |
Agent |
|
stories |
– |
Theme |
|
|
the children |
– |
Goal |
|
|
this morning |
– |
Location |
|
| f. |
The police |
– |
Experiencer |
|
him |
– |
Source/Agent |
|
|
the crime |
– |
Factitive |
|
| g. |
The climber |
– |
Agent/Theme |
|
the summit |
– |
Goal |
|
|
the mountain |
– |
Location |
|
| h. |
The captain |
– |
Role/Agent |
|
20 laps |
– |
Range |
|
| i. |
I |
– |
Agent/Goal |
|
a book |
– |
Theme |
|
|
the library |
– |
Source |
|
|
yesterday |
– |
Location |
|
| j. |
We |
– |
Agent |
|
the couch |
– |
Theme |
|
|
three flights of stairs |
– |
Path |
|
|
Jerry's |
– |
Possessor |
|
|
apartment |
– |
Goal |
|
| k. |
The accountant |
– |
Role |
|
a mistake |
– |
Factitive |
|
|
the calculations |
– |
Range |
|
| l. |
Jane |
– |
Experiencer |
|
my |
– |
Possessor |
|
|
success |
– |
Source |
|
| m. |
I |
– |
Experiencer |
|
Margaret's |
– |
Possessor |
|
|
friend |
– |
Neutral |
|
|
the party |
– |
Location |
|
| n. |
He |
– |
Agent/Source |
|
friend |
– |
Goal/Theme |
|
|
some money |
– |
Neutral |
|
| o. |
The news |
– |
Source |
|
Jesse |
– |
Range |
|
|
me |
– |
Experiencer |
|
| p. |
He |
– |
Agent |
|
California |
– |
Location |
|
|
marriage |
– |
Location |
|
| q. |
He |
– |
Agent/Patient |
|
health |
– |
Goal |
|
| r. |
The hurricane |
– |
Force |
|
the house |
– |
Patient |
|
| s. |
His |
– |
Possessor |
|
cleverness |
– |
Source |
|
|
me |
– |
Experiencer |
|
| t. |
The coach |
– |
Agent/Role |
|
the player |
– |
Theme/Agent |
|
|
the ball |
– |
Theme |
|
| u. |
A virus |
– |
Force |
|
the computer |
– |
Goal |
|
| v. |
The trees |
– |
Source |
|
leaves |
– |
Theme |
|
| w. |
A blood clot |
– |
Force |
|
the patient |
– |
Patient |
|
| x. |
They |
– |
Agent |
|
the pool |
– |
Location/Patient |
|
|
water |
– |
Theme |
|
| y. |
Father |
– |
Agent |
|
a check |
– |
Factitive or Patient |
|
|
me |
– |
Benefactive or Goal (ambiguous) |
|
| z. |
This shoe |
– |
Instrument |
|
foot |
– |
Patient |
Agent: Hannah (Agent) burned the leaves (Patient).
Patient: The leaves (Patient) burned.
Instrument: The iron (Instrument) burned his hand (Patient).
Force: The wind (Force) burned her face (Patient).
Neutral: Paper (Neutral) burns easily.
thematic grid: Patient or Neutral + (Agent or Force) + (Instrument)
The room (Location) smelled musty.
I (Experiencer) smelled the fragrance of flowers (Neutral) in the air.
Will you (Agent) smell the milk (Neutral) to see if it is sour?
The clothes (Neutral) smelled fresh.
thematic grid: Location or Neutral + (Experiencer or Agent)
The second sentence I showed Michael the problem has the implication of completeness since “Michael” occupies the position immediately following the verb and thus has the role of Theme as well as that of Goal. Note that while it is possible to say I showed the problem to Michael, but he didn't see it, it is odd to say I showed Michael the problem, but he didn't see it, since this second sentence implies that “Michael” has been completely affected by the action.
|
Type A:So/Ag + Th + Go |
Type B:Ag + Pa or Ex |
Type C:Ag/Th + So or Go |
|
supply |
heal |
depart |
|
deliver |
beat up |
escape |
|
contribute |
soothe |
reach |
|
bequeath |
waken |
approach |
|
donate |
console |
pass |