Understanding Argument and Thematic Structures
48 Questions
0 Views

Choose a study mode

Play Quiz
Study Flashcards
Spaced Repetition
Chat to lesson

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

What is the main function of the emphatic auxiliary DO?

  • To indicate future actions
  • To create passive voice
  • To co-occur with a negative expression (correct)
  • To form questions

    • Emphatic imperatives do not occur in British English.

    False

    What negator can attach to the modal in negative sentences?

    not

    In interrogative sentences, __________ of the subject with the modal takes place.

    <p>inversion</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following modal verbs with their characteristics:

    <p>Must = No past form Ought = No past form Could = Past ability May = Permission</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the periphrastic modal HAVE TO correspond to?

    <p>Must</p> Signup and view all the answers

    All modal verbs have a past form.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Emphatic affirmation can be expressed with the emphatic modal __________.

    <p>shall</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following adjectives can be classified as polar adjectives?

    <p>careful</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Predicative adjectives that select an abstract subject are often expressed by using nominal predicatives.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are the two types of intransitive verbs mentioned?

    <p>simple and complex</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Predicative adjectives that select an abstract subject include: hard, easy, __________.

    <p>difficult</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following types of predicative adjectives with their descriptions:

    <p>Predicative adjectives (+human) = Adjectives exclusively taking human subjects Predicative adjectives (+concrete) = Adjectives expressing physical attributes Predicative adjectives (animate) = Adjectives relating to living beings Predicative adjectives (abstract) = Adjectives that are often used with sentential subjects</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following adjectives is an example of a predicative adjective that expresses attributes of colour?

    <p>blue</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The link verb BE followed by a prepositional phrase is a common pattern in English.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The nominal predicative expressed by a ___________ phrase is common in idiomatic expressions.

    <p>prepositional</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary function of the copulative verb 'be'?

    <p>To link the subject to the predicative</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The verb 'be' has substantive meaning in sentences.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Name one type of copulative verb other than 'be'.

    <p>become</p> Signup and view all the answers

    A copulative verb that indicates a change of state is __________.

    <p>become</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following types of copulative verbs with their functions:

    <p>Sensory copulative verbs = Associated with sensory perceptions Stative copulative verbs = Show a current state of the subject Change of state copulative verbs = Indicate a transition from one state to another</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which sentence contains a semantically poor copulative verb?

    <p>The flowers smell sweet.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The verb 'appear' functions as a semantically empty copulative verb.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are the three roles of the copulative verb 'be' in a predicate?

    <p>To link the subject to the predicative, to show agreement in person and number, to indicate tense and aspect.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is an example of a complex intransitive verb pattern?

    <p>He put up with her complaints.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Intransitive verbs never take objects.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of object do complex intransitive verbs require when they have an indirect object?

    <p>A preposition marked 'to'.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    To apologize to someone for ______.

    <p>something</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the verbs with their corresponding patterns:

    <p>belong to = Indirect Object + Preposition argue with = Indirect Object + Prepositional Object lecture to = Indirect Object + Prepositional Object submit to = Indirect Object + Preposition</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which sentence correctly illustrates a complex intransitive verb with two prepositional objects?

    <p>All of the above.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The verbs 'cost' and 'owe' can be treated as transitive verbs.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Name one semantic group that modifies the indirect object in complex intransitive verbs.

    <p>Verbs of perception.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is considered a prepositional reflexive verb?

    <p>To pride oneself on something</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Complex intransitive verbs take a Subject and a direct object.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is an example of an intransitive reflexive verb?

    <p>To fend for oneself</p> Signup and view all the answers

    A reflexive verb that can be used both as reflexive and non-reflexive is 'to ___'.

    <p>bathe</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the verbs to their types:

    <p>To break into = Prepositional intransitive verb To look forward to something = Prepositional phrasal intransitive verb To dress = Reflexive verb To busy oneself with something = Prepositional reflexive verb</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following pairs correctly describes a complex intransitive verb?

    <p>To provide for - requires an object</p> Signup and view all the answers

    All phrasal intransitive verbs require an obligatory preposition.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What happens to the object of a preposition when a complex intransitive verb is passivized?

    <p>Moved to initial sentence position</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are the two main arguments involved in the verb 'kill' represented in a sentence?

    <p>Agent and Patient</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The roles PATIENT and THEME are always considered separate thematic roles.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the thematic role of 'the lion' in the sentence 'The lion killed the deer'?

    <p>AGENT</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The thematic grid for the verb 'give' is represented as: ________.

    <p>&lt; AGENT, THEME, BENEFICIARY/GOAL &gt;</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the auxiliary verbs with their functions.

    <p>HAVE = Emphasis BE = Coda</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which adverb would indicate the AGENT in the sentence 'Tim rolled the ball towards the fence'?

    <p>deliberately</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the acronym NICE used to refer to regarding auxiliary verbs?

    <p>Negation, Inversion, Coda, Emphasis</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The negator 'not' is always separated from the auxiliary verb in negative sentences.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Argument Structure and Thematic Structure

    • Semantic structure of sentences is essential for understanding relations between constituents.
    • Predicates require specific constituents (arguments) to form meaningful sentences.
    • Obligatory constituents are called arguments, and optional ones are adjuncts.
    • Two-place predicates require two arguments (e.g., subject and object).
    • Transitive verbs (like imitate) correspond to two-place predicates.
    • Ditransitive verbs (like give) correspond to three-place predicates.
    • Intransitive verbs (like sneeze) correspond to one-place predicates.
    • Argument structure determines obligatory sentence elements.
    • Understanding verb meaning helps determine number of arguments.

    Thematic Structure

    • Semantic relationships between verbs and arguments are thematic roles.
    • Key thematic roles:
      • AGENT/ACTOR: Initiator of the action.
      • PATIENT: Undergoes the action.
      • THEME: The person or thing moved by the action.
      • EXPERIENCER: The individual experiencing an emotion.

    Syntactic Properties of Auxiliary Verbs (NICE)

    • Auxiliary verbs (HAVE and BE) participate in negation, inversion, coda, and emphasis (NICE).
    • Negation: Negative marker (not) follows auxiliary.
    • Inversion: Auxiliary is inverted with the subject in yes/no questions, wh-questions, and tag questions.
      • Exception: Wh-questions addressed to the subject don't invert.
    • Coda: Auxiliary verbs are preserved in reduced coordinate clauses.
    • Emphasis: Auxiliary verbs are stressed in emphatic statements.

    DO-Support

    • Auxiliary DO helps or "supports" lexical verbs in certain syntactic processes.
    • DO-support is required in negation, inversion, coda, and emphasis when no auxiliary is present.
    • DO is inserted before the lexical verb.

    Periphrastic Modals

    • Periphrastic modals are closely related to pure modals but do not share all grammatical characteristics.
    • Periphrastic modals have a suppletive role, meaning they substitute for missing modal verb forms.
    • HAVE TO is a common periphrastic modal, with do-support in interrogatives and negatives.
    • Copulative predication consists of a copula (link verb) and a predicative (adjectival or nominal).
    • Link verbs (e.g., be, become, seem) connect the subject to the predicative.
    • Examples: John is handsome, The table is wooden.

    Transitive Verbs

    • Transitive verbs require a direct object.
    • Three types:
      • Monotransitive: Require one obligatory constituent: the subject and the direct object (e.g., The dog ate the ball).
      • Ditransitive: Require one obligatory constituent: subject, direct object, and indirect object. (e.g., The boy gave Sally a ball).
      • Complex Transitive: Take an obligatory constituent (subject, direct object, with other optional constituents). (e.g., The dog carried the ball to the girl).

    Types of Intransitive Verbs

    • Intransitive verbs do not take a direct object.
    • Types of intransitive verbs
      • Simple Intransitive Verbs:
      • Reflexive Verbs: Require a reflexive pronoun (e.g., She hurt herself).
      • Inherently Reflexive Verbs: Need a reflexive pronoun: (e.g., The door opened).
      • Prepositional Intransitive Verbs: Intransitive verbs with obligatory preposition to complete the meaning (e.g., He contributed to the victory).

    Causative Verbs

    • Causative verbs express direct causation of an event.
    • Three types of Causative verbs
      • Periphrastic: These verbs often include "cause," "make," or "have." (e.g., she made the cake).
      • Lexical: These verbs express causation indirectly. (e.g., the wind shattered the window).
      • Morphological: Formed from adjectives or nouns. (e.g. the teacher cooled the soup).

    The Adjectival Predicative (and Nominal Predicative)

    • The adjectival predicative is expressed by an adjectival phrase, such as "She is excited" or "The plan is excellent.".
    • The nominal predicative is expressed by a noun phrase (e.g., "She is a nurse").

    Studying That Suits You

    Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

    Quiz Team

    Related Documents

    Argument Structure and Thematic Structure PDF

    Description

    This quiz explores the semantic structures of sentences, focusing on argument structures and thematic roles. It covers the requirements of predicates, the relationships between verbs and their arguments, and the roles they play in sentence construction. Enhance your understanding of how meaning is constructed in language.

    More Like This

    Syntax and Argument Structure Quiz
    5 questions

    Syntax and Argument Structure Quiz

    ProductiveTaiga avatar
    ProductiveTaiga
    Understanding Argument Structure in Logic
    12 questions

    Understanding Argument Structure in Logic

    SensationalFactorial avatar
    SensationalFactorial
    Rational Argument Structure Quiz
    8 questions

    Rational Argument Structure Quiz

    WellBehavedOctopus868 avatar
    WellBehavedOctopus868
    Understanding Argument Structure in Essays
    5 questions

    Understanding Argument Structure in Essays

    BraveTantalum avatar
    BraveTantalum
    Use Quizgecko on...
    Browser
    Open
    Browser
    Browser