Thematic Roles - PDF

# List of Basic Thematic Roles - **AGENT**: the initiator of some action, capable of acting with volition. - Jack ate the beans. - **PATIENT**: the entity undergoing the effect of some action, often undergoing some change of state. - Sue mowed the lawn. - **THEME**: the entity which is move...

# List of Basic Thematic Roles - **AGENT**: the initiator of some action, capable of acting with volition. - Jack ate the beans. - **PATIENT**: the entity undergoing the effect of some action, often undergoing some change of state. - Sue mowed the lawn. - **THEME**: the entity which is moved by an action, or whose location is described. - Fred threw the rock. - **EXPERIENCER**: the entity which is aware of the action or state described by the predicate but which is not in control of the action or state. - Kim saw the deer. - **BENEFICIARY**: the entity for whose benefit the action was performed. - Mary studied hard for her mother. - **INSTRUMENT**: the means by which an action is performed or something comes about. - Fred opened the lock with a paper clip. - **LOCATION**: the place in which something is situated or takes place. - The picture hangs above the fireplace. - **GOAL**: the entity towards which something moves, either literally or metaphorically. - Lee walked to school. - **SOURCE**: the entity from which something moves, either literally or metaphorically. - Sue ran from the policeman. - **ACTOR**: the entity which performs, effects, instigates, or controls the situation denoted by the predicate (supertype of AGENT). - The bus hit a pedestrian. - **RECIPIENT**: a subtype of *GOAL* involved in actions describing changes of possession. - Bill sold the car to Mary. - **PERCEPT/STIMULUS**: the entity which is perceived or experienced. - Mary fears thunder. ## Thematic Roles 1. 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. **PATIENT** - **He** supplied the reporters with information. **AGENT** - Earle has been earning money through **his poetry**. **INSTRUMENT** - We were playing a game of monopoly for **relaxation**. **GOAL** - **Angela** was reading stories to the children this morning. **AGENT** - The police suspected **him** of committing the crime. **PATIENT** - The climber finally reached **the summit of the mountain**. **GOAL** - The captain of the swim team swam 20 laps. **AGENT** - I checked a book out of **the library** yesterday. **SOURCE** - We had to carry the couch up three flights of stairs **to Jerry's apartment**. **GOAL** - **The accountant** made a mistake in the calculations. **AGENT** - Jane envies **my success**. **PATIENT** - I saw Margaret's friend **at the party**. **LOCATION** - **He** lent his friend some money. **AGENT** - **The news about Jesse** consoled me. **THEME** - **He** visited California before his marriage. **AGENT** - **He** is lifting weights for his health. **AGENT** - **The hurricane** destroyed the house. **AGENT** - **His cleverness** never ceases to amaze me. **THEME** - The coach had **the player fumble the ball**. **PATIENT** - **A virus** got into the computer. **THEME** - **The trees** lost their leaves. **PATIENT** - **A blood clot** killed the patient. **THEME** - They filled the pool with **water**. **INSTRUMENT** - **Father** wrote a check for me. **AGENT** - **This shoe** hurts my foot. **THEME**