Syntax and Semantics II Flashcards
Agent
The one who is doing the action
Patient
The one who is receiving the action and is affected by it
Experiencer
Participant of whats going on but perceives some sensation or reacts tp whats going on
Theme
Event participant that the agents actions are directed to but they are not appreciable change of state
Location
The literal spatial location
Instrument
An object used to carry out the action by the AGENT
Recipient
The one receiving an object or abstract object
Benficiary
An event participant that benefits or is harmed by the agent’s actions
Active Voice
The agent is the subject of the phrase (ex. the dig bit me)
Passive Voice
The patient is the subject of the phrase (ex. I was bitten by the dog)
Head
The element of a unit that defines the function of the unit
The head varies depending on the type of phrase we are dealing with
Dependent
Sub units that “depend” on the head, anchored to the head.
Modifier
Gives information about the event but is not a participant
Clause
Consists of a predicate (usually a verb) and one or more arguments
Phrase
a group of words that serve a specific function in a clause, it is a piece of a clause
Noun Phrase
A phrase headed by a noun
NP
Apposition Phrase
Headed by an apposition (preposition or post-position)
PP
Adjective Phrase
Headed by an adjective
AdjP
Adverbial Phrase
Headed by an adverb
AdvP
Verb Phrase
Headed by a verb, can be considered a clause
VP
Constituent
Phrases that can be substituted for single words in a clause
Head Clause Level
The head on the clause level is usually the verb (connecting the phrases)
Head Phrase Level
The head on a phrase level is usually the noun of the phrase
Noun Phrase
Phrase headed by a noun.
The head of the phrase is the noun that is being described
Noun Phrase modifiers
1. Possessors
2. Nouns
3. Adjectives
4. Determiners
Determiner
Type of modifier - something that points to a specific noun (the, an, a, etc)
Possesors
Type of modifier - shows possession (‘s)
Heavy modifiers
Follows the noun head and consists of more than one word
Simple Modifers
Comes before the noun they modify but after the determiner.
Appositional Phrase
A phrase that is headed by an apposition (preposition or post-position) usually oblique objects
Prepositional Phrase
Head is a preposition
Usually at the end of a clause
Modifiers of Prepositional Phrases
1. Other prepositional phrases
2. Noun phrase
3. Adjective
4. Adverb
Complement
Complement is a phrase that is required by another phrase
An noun phrase is a complement of a prepositional phrase
(Ex. the top shelf (NP) is a complement to on the top shelf (PP))
Possessive Phrase
Possessor - the owner, reference noun phrase, the dependent
Posessee - the thing being owned, the noun phrase that is being identified, the head
Clause
A clause has a subject and a verb
An independent clause is a complete thought that can stand alone
A dependent clause is an incomplete thought, it cannot stand alone
Subordinate clause
A clause that cannot be on its own, it gives information regarding another part of the sentance
Complement Clause
A complement clause adds information to the main clause and modifies the verb, adjective, or noun.
Adverbial Clause
Adds additional information to the sentence that modifies the verb but on a bigger scale than a complement clause - its modifying the whole situation
Relative Clause
A clause that is inside a noun phrase
A relative clause modifies the noun.
Which, who/whom, to whom
Argument Roles
Agent, Experiencer, Patient, Instrument, etc.
