Theta Roles

Theta roles.

Some sentences express an agent, the affected and an object that affects, e.g. I will give the book to Sarah. They have a valency of 3 (e.g. put, give).

Pseudo-reflexive verbs. Verbs which can be used transitively but are used intransitively when the agent is also the affected, e.g. Anna bathed, dressed, undressed, showered (herself).

Pseudo-reciprocal verbs. Verbs that have a plural subject, e.g. meet, kiss, embrace, marry, separate, divorce.

The problem of understanding the relations between a verb and its arguments is often talked about as the problem of the syntax-semantics interface (a.k.a. linking problem, argument mapping, argument selection, argument realization or theta-role problem).

Goal. The entity towards witch motion takes place, either literally or metaphorically, e.g. she handed her licence to the policeman.

Recipient. Subclass of goal verbs involving a change of possession.

Source. Entity from which the motion takes place, either literally or metaphorically, e.g. the plane came from Vilnius.

Stimulus. The entity causing the effect (usually psychological) in the experiencer, e.g. John didn‘t like the cool breeze.