Scribd
Upload
184 views30 pages

Unit 5 Predicates

The document discusses predicates and predicators in sentences. It defines a predicator as the word that makes the most specific contribution to the meaning of a sentence and does not belong to any referring expressions. Predicates are words that can function as predicators. The degree of a predicate refers to the number of arguments it normally takes, such as one-place, two-place, or three-place predicates. Examples of different types of predicates include verbs, adjectives, nouns, and prepositions.

Uploaded by

Quang Nguyễn
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
184 views30 pages

Unit 5 Predicates

The document discusses predicates and predicators in sentences. It defines a predicator as the word that makes the most specific contribution to the meaning of a sentence and does not belong to any referring expressions. Predicates are words that can function as predicators. The degree of a predicate refers to the number of arguments it normally takes, such as one-place, two-place, or three-place predicates. Examples of different types of predicates include verbs, adjectives, nouns, and prepositions.

Uploaded by

Quang Nguyễn
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 30

Unit 5

Predicates
Write down the single word (or part of a word) which carries
the most specific information.
The words we have just isolated from their original sentences
we call the predicators of those sentences.
PREDICATOR
The PREDICATOR of a simple declarative sentence is the
word (sometimes a group of words) which does not
belong to any of the referring expressions and which, of the
remainder, makes the most specific contribution to the
meaning of the sentence. Intuitively speaking, the
predicator describes the state or process in which the
referring expressions are involved. (vị tố)
Examples:
1/ Mummy is asleep.
 asleep describes the state Mummy is in.
2/ The white man loved the Indian maiden.
 love describes the process in which the two referring
expressions the white man and the Indian maiden are involved.
The semantic analysis of simple declarative sentences
reveals two major semantic roles played by different
subparts of the sentence. These are the role of
predicator (vị tố), and the role(s) of argument(s) (tham
tố), played by the referring expression(s).

• Juan is Argentinian predicator: Argentinian,


argument: Juan
• Juan arrested Pablo predicator: arrest,
arguments: Juan, Pablo
• Juan took Pablo to Rio
predicator: take,
arguments: Juan, Pablo, Rio
menace Dennis

show Fred, Jane, his BMW

Donald, his family


proud

outside The hospital,


the city
The Degree of a Predicate
The Degree of a Predicate is a number indicating the
number of arguments it is normally understood to
have in simple sentences.

1/ John is asleep.
Asleep is a predicate of degree one (often
called a one-place predicate)
2/ Marry loves Peter.
Love (verb) is a predicate of degree two (a two-
place predicate)
3/ She gave him a shirt.
Give is a predicate of degree three (a three-
place predicate)
Predicates (Verbs)
Predicates (Verbs)
Predicates (Verbs)

3
Predicates (Prepositions)
2

3
Predicates (Adjectives)

1
1
1
Predicates (Adjectives)

2
2
2
Predicates (Nouns)

1
1
1
1

1
Predicates (Nouns)
MINDS/
INTENTIONS
(inside
Expressions ourselves)

(a word, a
phrase, a
clause) LANGUAGE THE WORLD
REFERENTS
EXPRESSIONS
REFERENCE (outside of
Not referring ourselves)
Referring (predicators/ predicate)
Predicating expressions

Definite NPs
Nouns Adjectives Verbs Prepositions
(The man, the
girl in the
corner, my
mother) He was a genius.
He is tall. He sleeps.
She is a mother. He is at home.
You are He is reading a
different. book. She is in class.
Indefinite NPs He is between A
She is afraid. He gives me a
(a man, forty gift. and B.
buses)
PREDICATOR
1. which does not belong to any of the referring
expressions
2. makes the most specific contribution to the
meaning of the sentence

PREDICATE
is any word (or sequence of words) which (in
a given single sense) can function as the
predicator of a sentence.

You might also like