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EduFixersLinguisticsNoun Phrases and Their Semantic Role in the Sentences

Noun Phrases and Their Semantic Role in the Sentences

Subject: Linguistics
Pages: 3
Words: 689
Reading time:
3 min
  1. The pilot flew the plane.
    In this sentence, ‘The pilot’ plays the semantic role of an agent since the noun is linked to a verb in the Active Voice. The specified NP aligns with its grammatical role in the sentence since ‘The pilot’ is a subject in it. ‘The plane,’ in turn, performs the function of a direct object, which implies that it is acted upon; however, it also remains a core argument, which makes it close to the subject and, thus, may create confusion.
  2. The plane was flown by the pilot.
    In the specified sentence, the grammatical role of ‘The plane’ and its semantic function do not quite coincide. While semantically ‘The plane’ is an object on which an action is performed and ‘the pilot’ is the agent, from the grammatical standpoint, ‘The plane’ is a subject in a sentence written in the Passive Voice. ‘The pilot,’ in turn, has its semantic and grammatical functions fully integrated, each representing it as an agent.
  3. A rock smashed the glass.
    One might claim that this sentence also contains a subject that also represents an agent. Indeed, since ‘a rock’ performs an action on ‘the glass,’ it can be deemed as the agent. However, after analysing the issue in greater detail, one will realize that ‘a rock’ as an inanimate object cannot smash ‘the glass,’ which is why the connection between the semantic and grammatical functions, in this case, is tenuous.
  4. Noah smashed the glass with a rock.
    In the example above, the subject and the direct object align with the semantic functions of an agent and the object of an action. However, in regard to ‘a rock’, the grammatical function may be interpreted as either an object or an adverbial modifier of manner. The semantic one, however, restricts the specified NP to an object.
  5. My boss assigned me an important task.
    In the sentence above, the grammatical categories also meet the semantic roles of each NP. Specifically, ‘the boss’ as a subject implies agency, which aligns with the function of a subject. In turn, ‘me’ functions as a recipient in the sentence, which is also indicated by its function as an object. The same can be said about ‘an important task,’ which is also an object and a core argument.
  6. My boss assigned an important task to me.
    The sentence above also shows a coincidence between the semantic and grammatical relationships between NPs.
  7. The cleaner laid the blanket on the bed.
    In this sentence, the grammatical relation between the NPs ‘The cleaner’, ‘the blanket,’ and ‘the bed’ are slightly different from their semantic one. Although ‘The cleaner’ still remains an agent and, correspondingly, the subject, ‘the blanket’ functions as a direct object, while ‘(on) the bed’ is semantically an area or an object. However, in the grammatical context, the specified NP serves as an adverbial modifier of place.
  8. The cleaner dropped the blanket on the bed.
    The specified case is similar to the one described above, with the first two NPs being quite compatible with their semantic expression, while the third one represents an adverbial modifier.
  9. They played football for three days.
    The subject coincides with the notion of an agent, ‘football’ aligns with the concept of an object, and ‘for three days’ is an adverbial modifier of time, which is different from its grammatical expression of an NP.
  10. They washed the dishes for their mother one day.
    Similarly, the first two nouns align with their grammatical role of a subject and an object, yet the third one serves as an adverbial modifier of time. As the analysis provided above has shown, the connection between the semantic and grammatical role of NPs may turn out to be quite tenuous. Particular confusion may arise when considering the distinction between the core adjunct and the oblique argument since both may refer to a pre- or postpositional NP. However, it seems that possible misconceptions may stem not from the nature of the specified concepts but rather from the lack of clarity in their definition. Specifically, the line between an adverbial phrase representing an oblique adjunct and the one that is supposed to be interpreted as the oblique argument is rather thin and, at times, difficult to discern.