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1. Theta-roles: DPs are assigned a semantic role (thematic roles, theta role for short) in
sentences, which are a description of event or state. Here are a list of major theta roles:
Agent, Theme, Patient, Experiencer, Goal, and Possessor.
Q1: Examine each sentence below and then answer the following questions:
(4) John sent the first book that Mary wrote to Bob.
(3) *Rained.
(6) *John gave the book Mary (meaning John gave Mary the book)
Theta-Criterion
a. Each (obligatory) theta-role selected by a predicate must be assigned to a referential
expression.
b. Each referential expression must be assigned a theta-role.
Q3: Assuming that sentences in English are VP, formulae the rules that determines
which theta-role be assigned in which position in view of the examples above.
Discuss which example fits with the structure below and which doesn't.
Also discuss how an active sentence is related to its passive counterpart based on the
VP you draw.
VP
DP V'
V DP