Semantic roles

By
Bushra Tabassum
University of Gujrat
Semantic Roles

A semantic role is the underlying

relationship that a participant has with
the main verb in a clause.
Agent
The instigator of the action denoted by the predicate.
For Example
Ahmed pushed the door.
As in the sentence one role is taken by the Ahmed and
Ahmed performs the action so it is agent.
Patient
The undergoer of the action or event denoted by the
predicate.
For Example
The dog ate the meat.
As in this sentence meat is patient because action is
performed on the meat.
Theme
The entity that is moved by the action or event
denoted by the predicate.
For Example
Farhan kicked the ball.
In this sentence ball is the theme because it is affected
by the action performed by the Farhan.
Experiencer
The living entity that experiences the action or event
denoted by the predicate.
For Example
Sana smelled the rose.
As in this sentence Sana is experiencer because it was
Sana who smelled the rose.
Goal
The location or entity in the direction of which
something moves.
For Example
Alia went home.
As in this sentence home is goal because Alia move
to this place.
Instrument
The medium by which the action or event denoted by
the predicate is carried out.
For Example
Nazia cut the bread with a knife.
In this sentence knife is an instrument beacuse Nazia
perform an action by this object.
Locative
The specification of the place where the action or
event denoted by the predicate in situated.
For Example
Ayesha saw a fly on the wall.
As we know in this sentence wall is location because
the fly is situated to that place.