PRACTICAL ACTIVITY: IDENTIFY THE THEMATIC ROLES AND PROCESS TYPES IN THE

FOLLOWING SENTENCES.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the given sentences putting into practice the thematic roles contained in Chapter
10 Sentence Semantics (The Structure of Modern English by Laurel J. Brinton) and process types…

1. The principal presented the award to the outstanding students.

The principal agent/source
The award theme
The outstanding students goal
Predicate presented
Process type material
Predicate presented
Type of predicate three-place predicate

2. The principal presented the students with the award.

The principal agent/source
The students theme/goal
The award neutral
Predicate theme/goal
Process type material
Type of predicate three-place predicate

3. The chicken was baked by me.

The chicken patient
by me agent
Predicate was baked
Process type material
Type of predicate two-place predicate

4. The chicken baked in the oven.

The chicken patient
In the oven locative
Process baked
Process type material
Type of predicate one-place predicate

5. That man has a black cat.

That man alienable possessor
A black cat theme/neutral
Predicate has
Process type relational
Type of predicate two-place predicate

6. Jack fell down.

Jack agent/theme
Predicate fell down
 Process type material
Type of predicate one-place predicate

7. They put the book on the desk.

They agent
The book theme
On the table locative
Predicate put
Process type material
Type of predicate three-place predicate

8. The shirt costs fifty dollars.

The shirt neutral
Fifty dollars range
Predicate costs
Process type material
Type of predicate two-place predicate

9. We made Mary treasurer of the club.

we agent
Mary theme/experiencer
Treasurer role
Predicate made
Process type material
Type of predicate two-place predicate

10. Peter saw his dog.

Peter experiencer
His dog neutral
Predicate saw
Process type material
Type of predicate two-place predicate