Filter Verbs | Liar, Liar
The next offender in our sequence of barrier objects is a big one: filter verbs. Filter Verbs Defined She felt the cold November wind wafting… Read More »Filter Verbs | Liar, Liar
theta-roles
The Case of the Autonomous Body Parts
Prescriptive Rule: “Never use a body part as the subject of your sentence.” E.g., “Her shoulders rose in a hapless shrug.” (This structure is deemed bad, according… Read More »The Case of the Autonomous Body Parts
Verbs, Part 6: Conclusion (for now)
Objectives:
- Describe major verb features and their functions.
- Classify specific verbs according to the theta-roles they assign.
Skill level: Advanced
As indicated by the title, this is the final post in my verb series, though not necessarily my final post on verbs. (Who knows what the future holds, yeah?) This is mostly an overview post, so it’s short, quick, and to the point.
Verbs, Part 4: Theta-Roles, or How to Eliminate Passive Voice
The discussion in this post requires a different view of language structure. For a deeper understanding, I refer you to Andrew Radford’s English Syntax: An Introduction (ISBN 0521542758), particularly pp. 190-193 . Much of this post draws from that source.
Objectives:
- Identify the theta-roles assigned to nouns by verbs.
- Revise Passive Voice from sentences by using verbs with alternate theta-role assignments.
Skill level: Advanced
Read More »Verbs, Part 4: Theta-Roles, or How to Eliminate Passive Voice