Summary of subject semantic roles
Agent subject
Tom threw his socks on the floor.
My dog ate my term paper.
Causer subject
Walter stubbed his toe.
The water damaged the furniture.
Instrument subject
The key opened the door.
The chain saw felled the tree.
Experiencer subject
Benny wants a new sports car.
I smell smoke.
Patient subject
Our pipes froze last night.
The chair broke.
Described subject
That hairdo is hideous.
The room grew dark.
Located subject
Marlene is in the yard.
Terry was on the boat.
Questions, suggestions and issues to consider
1. a) Look at the verbs that are associated with described subjects. Do you notice
anything about them? (See B8.)
b) Look at the verbs that are associated with patient subjects. Do you notice
anything about them? (See C7.)
2. Where would you fit a subject such as the book in
The book talks about many topics
into Berk’s classification?
3. On page 237 Berk mentions the existence of direct objects (rather than subjects)
in the role of experiencer. Can you think of some examples?
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