Basic English Grammar with Exercises

Suggested Answers and Hints - Chapter 3

Exercise 17

The general problem is that the Theta Criterion (a -role must be assigned to one and

only one argument and an argument must bear one and only one -role) is violated for

some reason or another.

a) The verb promise should have two more arguments to which the theme and

the beneficiary thematic roles should be assigned, e.g. Penny promised a present.

b) There are too many arguments in the sentence. Since sleep is an intransitive

verb, there is no need for an object (an extra DP). Thus, the car cannot receive a

thematic role from the verb, so it cannot occur in the sentence.

c) The verb give cannot give its Theme role to any of its arguments because they

already have one role and one argument can have only one thematic role in accordance

with the Theta Criterion. Thus, one argument with the Theme role should be present,

e.g. Gary gave Greg a guitar.

d) One argument is missing from the sentence: the verb give cannot assign all of

its thematic roles to its arguments, more precisely, the Agent role remains unassigned.

An acceptable version would be e.g. Mick gave a cent to Marion.

e) There are too many arguments in the sentence. The verb eat is transitive, thus,

it requires the presence of two arguments (DPs) and to them it can assign two thematic

roles. It means that the PP (for Anne) is superfluous in the sentence because it cannot

have a thematic role.

f) Again, there is one more argument in the sentence than necessary. The verb

dance is intransitive, that is, it can assign one thematic role, to its subject. If another

argument (here Dora) is present in the sentence, it cannot get a thematic role, and the

sentence becomes ungrammatical.

Exercise 18

Thematic roles are always given at the level of D-structure, that is, before movement

takes place. However, movements can be motivated by Case. It means that Case is

relevant only at the level of S-structure, in other words, DPs usually get their Case in

their surface positions.

a) Predicate: think

Thematic roles: experiencer (you)

propositional (Izzy will invite e)

DPs: you nominative

Predicate: invite

Thematic roles: agent (Izzy)

patient (who)

DPs: Izzy nominative

who accusative