Difference between revisions of "Argument (definition)"

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Each verb requires a certain number of arguments to make a grammatical [[Clause (definition)|clause]], each of which must be filled with a [[Phrase (definition)|phrase]].
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Clauses consist of two obligatory parts: [[Predicate (definition)|predicates]] and '''arguments''. Arguments are the participants in the action or state described by the predicate.
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The number of arguments is often determined by the particular predicate in use. Take ''paint'' and ''give'' as examples.  
  
 
:1a) Jones painted a picture.
 
:1a) Jones painted a picture.
 
:1b) Jones gave the picture to Smith.
 
:1b) Jones gave the picture to Smith.
  
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In (1a), ''Jones'' and ''a picture'' are both '''core arguments''' of the verb ''paint''. Core arguments are required to form a grammatical clause, unless certain [[Valence Changing Operation (definition)|valence changing operations]] are used.
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In (1a), ''Jones'' and ''a picture'' are both required by the verb ''paint''.
  
 
In (1b), the verb ''gave'' requires three arguments (i.e., it is [[Ditransitive (definition)|ditransitive]], or has a [[Valence (definition)|valence]] of three). Here, ''Jones'', ''the picture'' and ''to Smith'' (a [[Prepositional Phrase (definition)|prepositional phrase]]) are all core arguments.
 
In (1b), the verb ''gave'' requires three arguments (i.e., it is [[Ditransitive (definition)|ditransitive]], or has a [[Valence (definition)|valence]] of three). Here, ''Jones'', ''the picture'' and ''to Smith'' (a [[Prepositional Phrase (definition)|prepositional phrase]]) are all core arguments.
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Additional, optional arguments can appear in a clause. Such arguments are often called '''oblique'''.
 
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:2a) A picture was painted by Jones.
 
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:2b) A picture was painted.
 
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Here, a valence changing operation ([[Passive Voice (definition)|passive voice]]) has been applied and the number of core arguments of the verb decreased to one (''a picture''). The former subject ''Jones'' has become an oblique argument, which we can verify by showing that this argument is optional (2b).
 
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Note that not all "optional" arguments are oblique. For instance, ''Jones painted.'' is grammatical, but this does not mean that in (1a) ''a picture'' is oblique. However, oblique arguments will always be optional.
 
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==See Also==
 
==See Also==
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*[[Clause (definition)]]
 
*[[Clause (definition)]]
 
*[[Passive Voice (definition)]]
 
*[[Passive Voice (definition)]]
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*[[Adjunct (definition]]
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*[[Adjunct (definition)]]
  
 
==External Links==
 
==External Links==

Latest revision as of 22:25, 3 June 2012

Clauses consist of two obligatory parts: predicates and 'arguments. Arguments are the participants in the action or state described by the predicate.

The number of arguments is often determined by the particular predicate in use. Take paint and give as examples.

1a) Jones painted a picture.
1b) Jones gave the picture to Smith.

In (1a), Jones and a picture are both required by the verb paint.

In (1b), the verb gave requires three arguments (i.e., it is ditransitive, or has a valence of three). Here, Jones, the picture and to Smith (a prepositional phrase) are all core arguments.

See Also

External Links

Be very careful with wikipedia articles, which can be edited by anyone and often contain inaccurate information.

References

  • Crystal, D. (2008) Dictionary of Linguistics and Phonetics. 6th Edition. Wiley-Blackwell.
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