Semantics: Theta Roles 1.2

Please wait while the activity loads.
If this activity does not load, try refreshing your browser. Also, this page requires javascript. Please visit using a browser with javascript enabled.

If loading fails, click here to try again

This exercise is designed to give the student practice with the basics of theta role assignment. Remember that theta roles are assigned in the deep structure of a sentence and are not altered in the case of a syntactic transformation. The focus in this exercise is to recognize how each noun phrase is related to the verb of which it is an argument. Those which are considered here are: agent, experiencer, theme, source, goal, location, benefactive, instrument Read each sentence and choose the theta role for each underlined noun.

Start

You scored %%SCORE%% out of %%TOTAL%%.

Your answers are highlighted below.

Question 1

Alice gave Molly a hug.

A	benefactive
B	theme Hint: In this sentence, ‘Molly’ is the one who receives something from the action of the verb and is thus a benefactive. The theme undergoes the action of the verb.
C	goal Hint: In this sentence, ‘Molly’ is the one who receives something from the action of the verb and is thus a benefactive. The goal is the entity towards which the action of the verb moves.

Question 2

Melanie likes the food they serve at the Indian restaurant.

A	goal Hint: The goal is the entity towards which the action of the verb moves. In this sentence, ‘the Indian restaurant’ is where the action of the verb ‘serve’ takes place.
B	location
C	theme Hint: The theme undergoes the action of the verb directly.In this sentence, ‘the Indian restaurant’ is where the action of the verb ‘serve’ takes place.

Question 3

The mighty giraffe bashed the lousy tourist with its majestic neck.

A	theme Hint: In this sentence, ‘the mighty giraffe’ is that which carries out a voluntary action. The theme undergoes the action of the verb.
B	agent
C	experiencer Hint: In this sentence, ‘the mighty giraffe’ is that which voluntarily carries out action of the verb. The experiencer undergoes or perceives events.

Question 4

Delilah smashed the Corvette with her trusty hammer.

A	instrument
B	experiencer Hint: The experiencer undergoes or perceives events or states of emotion. In this sentence, ‘her trusty hammer’ is that which is used to carry out an action.
C	theme Hint: The theme undergoes action of the verb. In this sentence, ‘her trusty hammer’ is that which is used to (help) carry out an action.

Question 5

The vendor lashed out at the obnoxious tourist.

A	goal Hint: The goal is the entity towards which the action of the verb moves. In this sentence, ‘the obnoxious tourist’ is the entity undergoing the action of the verb ‘lashed out’, thus is the theme.
B	theme
C	experiencer Hint: The experiencer undergoes or perceives events as the subject. In this sentence, ‘the obnoxious tourist’ is the entity undergoing the action of the verb ‘lashed out’, thus is the theme.

Question 6

From the pit arose the gargantuan beast.

A	location Hint: The location is where the action actually takes place. In this sentence, ‘the pit’ is the origin, or source of the action of the verb.
B	theme Hint: The theme undergoes action of the verb. In this sentence, ‘the pit’ is the origin, or source of the action of the verb.
C	source

Question 7

Adam sent the package to Japan.

A	location Hint: In this sentence, ‘Japan’ is the direction towards which the action moves. The location is where the action takes place.
B	benefactive Hint: In this sentence, ‘Japan’ is the direction towards which the action moves. The benefactive is the entity that benefits or receives something as a result of the action of the verb.
C	goal

Question 8

John loathed the sociolinguistics lecture.

A	agent Hint: The agent carries out a voluntary action. In this sentence, ‘John’ undergoes the feeling of loathing, as the experiencer.
B	experiencer
C	theme Hint: The theme undergoes the action of the verb. In this sentence, ‘John’ undergoes the feeling of loathing, as the experiencer.

Question 9

Zeus zapped the haughty king with a bout of lightning.

A	agent Hint: The agent is that which carries out the action of the verb. In this sentence, ‘a bout of lightning’ is that which is used to (help) carry out an action, thus is the instrument.
B	theme Hint: The theme undergoes the action of the verb. In this sentence, ‘a bout of lightning’ is that which is used to (help) carry out an action, thus is the instrument.
C	instrument

Question 10

Janie suddenly fell into the icy lake.

A	agent Hint: In this sentence, ‘Janie’ is the one who undergoes an involuntary action. The agent voluntarily carries out the action of the verb.
B	experiencer
C	benefactive Hint: In this sentence, ‘Janie’ is the one who undergoes an involuntary action. The benefactive is the entity that benefits or receives something as a result of the action of the verb.

Once you are finished, click the button below. Any items you have not completed will be marked incorrect. Get Results

There are 10 questions to complete.

Return to Semantics Exercises

Semantics: Theta Roles 1.2

Your Subscription Information

Suggestions, Comments, & Questions