PA RT T WO
From reference . . .
50
predicates, and can function as predicators in other sentences, e.g.
John is
tall,
He is handsome,
He is a stranger, and
That ramshackle building is a
saloon.
Practice (1) In which of the following
sentences does the predicate male function as a
predicator? Circle your choice.
(a)
The male gorilla at the zoo had a nasty accident yesterday
(b)
The gorilla at the zoo is a male
(c)
The gorilla at the zoo is male
(2) In which of the following sentences does the predicate
human function
as predicator?
(a)
All humans are mortal
(b)
Socrates was human
(c)
These bones are human
Feedback
(1) (b), (c) (2) (b), (c)
Comment We turn now to the matter of the degree of predicates.
Definition The DEGREE of a predicate is a number indicating the number of arguments
it is normally understood to have in simple sentences.
Example
Asleep is a predicate of degree one (often called a one-place predicate)
Love (verb) is a predicate of degree two (a two-place predicate)
Practice (1) Are the following sentences acceptable?
(a)
Thornbury sneezed
Yes / No
(b)
Thornbury sneezed a handful of pepper
Yes / No
(c)
Thornbury sneezed his wife a handful of pepper
Yes / No
(2) So is
sneeze a one-place predicate?
Yes / No
(3) Are the following sentences acceptable in normal usage?
(a)
Martha hit
Yes / No
(b)
Martha hit the sideboard
Yes / No
(c)
Martha hit George the sideboard
Yes / No
(4) So is
hit a one-place predicate?
Yes / No
(5) Is
die a one-place predicate?
Yes / No
(6) Is
come a one-place predicate?
Yes / No
(7) Is
murder (verb) a one-place predicate?
Yes / No
Feedback
(1)(a) Yes (b) No (c) No (2) Yes (3) (a) No (b) Yes (c) No (4) No (5) Yes
(6) Yes (7) No
U N I T 5
Predicates
51
Comment A verb that is understood most naturally with just two arguments, one as its
subject, and
one as its object, is a two-place predicate.
Example In
Martha hit the parrot,
hit is a two-place predicate: it has an argument,
Martha, as
subject and an argument,
the parrot, as direct object.
Practice (1) Are the following sentences acceptable?
(a)
Keith made
Yes / No
(b)
Keith made this toy guillotine
Yes / No
(c)
Keith made this toy guillotine his mother-in-law
Yes / No
(2) So is
make a two-place predicate?
Yes / No
(3) Is
murder a two-place predicate?
Yes / No
(4) Is
see a two-place predicate?
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