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Case Grammar Theory

Case grammar theory describes the logical form of sentences in terms of a predicate and case-labelled arguments such as Agent, Instrumental, Dative, Objective, Factitive, and Locative. The theory provides a universal semantic approach to sentence structure and a semantic description of verb meanings. Key cases include the Agentive for the instigator of the action, Instrumental for objects involved in the action, Dative for those affected by the action, and Objective for other noun roles determined by the verb.

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Ghulam Muhammad Abbasi
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564 views2 pages

Case Grammar Theory

Case grammar theory describes the logical form of sentences in terms of a predicate and case-labelled arguments such as Agent, Instrumental, Dative, Objective, Factitive, and Locative. The theory provides a universal semantic approach to sentence structure and a semantic description of verb meanings. Key cases include the Agentive for the instigator of the action, Instrumental for objects involved in the action, Dative for those affected by the action, and Objective for other noun roles determined by the verb.

Uploaded by

Ghulam Muhammad Abbasi
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Case Grammar Theory - Charles Fillmore

Case grammar theory is a semantic valence theory that describes the logical form of a sentence in
terms of a predicate and a series of case-labelled arguments such as Agent (A),Instrumental
(L), Dative (D), Objective (O), Factitive (F), and Locative (L). The theory provides a language
universal approach to sentence semantics as well as a semantic description of the verbs of a
language.

Agentive (A): the agentive case is the case of the (typically animate) perceived instigator of the
action identified by the verb. Agentive must always be chosen as subject in simple active
sentences. The Agentive case is marked with the preposition by, as in sentences.

John/ broke/ the window. A= S

A V O

The window was broken by John. A= PP

O V A

Instrumental (I): The instrumental case is the case of the inanimate force or object causally
involved in the state or action identified by the verb. The instrumental case may occur as the
subject of the verb, as the direct object of the verb use, and also in prepositional phrases (by,
with...)

The hammer/ broke/ the window. I= S

I V O

John used a hammer I=DO

A V I

The window was broken with a hammer I=PP

O V I



Dative (D): the Dative case is the case of the (animate) being affected by the state or action
identified by the verb.

John/ believed/ the story. D= S

A V O

The book was boring to John D=IO

O V A

The movie pleased John D=DO

O V D


Objective (O): the objective case is the semantically most neutral case, the case of anything
representable by a noun whose role in the action or state identifies by the verb is identified by
the semantic interpretation of the verb itself.

The story/ is true. O= S

A V O

John/ liked/ the movie. O=DO

O V A



Factitive (F): is the case of the object or being resulting the state or action identified by the
verb, or understood as part of the meaning of the verb.

John/ built/ a table F=effected O

A V F

Locative (L): is the case which identifies the location or spatial orientation of the state or action
identified by the verb.

The box/ contains/ the toys. L= S

O V O

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