The Roles Played by Referring Expression Called Participant Roles Into

Variety of Predicates
Predicate is an important part in a sentence and it is often found in utterance either in

speaking or writing. Predicate can be defined as a part that has an important function to
identify arguments in sentence, or describe the referring expression in a particular situation.
In syntax, it is clear that predicate is generally understood to be realized as a verb. While in
semantics, predicate is one of basic part that associates with referring expression or
argument. Semantic role is a part of sentence in the basic type of semantic instead of
predicate. Semantic role is an argument which is played by referring expression. The
arguments that accompany the predicate have different semantic functions, or roles, in the
proposition. Predicate has a function to identify the role of argument in producing meaning
and the other function of predicate is to identify a role that argument has in particular
situation of the sentence. Predicate can be preposition, object or object phrase, adjective or
adjective phrase, and noun phrase. It means that syntax and semantic cannot be separated
in a sentence because the two are interrelated. The meaning of a sentence, which is
semantics, has the account of different form of the ‘same’ word (cat-cats, connect-
connecting-connected, etc) which is ruled in syntax. In this case, while semantics deals with
meaning, syntax deals with structure of meaning.
The roles played by referring expression called participant roles into:
a. Agent: the person carrying out the action described.
As example: the gardener in the gardener opened the gate
b. Affected: the thing or the person, upon which the action is carried out.
As example: the door in the gardener opened the door.
c. Instrument: the thing by means of which the action is carried out.
As example: the key in the gardener opened the gate with the key.
d. Beneficiary: the person for whose benefit the action.
As example: students in the gardener opened the gate for the students.
e. Location: the place where the action described.
As example: In campus in the gardener opened the gate for the students in the
campus.
Classify the thematic roles into:
a. Agent is the one who performs an action.
For example: Joyce ran.
b. Theme is the one or thing that undergoes an action.
For example: Mary found the puppy.
c. Location is the place where an action happens.
For example: It rains in Surabaya.
d. Goal is the place to which an action originates
For example: He flew from Singapore to Surabaya.
e. Instrument is the means by which an action is performed.
For example: Freddie cuts hair with a razor.
f. Experiencer, one who perceives something.
For example: Ruli heard Beni playing the guitar.
g. Causative, a natural force that causes a change.
For example: The wind damaged the roof.
h. Possessor, one who has something.
For example: The tail of the dog wagged furiously
Predicate are classified into:
1. Zero-place predicate: predicate that does not require some referent or argument in
the sentence.
For example: It is raining. The verb “rain” does not name anything in the
subject “it”. The sentence has a subject, because English requires a subject, but this
subject does not correspond anything in the sentence.
2. One-place predicate: predicate that requires in one arguments. Adjective usually
one-place predicate, e.g.: happy, cool, etc.
For example: She is happy. “She” is an argument and “happy” is one-place
predicate which has the function as an adjective. This sentence is intransitive verbs, or
it can be called one-argument predicate. Argument names an actor that carries out the
action (predicate). Predicates tell what an argument did.
3. Two-place predicate: a verb or predicate with two arguments, namely as a subject
and an object).
For example: Jane teaches English. “Jane” is an argument as a subject in a
sentence; “teaches” is two-place predicate which has the function as a verb; and
“English” is an argument as an object in a sentence. Predicate is as a link between one
argument as a subject and another argument as an object.
4. Three -place predicate: predicate with three arguments.
For example: the museum is between the church and the school. “The
museum”, “the church”, and “the school” are arguments; and “between” is a three-
predicate which has the function as preposition.
The degree of predicate or the classification of predicate which have number of zero,
one, two, or three of arguments are required when the predicate used as predicator in
utterance or sentence. Therefore, predicate can be functioned as predicator. Then,
predicator becomes a central part of the analysis.
A variety of predicates
1. Attitudinal predicates: express mental. It means that people have about their past
experiences and possible future and general feelings about likes, dislikes and
preferences. Attitudinal predicate is a verb or adjective that expresses the feelings of
the subject.
For example: I hate this music “Hate” is kind of expression of dislikes to something.
2. Enabling and preventing: express actions that cause something to be done, enables
someone to act, or prevents someone from acting.
An enabling predicate is a verb or an adjective which tells that the following
predication is made possible.
For example: we allowed the car to pass. “Allowed” is an enabling predicate by
using of authority. The subject “we” makes possible for something (“car”) to do
something (“pass”).
A preventing predicate is a verb which states that an agent causes the non-
occurrence of the predication.
For example: I kept the ball from rolling away. “Kept” is a preventing predicate by
using of effort.
3. Perceptual predicates: express the sensations. It is also called “sensory verbs”,
express the sensations through five hands.
For example: Alice heard a funny song. “Heard” is a perceptual predicate by using
sensory of ear.
Example of Predicate Analysis
a) I’m speaking to every individual one of you when I say you are very special people.
“I” is a subject of an argument which has the role function of agent. “Speak” is a verb
in predicate. It is one-place predicate because the verb “speak” is intransitive. In this
case, a predicate needs an object or not. “Every individual one of you” becomes an
affected in a role of argument. “When I say you are very special people” has the
function of complement in the sentence.
b) I love the uniform. “I” is a subject of an argument which has the function as an agent.
“Love” is a verb of predicate which needs an object. It is two-place predicate because
there are two arguments, “I” and “the uniform”. “Love” is a kind of expression of
preferences on something, called attitudinal predicate. “The uniform” as an object has
the role function of affected.
c) It is so sexy. “It” here has referent of “the uniform” in the previous sentence. “It” is a
subject which has the role function of theme. “So sexy” is an adjective in the position
of one-place predicate because the verb in this sentence is intransitive.

The Roles Played by Referring Expression Called Participant Roles Into

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Variety of Predicates

Predicate is an important part in a sentence and it is often found in utterance either in

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