Sentential Semantics Practice 2
1. Identify the semantic/thematic roles filled by the noun phrases in the sentences below. If a NP could fill more than one semantic/thematic role, describe the possible roles and the difference in meaning they would entail.
1. Hermione thought about the Eiffel Tower.
2. The Eiffel Tower preyed on her mind.
3. Mervin bought a picture of the Eiffel Tower from Hermione.
4. Hermione sold a picture of the Eiffel Tower to Mervin.
5. The picture of the Eiffel Tower fell on Hermione.
6. Hermione's picture of the Eiffel Tower thrilled Mervin.
7. Hermione's picture thrilled Mervin.
2. What presuppositions do each of the following sets of sentences share?
Set a
1. After stealing ten million dollars, Earnest went to jail.
2. After stealing ten million dollars, Earnest retired to the Riviera.
3. The ten million dollars Earnest stole didn't make him happy.
4. The sense of achievement that Earnest got from stealing the ten million dollars made him very happy.
5. His theft of ten million dollars, haunted Earnest until the day he died.
6. Earnest never had a moment's twinge of guilt about stealing the ten million dollars.
Set b
1. Charley was really happy to finish first in the Boston Marathon.
2. Charley's winning the Boston Marathon astonished all his friends.
3. Oscar was disappointed that he came in second to Charley in the Boston Marathon.
4. Miriam knows that Charley earned his win in the Boston Marathon.
3. What are the semantic differences in the following pairs of sentences?
1a. Jennifer knows that the world is flat.
b. Jennifer believes that the world is flat.
2a, The claim that birds are dinosaurs is misunderstood by the general public.
b. The fact that birds are dinosaurs is misunderstood by the general public.
3a. It rained here today.
b. It must have rained here today.
4. Identify the following sentences as analytic, contradictory or synthetic.
1. He's his father's son all right.
2. He's Bill's son.
3. He's a chip off the old block.
4. He's his father's father.
5. Love is a little tweeting bird.
6. No man is an island.
7. Hatred blinded the man.
8. The varicella zoster virus causes shingles.