1. Subcategories 3: Transitivity
Lec. 6

2. Objectives
Understand the notions of argument structure, predicates & arguments
Be able to identify subcategories of verbs based on the number & type of arguments they take (i.e. valency of transitivity)
represent these subcategories with features
Like nouns, we will see the subcategorization of verbs; the number of nouns they take as obligatory companions.

3. 1. Arguments vs. Adjuncts
A predicate expresses a relation between individuals in the world (which can be abstract). The entities involved in the predicate are known as the arguments.
E.g.
Calvin ate the stinky tuna
The Predicate: ate
The Arguments: Calvin + the stinky tuna

4. 1. Arguments vs. Adjuncts
Predicates are typically verbs (verbal predicates), but they can also involve other parts of speech.
Arguments can be nouns or determiners with nouns
E.g.
Calvin ate the stinky tuna
The Predicate: ate
The Arguments: Calvin + the stinky tuna

5. 1. Arguments vs. Adjuncts
We will call all of these structures (arguments) Determiner Phrases or DPs.
Arguments can also be nouns and related structures marked with a preposition, which we will call Prepositional Phrases or PPs.
E.g.
Andrew sent a package to Dan
The Predicate:
The DP argument:
The PP argument:

6. 1. Arguments vs. Adjuncts
We can also find cases where embedded clauses (sentences inside sentences), which we will call Complementizer Phrases or CPs, serve as arguments:
E.g.
I thought [CP that Calvin ate the stinky tuna].
The Predicate:
The Complementizer Phrase or CP:

7. 1. Arguments vs. Adjuncts Please remember that
DPs: the group of words associated with nouns
PPs: the group of words associated with a preposition at the front
CPs: are clauses (essentially embedded sentences)

8. 1. Arguments vs. Adjuncts
Arguments only include the elements that are necessary for completing the meaning of the verb
Any additional DPs or PPs are called adjuncts

9. 1. Arguments vs. Adjuncts Calvin ate the tuna with a fork with a fork
Predicate
Art built the sun room on Friday
on Friday
the sun room
built
Art
Heidi put the avocado in the fridge
in the fridge
the avocado
put
Heidi

10. 1. Argument vs. Adjuncts
Being obligatory is a good guide to whether an element is an argument or an adjunct
But remember !
Calvin ate the tuna.
Calvin ate.

11. Exercise 1 I smiled Susan kissed Cathy with too much lipstick
Pangur hit art with the cat toy
I passed Dave the beef waffles last week

12. 2. Argument structure: Transitivity
One traditional way to subcategorize verbs is to make reference to the number of arguments that they take (verb’s valency). A verb that takes one argument is said to be intransitive; those that take two are transitive, and those that take three are ditransitive.
Example
Valency
Transitivity
Arrive, sleep
1 argument
Intransitive
Love, want
2 arguments
Transitive
give, put,
3 arguments
Ditransitive

13. Exercise 2
Go back to exercise 1 and identify if the following verbs are intransitive, transitive, or ditransitive based on the sentences given. Note that adjuncts do not count in determining transitivity:
Smile …………………………………………………………………
Kiss …………………………………………………………………
Hit …………………………………………………………………
Pass …………………………………………………………………

14. 2. Argument structure: Transitivity
We need to distinguish verbs like ask, which allow either a DP (a determiner phrase) or a CP (a clause) as one of its arguments, from a verb like hit, which requires that the argument that follows be a DP and never a CP.
E.g.
I asked [DP the question]
I asked [CP if you knew the answer]
I hit [DP the ball]
* I hit [CP that you knew the answer]

15. 2. Argument structure: Transitivity
We will distinguish external arguments from internal arguments:
External Feature: typically the subject, or the noun that comes before the verb
Internal Feature: they come after the verb, i.e. direct & indirect objects
Both INTERNAL & EXTERNAL features are values of the SUBCAT feature

16. Example i
The verb laugh requires that its subject be capable of laughing. This is only possible when
the subject is + animate
The subject argument of laugh must be a DP
The external arguments are placed between { }

17. Laugh
Laugh
CATEGORY V
SUBCAT
EXTERNAL DP
+ animate

18. Example ii
The verb bother can take either a DP or a CP as EXTERNAL properties, but it does not take a PP
[DP Undercooked beef waffles] bother John
[CP That Susan baked her beef waffles] bothers John
* [PP With butter and jam] bother John
*/# The undercooked beef waffles bother [the stone]
* The undercooked beef waffles bother [CP that the man left]

19. Bother Bother CATEGORY V SUBCAT EXTERNAL { DP/ CP } ENTERNAL DP
+ animate

20. Example iii Ditransitive verbs take two internal arguments
The verb put takes 2 internal arguments
The internal arguments are placed between < > which indicates an ordering
The verb put takes the following arguments < DP, PP>
e.g.
I put [DP the book] [PP on the table]
* I put [DP the book] [DP the table]

21. put Put CATEGORY V SUBCAT EXTERNAL DP + animate
ENTERNAL < DP, PP>

22. Example iv The verb give allows more than one possible order:
I gave the book to Chris
I gave Chris the book

23. Give Give CATEGORY V SUBCAT EXTERNAL DP + animate
ENTERNAL { < DP, PP > }
{ < DP, DP > }

24. Exercise i Arrive I arrived * [PP to the store] arrived
* [ CP that Calvin sang] arrived
* I arrived [DP the package]
* I arrived [CP that Calvin sang]
Please remember
Ignore PPs in sentences like I arrived at the station, because they are adjuncts

25. Exercise i
Arrive
CATEGORY V
SUBCAT
EXTERNAL DP

26. Exercise II Rub * I rub I rubbed [DP the genie’s Lamp]
* I rubbed [PP to the genie]
*I rubbed [CP that Calvin sang]

27. Exercise ii
rub
CATEGORY V
SUBCAT
EXTERNAL DP
+ animate
ENTERNAL DP

28. Exercise III Kiss I kissed [DP the policewoman]
*I kissed [PP to the policewoman]
*I kissed that Calvin sang
*The store kissed the policewoman
I kissed the stone
I kissed water
*To me kissed the policewoman
*That Calvin sang kissed the policewoman

29. kiss
kiss
CATEGORY V
SUBCAT
EXTERNAL DP
+ animate
ENTERNAL DP CP

30. Exercise iv Kill *I kill I killed [DP the policeman]
* I killed [PP to the policeman]
* I killed [CP that Calvin sang]
The stone killed the policeman
* I killed the stone
* I killed the water
* [PP to me] killed the policeman
* [CP That Calvin sang] killed the policeman

31. KILL
Kill
CATEGORY V
SUBCAT
EXTERNAL DP
ENTERNAL DP
+ animate

32. Exercise v Ask (transitive usage only) I asked [DP the question]
I asked [CP if you knew the answer]
* The stone asked the question
* [PP To me] asked the question
* [CP That Calvin sang] asked the question

33. Ask
Ask
CATEGORY V
SUBCAT
EXTERNAL DP
+ animate
ENTERNAL { DP }
{ CP }

34. Exercise VI Think I thought [DP the answer]
I thought [CP that you knew the answer]
The stone though the answer
[PP from me] thought the answer
[CP that Calvin sang] thought the answer

35. Think Think CATEGORY V SUBCAT EXTERNAL DP { CP } + animate
ENTERNAL { DP }
{ CP }

36. EXERCISE VIi Tell (ditransitive usage only)
I told [DP Daniel] [DP the story]
I told [DP Daniel] [CP that the exam was cancelled]
I told [DP the story] [PP to Daniel]
* I told [PP to Daniel] [DP the story]
* I told [CP that the exam was cancelled] [DP Daniel]
* I told [DP the story] [DP Danile]

37. TELL Tell CATEGORY V SUBCAT EXTERNAL DP { < DP, DP > }
ENTERNAL { < DP, PP > }
{ < DP, DP > }
{ < DP, CP > }

38. Home work
Figure out the INTERNAL & EXTERNAL features for the verbs send & spray