Predicate-argument structure is a key concept in semantics that breaks down sentences into their core components. It identifies the main verb (predicate) and the entities involved (arguments), revealing the underlying semantic relationships that form the sentence's meaning.

This structure is crucial for understanding how sentences convey information. By analyzing predicates and arguments, we can see how different parts of a sentence work together to create meaning, from simple statements to complex ideas with multiple actions and participants.

Predicate-Argument Structure

Predicate-argument structure basics

• Represents semantic relationships between a verb (predicate) and entities involved in the action or state (arguments)
• Predicate is typically the main verb in a sentence
• Arguments are participants in the action or state described by the predicate
• Captures core meaning of a sentence by identifying key components and their roles
• Abstracts away from specific words used and focuses on underlying semantic relationships
• Essential tool in semantic analysis and representation

Identifying predicates and arguments

• Locate the main verb that describes the action or state to identify the predicate
• Arguments are noun phrases (NPs) semantically related to the predicate
  • Obligatory arguments necessary for the sentence to be complete and meaningful ("John" and "a book" in "John gave a book to Mary")
  • Optional arguments provide additional information but not essential for grammaticality or meaning ("to Mary" in "John gave a book to Mary")
• Number and type of arguments a predicate takes determined by its argument structure or valency

Compositional meaning through predicate-argument structure

• Crucial component in determining compositional meaning of a sentence
• Compositional meaning derived from meanings of individual parts and how they are combined
• Predicate defines type of action or state, arguments specify participants involved
• Semantic roles of arguments (agent, patient, recipient) contribute to overall meaning
  • "John broke the window" - "John" is agent (performer of action), "the window" is patient (entity affected by action)
• Analyzing predicate-argument structure reveals how meaning is constructed from components

Application of predicate-argument analysis

• Represents semantic structure of sentences ranging from simple to complex
• Simple sentences with single predicate and arguments easily represented
  • "Alice sleeps" represented as sleep(Alice)
• Complex sentences with multiple predicates and arguments represented using nested or conjoined structures
  • "Alice believes that Bob loves Mary" represented as believe(Alice, love(Bob, Mary))
• Sentences with adjuncts (optional modifiers) include adjuncts in structure, differentiated from core arguments
  • "Alice runs quickly" represented as run(Alice, quickly)
• Applying predicate-argument structure to varying sentence complexity creates semantic representations capturing core meaning and relationships between components