UNIT 5: PREDICATES — CHEAT
SHEET
1. Big Picture
A sentence meaning is built from two main parts:
Element Function
Referring Expressions “Who/what are we talking about?”
Predicator “What is happening / what state?”
Example:
My dog bit the postman
• Referring expressions: my dog, the postman
• Predicator: bit
2. How to Find the Predicator (IMPORTANT SKILL)
Step-by-step:
1. Remove all referring expressions
2. Look at the remaining words
3. Choose the word with the most specific meaning
Example:
• Mrs Wraith is writing the Mayor’s speech
→ Remove REs → is writing
→ Most meaningful word → write
3. Definition
Predicator
The main meaning carrier in a sentence (state or action)
• Describes:
o a state → asleep, hungry
o a process/action → run, love, write
4. Important Notes
“be” is usually NOT the predicator
• John is hungry → predicator = hungry, not is
Predicator ≠ grammar “predicate”
• This is semantic, not grammatical
5. Predicator vs Arguments
Arguments = referring expressions
Example:
Juan arrested Pablo
Role Word
Predicator arrest
Arguments Juan, Pablo
Easy Memory Trick:
Predicate = action/state
Argument = participants
6. What is a Predicate?
Definition:
A predicate = any word (or phrase) that can function as a predicator
Can be predicates:
• Verbs → run, eat
• Adjectives → happy, red
• Nouns → genius, teacher
• Prepositions → in, behind
NOT predicates:
• Articles → the, a
• Conjunctions → and, but
VERY IMPORTANT DISTINCTION
Term Meaning
Predicate a word in the language system
Predicator the role in a specific sentence
One sentence = only ONE predicator
But can contain MANY predicates
7. Predicate Degree (SUPER IMPORTANT)
Definition:
Number of arguments a predicate needs
1-place predicate (ONE argument)
describes one entity
Examples:
• sleep
• hungry
• die
Sentence:
• John is hungry → 1 argument
2-place predicate (TWO arguments)
needs subject + object
Examples:
• hit
• love
• see
Sentence:
• John hit Mary → 2 arguments
3-place predicate (THREE arguments)
subject + object + receiver/location
Examples:
• give (most common)
• put
Sentence:
• John gave Mary a book → 3 arguments
Quick Table
Degree Structure Example
1-place X John sleeps
2-place X → Y John loves Mary
3-place X → Y → Z John gave Mary a book
8. Predicate Degree in Different Word Types
Verbs
• sneeze → 1-place
• hit → 2-place
• give → 3-place
Prepositions
• under → 2-place (book under table)
• between → 3-place (between A and B)
Adjectives
Most = 1-place
• happy, tall, smelly
BUT some = 2-place
• afraid of
• different from
• similar to
Nouns
Most = 1-place
• teacher, genius
BUT relational nouns = 2-place
• brother (of someone)
• father (of someone)
9. Multi-word Predicates
Some predicates are phrases:
• wait for
• in front of
Treated as ONE predicate
10. One Predicate = One Meaning
A predicate must have ONLY ONE sense
Example:
• bank → ambiguous
o bank₁ = financial
o bank₂ = river side
11. Identity Relation (SPECIAL CASE)
Found in equative sentences
Example:
• She is my mother
• That man is John
Function:
Shows two expressions refer to the SAME thing
Important:
“be” has TWO roles:
Function Example
Identity She is my sister
Linking She is happy
12. Key Insights (Exam Gold )
✔ Predicators describe states or actions
✔ Arguments are participants
✔ Predicates can be verbs, nouns, adjectives, prepositions
✔ Degree = number of arguments
✔ One sentence = one predicator only
✔ Predicate ≠ predicator (VERY COMMON TRAP!)
13. Ultra-Quick Summary
Sentence meaning =
Referring Expressions (arguments) + Predicator
Predicator = core meaning
Predicate = word that can be predicator
Degree = number of participants