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L15 Verb alternation Alternations o Alternation of a verb - Same sense of the verb, but - Different sets of valid mappings from conceptual roles to surface structure (vibhaktis). That is, same surface role may get mapped to different theta roles, in different usages of the verb. + Ex.: Ram gave a book to Mohan * Obj (book in above ex.) mapped to theme of 'give' + Ex.: Ram gave Mohan a book * Obj (Mohan in ex.) mapped to beneficiary of 'give' - Above called dative alternation o Experiencer - Theme alternations + Ex.: I am frightened. - Subj is experiencer of fright. + Ex.: I frightened the cat. - Subj is agent of causing fright. o Agent-Theme alternation + Ex.1: He opened the lock. - Subj is agent of open. + Ex.2: The lock opened - Subj is theme of open. * Contrast: Sense 2 of 'open' above, is different from passive form: + Ex. of passive: The lock was opened by him. - This passive form of 'open' same as in Ex.1...........................................NEXT PREVIOUS INDEX