Sentence meanings

LINGUISTIC / LITERAL MEANING

For each pair of words and a phrase, list the one that is positive in the “Positive Connotation” (P)
category, the one that is negative in the “Negative Connotation”(N) category, and the phrase that
is a more neutral definition for both words in the "Denotation" (D) column.
1. gaze_____, look steadily_____, stare_____
2. fragrance_____, odor_____, a smell sensed by the olfactory nerve_____
3. brainwash_____, persuade_____, influence one way or another_____
4. delayed_____, not on time_____, tardy_____
5. somewhat interested_____, nosy_____, curious_____
6. lazily_____, without haste_____, leisurely_____
7. ask of someone_____, demand_____, request_____
8. gathering_____, a large group_____, mob_____
9. slim_____, skinny_____, less than average build_____
10. discuss with others_____, debate_____, argue_____
11. observe_____, watch_____, spy_____
12. a young age_____, youthful_____, immature_____
13. not having a care_____, irresponsible_____, carefree_____
14. unique_____, not commonly found_____, strange_____
15. find_____, detect_____, snoop_____
 Exercise 2
1. As snakes continue to grow, they (junk, shed) the protective keratinous layer on the
surface of their bodies because it does not expand.
2. Oblivious to those around him, the father tenderly (smiled, smirked) at his newborn
baby through the window of the hospital nursery.
3. During rush hour traffic in a metropolis, cars creep along at agonizingly slow
(velocities, speeds).
4. Even the coolest star in the night skies is unbelievably (sultry, hot) according to
astronomers.
5. The local newspaper's front-page story indicated that $50,000 was (stolen, taken) from
the town's largest bank during the night.
6. The pack of wild horses (loped, sprinted) alongside the train at top speed for more than
200 yards.
7. Although many Americans purchase meat at their local grocery stores, some farmers
still (butcher, execute) livestock to feed their families.
8. The French are (noted, notorious) for their fine food.
 SEMANTIC/ PARTICIPANT ROLES

• Definition
A semantic role is the underlying
relationship that a participant has
with the main verb in a clause.
 Types
• Agent (A): the one that initiates an action
(person/ animal + action verb)
Ex: Paul opened the door.
• Patient (P): the one that suffers from or is
affected by the action
Ex: Paul opens the door.
The door opened at the first blow of wind.
Paul is boiling water.
Water boils at 100OC.
 Agent? Patient?
1. They cut a tree.
2. Simon built a house.
3. The tire exploded due to the hot
surface of the road.
4. The yard was flooded due to the
heavy rain.
5. The wall blocks the stream.
• Experiencer (E): the one that experiences
a feeling/ sensation/ perception … (a
person / an animal + a non-action verb)
Ex: Paul loves Mary.
I recognize that I’m wrong.
The boy wants a candy.
The teacher remembers meeting me
somewhere.
• Stimulus (S): the one that causes a feeling
/ sensation (emotion verb)
Ex: Paul loves Mary.
I’m afraid of ghost.
The book of the teacher makes me very
happy.
The film interests me a lot.
• Recipient (R) (the receiver): the one that
receives a physical object
• Ex: He gave me a book last night.
My mother brings me facial masks.
• Benefactive (B) : the one that benefits
from an action
Ex: I do all this for you.
I sent him a gift for his son.
• Instrument (I): the one that is used to
perform an action (implying a user)
Ex: I open the door with a hammer.
Paul used a key to open the door.
• Cause (C): the one that causes an action to
happen (not implying a user)
Ex: The door opened suddenly at the blow of
the wind.
Paul was hurt with a knife (implying someone
using a knife to hurt him).
*Paul was hurt by a knife (not implying the user
of the knife).
• Locative (L): the place where an action
happens
Ex: I was born in Đà lạt.
HCM city is a good place to live.
• Temporal (T): the time when an action
happens
Yesterday, I saw you at the supermarket.
 Exercise 15
• 1. The student couldn’t finish the assignment because the library was closed.
• 2. The couple raced the horses through the meadow yesterday morning.
• 3. The teacher was angered by the rowdy students.
• 4. I recall hearing my brother say that.
• 5. Tom lent me enough money to pay the rent.
• 6. At the reunion he ran into his cousin Karl.
• 7. The farmer went to the field before dawn.
• 8. The building was constructed in a commercial zone.
• 9. A big tree was rooted up by the storm last night.
• 10. I enjoy reading books in my free time.
• 11. The immigrants picked strawberries in the early June.
• 12. He never turned in his budget report on time.
• 13. The unlucky customer had the undercooked meat sent back to the chef.
• 14. Traffic was backed up at the intersection because of the accident.
• 15. I‟m very glad to meet you here after so many years.
• 16. The book you gave me on Teacher’s Day was worth reading.
• 17. An unfair attitude toward the poor will contribute to the problem of poverty.
• 18. After the yolk is separated from the white, it must be boiled immediately.
• 19. Nutritionists recommended that foods from each of the four basic groups be eaten regularly.
• 20. It was thought for many centuries that the world was flat.
21. His ingenuity never ceases to amaze me.
22. The hurricane destroyed half of the island.
23. Angela offered the job to her former rival.
24. In the morning we left San Francisco for Austin.
25. Zelda gets angry whenever Scott lies her.
26. The remains will be shipped to Cleveland on Wednesday.
27. The boy seems to be interested in the film shown at NH cinema last night.
28. He hates being disturbed at table.
29. As the storm raged, the waves grew higher and higher.
30. He enjoys going fishing on the lake at sunset.
31. The snow melts at the morning sunshine.
32. The chickens are ready for us to eat in 5 minutes.
33. Do you like the book I sent you?
34. Acid can dissolve a corpse in 5 minutes.
35. The man who loves her must be insane.
36. Alan was sent a special gift on her birthday.
37. Many TV programs today help students to improve their study a lot.
38. The prisoner killed the guard then disappeared into the forest.
39. The beer made from rice drinks very well.
40. Putting one hand in the pocket, he walked around the front yard.
41. Joining the club is a good way of meeting new people.
42. She wants to know if anyone has an umbrella to lend her.
43. Harold doesn‟t like making speeches in front of the class.
44. Trembling with fear, she opened the letter.
45. Delayed by the bad weather, the plane arrived in Hanoi one
hour late.
46. My first job, cleaning the floor, made me exhausted.
47. The door ajar made the girl worried.
48. We watched the brown river swollen with rain.
49. A house surrounded by a large, deep ditch provides us with a
safe shelter.
50. This bed sleeps comfortably.
1. the student: A; the assignment: P; the library: P 26. the remains: P; Cleveland: L; Wednesday: T.
2. the couple: A; the horses: P; the meadow: L; yesterday 27. the boy: E; the film: P; NH cinema: L; last
morning: T night: T.
3. the teacher: E; the rowdy student: S 28. He: E; meal: P.
4. I : E; my brother: A; that: P 29. the storm: C; the waves: P.
5. Tom: A; me: R; money: P; the rent: P 30. he: E; the lake: L; sunset: T.
6. the reunion: T; he: A; his cousin Karl: P 31. the snow: P; the morning sunshine: C.
32. the chickens: P; us: A; 5 minutes: T.
7. the farmer: A; the field: L; dawn: T
33. you: E; the book: P; I : A; you: R.
8. the building: P; a commercial zone: L
34. acid: C; the corpse: P ; 5 minutes: T.
9. a big tree: P; the storm: C; last night: T 35. the man: E; her: S.
10. I: E; books: P; free time: T 36. Alan: R; a special gift: P; her birthday: T.
11. the immigrants: A; strawberries: P; the early June: T 37. many TV program today: I; students: A; their
12. He: A; his budget report: P; study: P.
13. The unlucky customer: A; the undercooked meat: P; the chef: 38. the prisoner: A; the guard: P; the forest: L.
R 39. the beer: P; rice: I.
14. traffic: P; the intersection: L; the accident: C. 40. one hand: P; the pocket: L; he: A; the front
15. I : E; you: P; many years: T. yard: L.
41. the club: L; a good way: I; new people: P.
16. the book: P; you: A; me: R; Teacher’s day: T.
42. she: E; anyone: A; an umbrella: P; her: R
17. an unfair attitude toward the poor: C; the problem of poverty:
43. Harold: E; speeches: P; the class: L.
P.
44. fear: C; she: A; the letter: P.
18. the yolk: P; the white: P; it: P. 45. the bad weather: C; the plane: A; Hanoi: L; one
19. Nutritionists: A; foods from each of the 4 basic groups: P. hour: T.
20. many centuries: P; the world: P. 46. my first job: S; the floor: P; me: E.
21. His ingenuity: S; me: E. 47. the door ajar: S; the girl: E.
22. The hurricane: C; half of the island: P. 48. We: A; the brown river: P; rain: C.
23. Angela: A; the job: P; her former rival: R 49. a house: P; a large, deep ditch: I; us: R/B;
24. the morning: T; we: A; San Francisco: L; Austin: L. a safe shelter: P
50. this bed: L.
25. Zelda: E; Scott: A; her: P.
 Practice
1) How was your day?
2) I don’t feel so good
today.
3) Present is a gift