2.1.1.2. Intransitive predicates: unergatives and unaccusatives

Some predicates in DGS only take a single argument, yet we split these predicates into two subclasses based on the kind of argument they take. Unergative verbs typically take arguments with the semantic role agent (b), while the arguments of unaccusative verbs are themes (a).

 

a.      h1:        summer flower                bloom

         h2:                                   flower

           â€˜In summer, flowers bloom.’         



                
           

   

 

b.        m-a-x laugh

‘Max is laughing.’