English Semantics
Predicates
(từ sắm vai vị ngữ trong câu)
[Hurford, Heasley & Smith, Unit 5, 2007: 45-55]
1. Predicates (từ sắm vai vị ngữ trong câu)
Definition “A predicate IS any word (or sequence of words) which (in a given single sense)
can FUNCTION as the predicator of a sentence.” [Hurford, Heasley & Smith, 2007: 48]
‘A predicate’ LÀ một từ (hoặc một chuỗi từ) bất kỳ mà (với một nghĩa độc nhất
được xác định rõ) có khả năng SẮM vai vị ngữ của câu.
Example hungry, in, crook, asleep, hit, show, bottle are all predicates; and, or, but, not are not.
Practice Are the following predicates?
(1) dusty
Yes / No
(4) you
Yes / No
(2) drink
Yes / No
(5) Fred
Yes / No
(3) woman
Yes / No
(6) about
Yes / No
Comment
“The definition of ‘predicate’ above CONTAINED two parenthesized conditions.
Định nghĩa ‘predicate’ ở trên chứa hai điều kiện được đặt trong ngoặc tròn.
The first, ‘(or sequence of words)’, ANALYSE wait for, in front of, which ARE
longer than one word, as single predicates.
Cái thứ nhất, ‘(hoặc chuỗi từ)’, COI wait for, in front of, cái vốn gồm hơn một
từ, như những đơn vị từ vựng đơn lẻ.
The second, ‘(in a given single sense)’, IS more important, and ILLUSTRATES
a degree of abstractness in the notion of a predicate.
Cái thứ hai, ‘(với một nghĩa độc nhất được xác định rõ)’, THÌ còn quan trọng
hơn, và MINH HỌA cho một mức độ trừu tượng nào đó trong khái niệm ‘a predicate’.
A ‘word’ CAN BE ambiguous, i.e. CAN HAVE more than one sense, but we use
‘predicate’ in a way which DOES not ALLOW a predicate to be ambiguous.
A ‘word’/ Một ‘từ’ CÓ THỂ GÂY mơ hồ về nghĩa, nghĩa là CÓ THỂ CÓ hơn một nghĩa,
nhưng chúng ta dùng ‘predicate’ theo một kiểu mà không CHO PHÉP ‘a predicate/ một nghĩa
của từ’ được gây mơ hồ về nghĩa.
A predicate CAN HAVE only one sense. We use the subscripts on words to distinguish
between different predicates.” [Hurford, Heasley & Smith, 2007: 49]
‘A predicate’ chỉ CÓ THỂ CÓ duy nhất một nghĩa. Chúng ta dùng chữ số dưới dòng chữ
để phân biệt các từ sắm vai vị ngữ khác nhau.
Example The word bank HAS (at least) two senses. Accordingly, we MIGHT SPEAK of the
predicates bank1 and bank2.
Similarly, we might distinguish between the predicates man1 (noun) = human being/
con người, man2 (noun) = male adult human being/ người đàn ông trưởng thành, and man3
(transitive verb) as in The crew manned (= worked at, used, operated = vận hành, điều khiển) the
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lifeboats.
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English Semantics
2. Valency (tham trị) số lượng tham số mà predicate cần có.
Definition
“The degree of a predicate IS a number indicating the number of arguments it
IS normally UNDERSTOOD to have in simple sentences.”
[Hurford, Heasley & Smith, 2007: 50]
Tham trị của một từ sắm vai vị ngữ LÀ một con số chỉ số lượng của các vai
tham tố thường ĐƯỢC COI LÀ có trong các câu đơn.
Example Asleep IS a predicate of degree one (often called a one-place predicate/từ một tham trị).
Love (verb) IS a predicate of degree two (a two-place predicate/ từ hai tham trị).
Practice (1) Are the following sentences acceptable?
(a) Thornbury sneezed (hắt hơi)
(b) Thornbury sneezed a handful of pepper
(c) Thornbury sneezed his wife a handful of pepper
Yes / No
Yes / No
Yes / No
(2) So is sneeze a one-place predicate?
Yes / No
(3) Are the following sentences acceptable in normal usage?
(a) Martha hit
(b) Martha hit the sideboard (tủ ly, tủ chén đĩa)
(c) Martha hit George the sideboard
Yes / No
Yes / No
Yes / No
(4) So is hit a one-place predicate?
(5) Is die a one-place predicate?
(6) Is come a one-place predicate?
(7) Is murder (verb) a one-place predicate?
Yes / No
Yes / No
Yes / No
Yes / No
Comment A verb that IS UNDERSTOOD most naturally with just two arguments (hai vai
tham tố), one as its subject, and one as its object, IS a two-place predicate.
Example In Martha hit the parrot, hit IS a two-place predicate: it HAS an argument,
Martha, as subject and an argument, the parrot, as direct object.
Practice (1) Are the following sentences acceptable?
(a) Keith made
Yes / No
(b) Keith made this toy guillotine (/ˈgɪlətɪn/ cái xén giấy)
Yes / No
(c) Keith made this toy guillotine his mother in-law
Yes / No
(2) So is make a two-place predicate?
Yes / No
(3) Is murder a two-place predicate?
Yes / No
(4) Is see a two-place predicate?
Yes / No
Comment There ARE a few three-place predicates (từ ba tham trị); the verb give IS the best example.
Practice For each of the following sentences, say whether it SEEMS somewhat elliptical
/ɪˈlɪptɪkl/ (i.e. SEEM to omit something that one WOULD normally EXPECT to be
mentioned).
Cho từng mỗi câu sau đây, hãy cho biết liệu là DƯỜNG NHƯ nó có phần bị tỉnh
lược (nghĩa là DƯỜNG NHƯ có cái gì đó bị bỏ đi, cái mà người ta vẫn thường KỲ
VỌNG rằng sẽ được nêu.)
(1) Herod gave
Yes / No
(2) Herod gave Salome
Yes / No
(3) Herod gave a nice present
Yes / No
(4) Herod gave Salome a nice present
Yes / No
(5) How many referring expressions (cách biểu đạt có sở chỉ) are there in Sentence (4)
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...three...
Comment We HAVE CONCENTRATED so far on predicates that HAPPEN TO BE verbs.
Recall examples such as Cairo IS in Africa, Cairo IS dusty, Cairo IS a large city. In
these examples in (a preposition), dusty (an adjective), and city (a noun) ARE
predicates.
In the case of prepositions, nouns, and adjectives, we CAN also TALK of one-,
two-, or three-place predicates.
Practice
(1) How many referring expressions are there in Your marble is under my chair? ...two...
(2) Is Your marble is under acceptable in normal usage?
Yes / No
in
normal
usage?
(3) Is Your marble is under my chair the carpet acceptable
Yes / No
place-predicate
is
under)?
...two...
(4) So, of what degree is the predicate under (i.e. a how-many(5) Of what degree is the predicate near?
...two...
(6) Is Dundee is between Aberdeen acceptable?
Yes / No
(7) Is Dundee is between Aberdeen and Edinburgh acceptable?
Yes / No
(8) Of what degree is the predicate between?
...three...
Comment We WILL now TURN our attention to adjectives.
Practice
(1) How many referring expressions are there in Philip is handsome?
(2) Is Philip is handsome John (not used when addressing John) acceptable?
(3) Of what degree is the predicate handsome?
(4) Of what degree is the predicate rotten (hư, thối)?
(5) Of what degree is the predicate smelly (nặng mùi)?
...one...
Yes / No
...one...
...one...
...one...
Comment In fact, the majority of adjectives ARE one-place predicates.
Practice
(1) Is John is afraid of Fido acceptable?
Yes / No
(2) Does John is afraid seem elliptical (i.e. does it seem to leave something unmentioned)?
Yes / No
(3) Could afraid be called a two-place predicate?
Yes / No
(4) Is Your house is different from mine acceptable?
Yes / No
(5) Does Your house is different seem elliptical?
Yes / No
(6) Of what degree is the predicate different (khác)?
...two...
(7) Of what degree is the predicate identical (giống hệt)?
...two...
(8) Of what degree is the predicate similar (tương tự)?
...two...
Comment You MAY HAVE WONDERED about the role of the prepositions such as of and
from in afraid of and different from. These prepositions ARE not themselves
predicates. Some adjectives in English just REQUIRE (grammatically) to be joined to
a following argument by a preposition. Such prepositions ARE relatively meaningless
linking particles. You MIGHT WANT to think of the combination of adjective plus
linking particle in these cases as a kind of complex or multi-word predicate with
basically one unified meaning. Notice that one CAN often USE different linking
prepositions with no change of meaning, e.g. (in some dialects) different to, or even
different than.
Bạn CÓ THỂ ĐÃ TỰ HỎI về vai trò của các giời từ như là of và from trong afraid
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of và different from. Các giới từ này tự thân chúng không phải LÀ predicates. Một
số tính từ trong tiếng Anh đơn giản là ĐÒI HỎI (về mặt ngữ pháp) để được kết nối
với một vai tham tố theo sau (a following argument) bằng một giới từ. Các giới từ
này LÀ các tiểu từ gần như vô nghĩa và chỉ dùng để nối (relatively meaningless
linking particles). Bạn CÓ LẼ MUỐN nghĩ đến tập hợp gồm tính từ cộng với tiểu từ
để nối (linking particle) trong những trường hợp này như là một loại complex hoặc
multi-word predicate với cơ bản là một nghĩa hợp nhất (one unified meaning).
Hãy chú ý rằng người ta CÓ THỂ thường các giới từ nối khác nhau (different linking
prepositions) mà không thay đổi nghĩa, ví dụ (trong một số phương ngữ) different to,
hoặc thậm chí là different than.
We now TURN to predicates which ARE nouns.
Practice
(1) How many referring expressions are there in John is a corporal (hạ sĩ quan)? ...one...
(2) Is John is a corporal the army acceptable?
Yes / No
...one...
(3) Of what degree is corporal?
(4) Of what degree is hero?
...one...
(5) Of what degree is crook (cây gậy có móc)?
...one...
This
object
is
a
pitchfork?
...one...
(6) How many referring expressions are there in
...one...
(7) Of what degree is pitchfork (cái chĩa ba, cái cào cỏ)?
Comment Most nouns ARE one-place predicates. But a few nouns COULD BE SAID to be
‘inherently relational’/ vốn đã có tính chất quan hệ. These ARE nouns such as father, son,
brother, mother, daughter, neighbour.
Practice (1) Does John is a brother seem somewhat odd?
(2) Is John is a brother of the Mayor of Miami acceptable?
(3) Could brother be called a two-place predicate?
(4) Could sister be called a two-place predicate?
Yes / No
Yes / No
Yes / No
Yes / No
Comment Sometimes two predicates can HAVE nearly, if not exactly, the same sense, but BE
of different grammatical parts of speech. Typically in these cases ARE the
corresponding predicates that HAVE the same degree, as in the following examples.
See if you CAN DETERMINE the degree of the predicates in these sentences.
Đôi khi hai từ sắm vai vị ngữ có thể gần như, nếu không nói là thật sự, CÓ cùng
nghĩa, nhưng lại THUỘC các từ loại khác nhau. Tiêu biểu cho các trường hợp này LÀ
các từ tương ứng có cùng tham trị, như trong các ví dụ sau đây. Liệu là bạn CÓ THỂ
XÁC NHẬN tham trị của các từ sắm vai vị ngữ trong các câu sau đây?
Example Ronald is foolish, Ronald is a fool
Timothy is afraid of cats, Timothy fears cats
My parrot is a talker, My parrot talks
Comment In English, the identity of the referents of two different referring expressions IS
EXPRESSED by a form of the verb be.
Trong tiếng Anh, tính đồng nhất về vật sở chỉ của hai cách biểu đạt có sở chỉ
ĐƯỢC THỂ HIỆN bằng một dạng thức của vị từ be.
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Example George W. Bush IS the 43rd President of the United States
The 43rd President of the United States IS George W. Bush
Practice All of the following sentences contain a variant (một dạng thức) of the verb be. In
which sentences does a form of be express the identity relation (mối quan hệ đồng
nhất về vật sở chỉ)? Circle your choices.
(1) This IS a spider (một con nhện)
(2) This IS my father
(3) This IS the person I was telling you about at dinner last night
(4) The person I was telling you about at dinner last night IS in the next room
(5) The person I was telling you about at dinner last night IS the man talking to Harry
(6) The whale (cá voi) IS a mammal (một con động vật hữu nhũ)
Comment The identity relation IS special because of its very basic role in the
communication of information. In English, one MUST ANALYSE some instances of
the verb be (e.g. those in sentences (2), (3), (5) above) as instances of the identity
predicate.
Other instances of the verb be, as we HAVE SEEN, ARE simply a grammatical
device for linking a predicate that IS not a verb (i.e. an adjective, preposition, or
noun) to its first argument, as in John IS a fool or John IS foolish.
The verb be IS also a device for ‘carrying’ the tense (present or past) of a
sentence.
Mối quan hệ đồng nhất về vật sở chỉ (The identity relation) THÌ đặc biệt do bởi
vai trò rất cơ bản của nó trong việc truyền thông tin. Trong tiếng Anh, người ta
COI một số biểu hiện của vị từ be (ví dụ như những cái trong các câu (2), (3), và (5)
ở trên) như là các ví dụ của từ sắm vai vị ngữ thể hiện tính đồng nhất về vật sở chỉ
(the identity predicate).
Các ví dụ khác của vị từ be, như chúng ta ĐÃ BIẾT, chỉ LÀ một công cụ ngữ pháp
để nối một từ sắm vai vị ngữ (a predicate) mà không phải LÀ một vị từ (tức là một
tính từ, giới từ, hoặc danh từ) với cái vai tham tố thứ nhất (its first argument),
như là trong John IS a fool hoặc John IS foolish.
Vị từ be cũng LÀ một công cụ để chở tải thì (hiệc tại hoặc quá khứ) của một câu.
Comment The predicates of a language HAVE a completely different function from the
referring expressions (cách biểu đạt có sở chỉ). Predicates INCLUDE words from
various parts of speech (từ thuộc nhiều từ loại khác nhau), e.g. common nouns,
adjectives, prepositions, and verbs. We HAVE DISTINGUISHED between
predicates of different degrees (one-place, two-place, etc.).
Các từ sắm vai vị ngữ của một ngôn ngữ (The predicates of a language) CÓ chức
năng hoàn toàn khác với cách biểu đạt có sở chỉ (the referring expressions). Các từ
sắm vai vị ngữ BAO GỒM các từ thuộc nhiều từ loại khác nhau (words from various
parts of speech), ví dụ như danh từ chung, tính từ, giới từ, và vị từ. Chúng ta cũng ĐÃ
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PHÂN BIỆT các từ ở các tham trị khác nhau (một tham trị, hai tham trị, v.v.).
Comment “We USE the term ‘word’ in the sense of ‘word-form’. That is, anything spelled
and pronounced the same way (in a given dialect) is for us the same word ... for
example, sage is a single word with different senses, i.e. an ambiguous word. We use
‘predicate’ for ‘word-in-a-particular-sense’. Predicates cannot be ambiguous,
according to this definition.” [Hurford, Heasley & Smith, 2007: 130]
Chúng tôi DÙNG thuật từ ‘word’ theo cái nghĩa của ‘word-form’. Có nghĩa là,
chúng tôi COI bất cứ cái gì được đánh vần và phát âm giống nhau (trong một phương
ngữ nào đó) LÀ cùng một từ ... ví dụ như, sage là một từ đơn lẻ với những nghĩa
khác nhau, nghĩa là (sage là) một từ mơ hồ về nghĩa. Chúng tôi dùng thuật từ
‘predicate’ theo cái kiểu là ‘word-in-a-particular-sense’. Predicates không thể mơ hồ
về nghĩa, theo cách định nghĩa này.
Sage là một từ đơn lẻ với hai nghĩa khác nhau: wise (khôn ngoan) và herb (cỏ, thảo mộc;
tên khoa học là Salvia officinalis).
Sage1 là một ‘predicate’ và có nghĩa là “wise” (khôn ngoan);
Sage2 là một ‘predicate’ khác nữa và có nghĩa là “herb” (cỏ, thảo mộc).

ĐÁP ÁN CỦA CÁC BÀI TẬP
Exercise 1. Are the following statements true (T) or false (F)?
_T_ 1. A PREDICATE is any word (or sequence of words) which (in a given single sense)
can function as the predicator of a sentence.
_ T_ 2. We analyse sequence of words, like wait for or in front of, which are longer than one
word, as single predicates.
_T_ 3. A ‘word’ can be ambiguous, i.e. can have more than one sense, but we use
‘predicate’ in a way which does not allow a predicate to be ambiguous.
_T_ 4. A predicate can have only one sense. We use the subscripts on words to distinguish
between different predicates.
_F_ 5. The word man has only one sense.
_T_ 6. The word bank has at least two senses.
_F_ 7. Love (verb) is a predicate of degree one (often called a one-place predicate).
_F 8. Asleep is a predicate of degree two (a two-place predicate).
_T_ 9. There are a few three-place predicates; the verb give is the best example.
_T_ 10. A verb that is understood most naturally with just two arguments (hai vai tham tố),
one as its subject, and one as its object, is a two-place predicate.
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keys
_T_ 1. A PREDICATE is any word (or sequence of words) which (in a given single sense)
can function as the predicator of a sentence.
_ T _ 2. We analyse sequence of words, like wait for or in front of, which are longer than one
word, as single predicates.
_T_ 3. A ‘word’ can be ambiguous, i.e. can have more than one sense, but we use
‘predicate’ in a way which does not allow a predicate to be ambiguous.
_T_ 4. A predicate can have only one sense. We use the subscripts on words to distinguish
between different predicates.
_F_ 5. The word man has only one sense.
_T_ 6. The word bank has at least two senses.
_F_ 7. Love (verb) is a predicate of degree one (often called a one-place predicate).
_F_ 8. Asleep is a predicate of degree two (a two-place predicate).
_T_ 9. There are a few three-place predicates; the verb give is the best example.
_T_ 10. A verb that is understood most naturally with just two arguments (hai vai tham tố),
one as its subject, and one as its object, is a two-place predicate.
Exercise 2. Fill in each blank with one appropriate word from the box. There are 6 extra
inappropriate words.
degree
on
entailed
indefinite
talked function
arguments
variable
place
predicate
constant number
1. The degree of a predicate is a number indicating the number of arguments it is normally
understood to have in simple sentences.
2. The degree of a predicate is a number indicating the number of arguments it is normally
understood to have in simple sentences.
3. The degree of a predicate is a number indicating the number of arguments it is normally
understood to have in simple sentences.
4. A predicate is any word (or sequence of words) which (in a given single sense) can
function as the predicator of a sentence.
5. A predicate is any word (or sequence of words) which (in a given single sense) can
function as the predicator of a sentence.
Exercise 3. Answer the following questions.
1.
2.
3.
How many referring expressions are there in Your marble is under my chair?
Is Your marble is under acceptable in normal usage?
When a speaker says, ‘A man was in here looking for you last night’ is a man
two
Yes / No
Yes / No
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being used to refer to a particular man?
4.
5.
Is Your marble is under my chair the carpet acceptable in normal usage?
So, of what degree is the predicate under (i.e. a how-many-place-predicate is
under)?
6. Of what degree is the predicate near?
7. Is Dundee is between Aberdeen acceptable?
6. Is Dundee is between Aberdeen and Edinburgh acceptable?
7. Of what degree is the predicate between?
8.
How many referring expressions are there in Philip is handsome?
9.
Is Philip is handsome John (not used when addressing John) acceptable?
10. Of what degree is the predicate handsome?
11. Of what degree is the predicate rotten (hư, thối)?
12. Of what degree is the predicate smelly (nặng mùi)?
two
Yes / No
Yes / No
three
one
Yes / No
one
one
one
1.
2.
3.
two
Yes / No
Yes / No
How many referring expressions are there in Your marble is under my chair?
Is Your marble is under acceptable in normal usage?
When a speaker says, ‘A man was in here looking for you last night’ is a man
being used to refer to a particular man?
4. Is Your marble is under my chair the carpet acceptable in normal usage?
5. So, of what degree is the predicate under (i.e. a how-many-place-predicate is
under)?
6. Of what degree is the predicate near?
7. Is Dundee is between Aberdeen acceptable?
6. Is Dundee is between Aberdeen and Edinburgh acceptable?
7. Of what degree is the predicate between?
8.
How many referring expressions are there in Philip is handsome?
9.
Is Philip is handsome John (not used when addressing John) acceptable?
10. Of what degree is the predicate handsome?
11. Of what degree is the predicate rotten (hư, thối)?
12. Of what degree is the predicate smelly (nặng mùi)?
Yes / No
two
Yes / No
Two
Two
Yes / No
Yes / No
Three
One
Yes / No
One
One
One
Exercise 4. Give some examples of a two-place predicate.
two-place verbs
(1) Love (verb) is a predicate of degree two (a two-place predicate/ từ hai tham trị).
(2) Is murder (verb) a one-place predicate?
Yes / No
(3) Martha hit the parrot
Yes / No
In Martha hit the parrot, hit IS a two-place predicate: it HAS an argument, Martha, as
subject and an argument, the parrot, as direct object.
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English Semantics
(4) Keith made this toy guillotine (/ˈgɪlətɪn/ cái xén giấy)
Yes / No
(5) So is make a two-place predicate?
Yes / No
(6) Is murder a two-place predicate?
Yes / No
(7) Is see a two-place predicate?
Yes / No
Timothy fears cats.
He was waiting for a bus.
two-place prepositions
(1) How many referring expressions are there in Your marble is under my chair? ...two...
(2) So, of what degree is the predicate under (i.e. a how-many-place-predicate is under)? ...two...
(3) Of what degree is the predicate near? ...two...
He was behind me.
He was in front of me.
He was next to me.
Cairo is in Africa.
two-place adjectives
(1) Is John is afraid of Fido acceptable? Yes / No
(2) Could afraid be called a two-place predicate? Yes / No
Timothy is afraid of cats.
(3) Is Your house is different from mine acceptable? Yes / No
(4) Of what degree is the predicate different (khác)? ...two...
(5) Of what degree is the predicate identical (giống hệt)? ...two...
The picture is identical to the one in the museum of Modern Art in New York.
The ingredients are identical with those of competing products.
(6) Of what degree is the predicate similar (tương tự)? ...two...
Her ideas are quite similar to mine.
two-place nouns
(1) Is John is a brother of the Mayor of Miami acceptable?
Yes / No
(2) Could brother be called a two-place predicate?
Yes / No
(3) Could sister be called a two-place predicate?
Yes / No
A few nouns could be said to be ‘inherently relational’/vốnđãcótínhchấtquanhệ. These are
nouns such as father, son, brother, mother, daughter, neighbour.
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REFERENCES
Hurford, J. R, Heasley, B., and Smith, M. B. (2007). Semantics: A Coursebook (2nd ed.). Cambridge:
Cambridge University Press.
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