American Journal of Computational Linguistics 
OF THE 
LI NGUISTI c STRING PARSER. 
Eileen Fitzp-atrick and Naomi Sager 
New York University 
01974 by the Association for Computational Linguistics 
Thib Isulcal Sil~classcs of the ling~iistic String Parser 
1.3 l ccn Ialt zpatricli and Naomi Sagcr 
Ncn S'orlq University 
Thc NTTT Linguistic String 1>arscr (1,SI') is a ~vorldng system for the syntactic analysis 
of Ehglish scicntifie tests. It consists of a parsing program, a large-coverage b~glish gram- 
mar, and a Icsicon. Thc gramnlarls effcctivcncss in parsing texts is due in large part to a 
substantial Imdy of detail cvl \vc.Il -formedness rcst rictions which eliminate most incorrect syn- 
tactic parses which would be allo~vecl by a weaker grammar. The restrictions mainly test for 
compatible combinations of word subclasses. 
This paper dcfines the 109 adjective, noun and verb suhclasscs. These subolasses, as 
\'ell as others not prcscnted herc, are defined Ln such a way that they can he used as a guide 
for dassifymg new entries to the LSP lexicon and as a lingpistic reference twl. Fach defi- 
nition lncludcs a statement of the intent of tllc subclass, a diawostic frame, sentence examples 
and a worcl list draun from tho present dictionary. The subclasses are defined tro reflect pre- 
cisely the grammatical propertics tested for by the restrictiol~s of the grammar Where neces- 
sary for clariking the intent of the subclass, three additiollal criteria are employed: excision, 
implicit and co- rcfcrcncc, and paraphrase. The subclasscs have been defined so as to be con- 
sistent with a subsecluent stage of transformational analysis rilzicl~ is currently being imp1 e- 
mentd. 
An illustration of the trcatmcnt of a subclass is: 
AASP: 
an aclicctive is in AASP if it occurs 
only with the non-sentehtial hon-Sh7 right 
adjunct to V OBJ (SN an emlxdded, or 
contained, sentence) (DSNG , 7) : 
John is able to walk. 
John is able for Bill to walk. 
$John is able that Bill walks. 
2 John is able whether Bill ~vall;s. 
Adjectives which occur with both non- 
Examples: 
John is - free to leave. 
She is - fit to ulork 
The book is a~& tn fall. 
You are @to be asked for money. 
sentential and sentential right adjuncts arc 
rt is a~& to nr assumed that John left. 
not in- AASP (see ASENTI, ASENT:3), e.g.: 
She is due to -arrive at five. 
John is ccrtain to go. 
John is certain that he \+ill go. 
John is not certain wllctller to go. 
John is eager to go. 
Sl~e nas right to object. 
NOT AASP: 
*John is eager for hhry to go John is ce*tain lo go. (l~S1.:~~l) 
WORD EIST al~lc. fit, free, quick, ready, set, slow. 
Xerox copies of this paper are availahlc from thc N3T' Linguistic String Project (2 M'ashlng 
ton Spare Village, 213, hkw York, N.Y. 10012). hlorc oxlensive word lists from thc LSP comnutr 
l csicon can bu gcnoratd for rcscarch groups. 
TABLE OF CO-NTENTS 
~ntr~d~~tion.~~....~~~~~~~~~~~.~~~~~~~~~.~.~~~~~~~.~~.~ 5 
Object String (OBJL1,ST) Refercn'ce Guide. .............. 9 
I. Adjective Subclasse$.......-. ...s.....-................ 11 
~~ 
AASP 
AINPA 
AINRN 
AT REQ 
ASCALE 
AS ENT 1 
ASENT3 
ATIMETAG 
CONPARAT I VE 
SUPERLATIVE 
NUUYI Subclasses. m~~~~~~~~l~~~mmmImm~IImm~m~m~ms~~~~~mm 16 
AGGREGATE 16 
INITIAL (atomic class) 17 
NAME 17 
WCL"ZFS=F'IER 18 
NCOLLECTIVE 19 
NCOU~T~' 19 
NCOU~T~ 19 
NCOIJN'? 3 20 
NHUMAN 20 
NLETTEZ 21 
NONHUMAN 21. 
NPREQ 
NSCALE 
N : SINGULAR 
NT 1 TLE 
NUNIT 
N : PLURAL 21 
111. Selectipn Attributes ~f the Verb...... .......-........ 26 
NOT'NOB J 26 NOTNSUBJ 2 7 
IV. Object Attributes of the Verb. ....,~.................. 27 
ADJN 
ASOBJBE 
ASSERTION 
ASTG 
C LSHOULD 
27 DPSM 
28 DP 1 
29 DPlPN 
29 DPWN 
30 DP 3-Pm 
1V. Object Attributes of the Verb (Continued) - 
DP4PN 
DP2, DP3, DP4 
DSTG 
FORTOVO 
NA 
NASOBJnE 
ND 
NN 
NPN 
NPSNWH 
NPSVINGO 
NPVINGO 
NPVINGSTG 
NSNWH 
NSTGO 
NSVINGO 
NTHATS 
NTOBE 
NTOVO 
NULLOBJ 
NULLRECIP 
OBJBE 
OBJECTBE 
PN 
PNMOWS 
PNN 
PNSNWH 
PNTHATS 
PNTHATSVO 
PNVINGSTG 
PSNWH 
PSVINGO 
PVINGO 
PV~NGSTG 
SASOBJBE 
SNWM 
SOBJBE 
STOVO-N 
SVEN 
SVINGO 
svo 
THAT'S 
TOVO 
VENO 
VINGO 
VINGOFN 
VINGSTGPN 
V. Passive-Object Attributes pf the Verb ................ 6 3 
VI. Verb Subclasses............ .......................... 6 4 
VBEREP 
VCOLLECTIVE 
VEXP 
VEN DAD J 
VMOD 
VMOT ION 
v : PLUR,AL 
64 VSENTl 
64 VSENT2 
65 VSENT3 
65 VSENT4 
66 V:SINGULAR 
66 VVERYVING 
66 
The Lesical Subclasses of the Linguistic String Parser 
Eileen Fitzpatricl; and Naomi Sager 
New Yorl; University 
This paper defines the 109 adjective, noun and verb subclasses of the NYU Ling~~istic 
String Parser (LSP) 
The su~classes have bee11 treated here in such a way that they can be 
used as a guide for classifying new words for the lexicon ahd as a lineistic reference tool. 
Each entry bebm provides a definition of the subclass, a diagnostic frame, sentence examples. 
and a word list dram from the lexicon of the computer-grammar (ca 10,000 word entries). 
The subclasses are defined in terms of string grammar. In string analysis, a sentence 
is decomposed into an elementary sentence, or center string, and adjunct strings. Iil a string, 
each word class may bapreceded or followed by left or right adjunct  string^,^ and the center 
string as a whole may have adjunct strings ?vhich precede or follow the center string or occur 
at interior parts of the string. A string grammar makes restrictions as to which subclasses 
can co-occur. The subclass definitions, therefo~e, are based mainly on these ocburrence 
possibilities (e.g., a count noun is specitied as a noun which camiot occur without a preceding 
article). 
More precisely, the entire computer grammar consists of a set of approximately 200 
contest-free (BND definitions, a set of abut 250 restrictions, and a \lord dictionary. The 
BNF definitions define the center and adjunct strings of the language as well as sentence 
nominalization (embedded sentence) strings u;hich may occur in subject, object or complement 
position. In parsing a sentence, once an element of a string (e.g., SUBJECT, VERB, or 
OBJECT) has been identified in the sentence, restrictioi~s are invoked to test.various pro- 
perties, including the subclasses of the words ivithin this element or within this element and 
an element previously identified. 
When a word is classified for the LSP lexicon it must be assigned to the syntactic classe 
(N, V, etc.) which appear in the context-free definitions-and to the specific subclasses (e.g., 
count noun) which are tested for by the restrictions. The trames and definitions are a com- 
pact statement of these constraints. Fbr reference to the computer grammar, we have used 
the code names of strings and restrictions, bttt the text can be read independently of the re- 
ferenced material, 
The strings have roughly mnemonic names. An explanation of some of the mnemonics 
used in the text is included in the rererence guide which follows this introduction. 
The restrictions referred to are of several main types: agreement restrictions (AGREI 
noun phrase restrictions (N) , position restrictions (POS) , quantifier restrictions (Q) , selectior 
restrictions (SEL) , restrictions on sentence embedding (SN) . and WH-string restrictions m) 
The name of each restriction is preceded by a W or D and followed by an integer, e.g.: WAGR 
'~fi addition to the Noun, Adjective and Verb classes, the other major classes are 
Adverb, Pronoun, Quantifier, Article, Subordinate Conjunction and Preposition. Coordinate 
Conjunctions and comparative connectives are treated individually. 
9 
LIn this text, as in the LSP grammar, the notation LXTl (X being a wdrd class, e.g., 
N noun V verb, etc.) stands for X appearing with its optional left adjuncts (LX) and optional 
right adjuncts (RX). X is called the host of its adjunct strings. Thus, old men with canes is 
an instance ot LNR in which old - is a left adjunct of the host N man, and with caneq is a right 
- 
adjunct of the host N man. 
- 
While a subclass is precisely defined by its appearance in the restrictions gf the 
grammar, a person who is classifying words for the lexicon may need additional criteria 
in order to capture the intent oi the subclass. This is particularly true in defining the verb 
subclasses which specify the object strings with which a verb can occur (the OBJIIIST of 
the test). Here the frames and restrictions may not suffice to distinguish occurrences of 
the words as instances of the subclass from other possible occurrences covered by the 
grammar. 
For example, it is important to distinguish an object string occurrence of SVINGO 
insdney kept people working overtime from a non-object-string occurrence of the same word- 
class sequence,' e.g., one consistingof a noun with its adjunct such as N + reducea relative 
VINGO in They fired people working overtime. Of course, some verbs will have ambiguous 
occurrences, e.g. ,"keep in the first example. It would' be incorrect, however. to class - fire 
as occurring with a SVINGO object on the basis of the second exzmple. We haye therefore 
used additional criteria in defining the object strings in order to clarify the intent of par- 
ticular subclasses. The criteria used are: 
(1) Ekcision. In an occurrence of an element with its adjunct in a sentence, the adlunct 
can be excised leaving a well-formed sentence unchanged in meaning and selection from the 
original sentence (except for detail added by the adjunct). Thus, we can test whether a word 
sequence in a sentence is an object string occurrence by excising the portion which might 
be an Wjunct. If the remaining sentence is either different in grammaticality , meaning dr 
selection from the original sentence, then the sequence as a whole is cansidered an object 
strifig occurrence. Fbr our purposes, if the sequence is an object string octurrence, then 
the verb with which it occurs must be sulxlassed for that object string. For example, - line, 
show and carxmust be subclassed as occurring with the particle string DP, and walk not, 
- 
s inc e 
They lined up. 
$ They lined. 
He showed off. 
He showed. (difference in meahing) 
He cam fed on. 
The point easried. (difference in selection) 
He walked on. 
He walked. (no difference in grammaticality, selection or 
meaning) 
(2) Understood reference. If a given noun in one sequence-occurrence is understood 
as referring to a particular noun N, and, in a different occurrence as referring to an N,, 
the two occurrences must not be considered as ilistances of the same string. For example, 
since messengers in (1) refers to they and messengers in (2) refers to boys, the t~vo occur- 
rences of as - N must n& be considered as the same string: 
(r) They served the boys a$ messengers. 
(2) They treated the boys as messengers. 
(3) Paraphrase. If a semantic contrast can be found in otherwise identical sequeilces, 
then these sequences cannot be considered as instances of the same string when subclassing 
 he term %equencen applies to word sequences the structural description of nhich 
is under discussion. 
a verb. For example, the as which is equivalent to 'in the capacity oft in (3) functions as 
part of the object string A~BJBI.:, while the as - which is equivalent to 'when' in (4) func- 
tions as part of an adjunct which does not restrict the verl~: 
(3). John served as a lieutenant. 
(4) Jollll cha~ as a lieutenant. 
hie to the difficulty of judging the appropriateness of a paraphrase, ho~~ever n.e have 
used this criterion sparingly. 
As we have noted, the frames and definitions precisely reflect the use of the. major 
classes and subclasses in the presently implemented string grammar. However, it should 
also be noted that this grammar, and the associated lexical categories, have been defined 
so as to be consistent with a, subsequent stage of transformational analysis which is currently 
being implemented. lh some cases, the same string form has several transformational 
sources; where this affects the dictionary classification, we have noted it. 
Something should be said abut the form of the dictionary entries as they appear in 
the computer lexicon. Each word is classified for all its major class occurrences (N, V, 
eCc.) and its subc~asses within each major class. The classification is based on the usage 
of the word in the language as a wllole, not its use in a particular text. Ho\vever, purely 
coIloquia1 and literary uses have not been covered because of the intended application to 
scientific tex-ts. 
The classificatio~~s of the niords are arranged in a hierarchical structure: the malor 
classes may have subelasses and the subclasses in turn may have subclasses. Fbr esample, 
the adjective - clear, which can occur as the predicate of a,sentential subject, is in the sub- 
class AS ENT1. The particular type of sentential subjects clear occurs with (IVH and THAT 
embeddings) require that it be classified in the two subclasses A\i7H and ATIlAT of ASENTI. 
This part of the lesical entry appears as follows: 
CLEAR 
ADJ: (ASENTI : (AWH, AT-W3) 
or alternatively : 
CLEAR 
ADJ: .lo. 
10 = ASENT.1: (AWH, ATHAT). 
where the particular line number assiw (.lo) is arbitrary. Where this type of further 
subdivision of a subclass is i;acessary, a sample dictionary entry is provided along with 
the definitions and frames below. 
It should be noted that while the entries in the lexicoh are by word rather than stem 
the word entries based on a particular stem can refer to portions of a basic entry which 
they share in common, e.g., the object list of a verb (OBJLIST) is specified once for all 
forms df the verb (tensed verb tV, - present participle Ving, past participle - Ven and infinitive 
V). 
- 
The notational conventions used in the subclass definitions and frames are as follows: 
2 - an ungrammatical sequence 
x - - x Rhe underlined term) is the class being subclassed in the frame or a 
particular lexical item used in the frame. 
s - - s (the double undarlin.ec1 term) is the class being subclassed in the 
- 
frame where the frame also contains a particular lexical item 
(X) - in a franc! an optional element 
(S) - in a demition, a further subdivision of a subclass 
T - article 
D - adverb 
OBJ - a cover tcrm for all. the object strings (see ol~jcct string reference wide) 
Sh" - an embedded sentence of the following types: 
TEIATS '- That John was here 
FORTOVO - fqr Mary to go 
TOVO - to live 
SVINGO - then1 worlring overtime 
Cl SIIOULD - that John b-e here 
SWI~ - \~l~~thq+j ~vliy/ how. . .he went 
It should also be noted tM-€ the specified frame which delimits a word is not the only frame 
in ~vhid.~ fhiZt word can occur; it serves merely as the test frame when classifying words. 
The presellt paper is an outgrowth of ongoing work on the LSP lexicon throughout its 
various implementations and applications since 19G5. It draws particularly an a previous 
write-up of the LSP gramr (fl. Sager, " i Computer String Grammar of Ehglish" ,ring 
Program Report No. 4, Linguistic String Project, New York University, 1968), diagnostic 
frames prepared for LSP use by Barbara Anderson, and classification work by many members 
of the LSP staff over the years. 
Fbr a recent description of the LSP systembsee R. Grishman, N. Sager, C. Raze, and 
B. Bookchjn, !'The Linguistic String Parser ", Proceedings of the 1973 National Computer 
Conference, A FIPS, Montvale, N. J. 
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: 
This work was supported in part by research Grants GS 2-162 and GS27925 from the 
National Science Foundation, Division of Social Sciences. 
Objeot String (OWLIST) 13eference bide 
ADJN -I Adjective + N (l'loun phrase) 
ASOWBE - as + Object of be 
ASSERTION~S~~~~~~ + Tense + Verb Object 
ASTG = Adjective String 
Cl SHOULD -- Subjunctive foYm of ASSERTllgZQ 
DPSN - Particle + SN 
DP1 = Particle (e.g. carry 03 
DP1 PN = DPI, + PN 
DP2 = DP 4 N 
DP2PN = DP", PN 
DP3 = 24 Z+ UP 
BB3PN= DP3 -t- PN 
DP4 = of-permutabion of DP3 
DP~FN~ DP4 + PN 
DSTG = Adverb stririg 
mRTOVO = For + Subject -+ to - + Object 
NA = N t- Adjective 
NASOBJBE - N + as - t- Object of be - 
h? N -t Adverb 
NN - ~(indi~ect qbject) + N 
NPN = N + PN 
NPSNWH N P + wh-conzplement - 
NPSVINGO = N 4 P 4- ' SVINGO 
NPVINGO - N + P t VlNGO 
NPVINGSTG = N P t- VINGSTG * 
NS-NWH - N +- SNTT7H 
NSTGO - Object N 
NSVINGO = N's + VINGO 
NTHATS = N A that - + ASSERTION 
NTOBE = N + to + be + Object of be 
- - 
NTOVO = N + to - + V(infinitive) + Object 
NULLOBJ = Null, object for intransitive verbs 
NULLRECIP -'Null oklject for reciprocal verbs 
OBJBE = predicate N OX adjective or PN or adverb 
OBJECTBE -- ORJBL + verbaP objects of be - 
PN - prepoqitional phtase 
PNHQWS -- PN + how + ASSERTION 
PNN -- PN t N inverted NPN string 
PNSNiVH =- PN + SNWI-I 
PNTHATS PN t TIIATS 
PNTI-LATSVO YN + that - t tenseless ASSERTION 
PNVINGSTG I'N 4 V~NGSTG * 
PSNWII P : SNWEI 
PSVINCO P SVING'O 
PVINGO I' +- VTNGO 
PVTNGSTG P + VTNGSTG * 
*VIWGSTG VINCOIPN/ NSVINGO 
SLZSOUJI~I~: S~bject t as - 1 (7135131*: 
SNW7'f I \\vll-compl - 'enlent 
SOBJBI' Subject 1 OBJBI.: 
STOVO-N Subject t TOVO less one object N 
SVKN - Subject 1 passive verb phrase 
SVINGO Subject + Ving t Object 
SVO Subject 1 tenseless V 1 CXqect 
TIIATS = that - -1 ASSEIZTTON 
TOVO -- to - + tenseless V -i mject 
VENO = past participle + Object 
VTNGO - Ving 1 mject 
VINGOITN = (N's) of - Object 
VINGSTGPN - VINGSTG + PN 
I. Adiective Subclasses. 
AASP: 
an adjective is in AASP if it occurs 
N be Addj to V OBJ 
only witti the non-sentential (non-SNI right 
- 
- 
- 
adjunct to - V QBJ (SN - an embedded, or 
EXamples : 
contained, sentence) (DSNG, 7) : 
John is free to leave. 
- 
John is able to walk. 
She is fit to work. 
$ John is able for Bill to walk. 
- 
$ John is able that Bill walks. 
The book is @to fall. 
8 John is able whether Bill walks. 
You are a& to be asked for money. 
Adjectives \Yhich occur with both non- 
It is a> to be assumed that John left. 
sentential and sentential right adjuncts arc 
not in AASP (see ASENTI, ASENT3), e.g.: 
She is due - to arrive at five. 
She was right to object. 
Jolm is certain to go: 
John is certain that he will go. 
John is not certain whether to go. 
John is eager to go. 
NOT AASP: 
John is eager for Mary to go: 
Jolm is certain to go. (ASENTI) 
Ile is anxious to leave. (ASENT3) 
WORD LIST: able, fit, free, quick, readv, set, sbw. 
AINPA: Fr aine : 
an adjective is in subclass AINPA if 
in 
it occurs in the adjective position in the 
- 
- 
Ad.1 9 
at - 
qentence adjunct string PA (P = - in or atJ; 
e.g.: in general, at present, in particular Ehamples : 
(WPOS11) . 
The particular P must be specific 1 
In general, we can maintain the following. 
far each adjective. We do not, at present, know the answer. 
We cannot say, in advance, what tomorrow 
will bring. 
We didn 't know what to think about her state- 
ment at first. 
- 
Dictionary Entry: 
GENERAL. 
ADJ: (.lo), . . . , 
10 AINPA: (4 IN4 ). 
WORD LIST: advance (in), best (at), first (at), full (in), general (in), last (at), least (at), 
particular (in), present (at), short (I). 
en adjc.ctivc is in tht. small subclass 
N Ad 1 X (X # adjunct or conjunct of ad]) 
AfNRN if it can occur as a single-word 
right adjunct of a noun (WN50) : 
Ehamplcs : 
the pcwplc prcscnt 
The figure above illustrates this point. 
tllc conclusions possible 
The people absent represent the dissenting 
Non-AINIIN ad jcctivcs in IiN recluirc 
opinion. 
an adjunct or colljullc t (lirN50) : 
This man alone understands the consequences. 
an item worthy of your attention 
8 an item worthy The arguments necessary have been listed 
a sum greater than they expected below. 
$ a sum peat (er) 
a man courageous and true 
8 a man courageous 
'IYOIID LIST: above, absent, alone, apparent, available, available, due, nccossary , observable, 
obtainable , possible, prcscnt, relevant, yesponsiblc, visible. 
APREQ: Frame: 
an adjective (or Ving or Vs form of 
the verb) is in APREQ if it occurs before a 
cr, Adj Q N 
quantifier which is a left adlunct of N (il'N5), 
Examples : 
e.g. : 
an additional five people 
the following three items 
An additional five people were found. 
The following three items were mentioned. 
The occurrence of superlative adjec- Please make the next several payments on 
tives before Q N (the tallest three boys) is time. 
accounted for by a separate statement in 
WN5; therefore, su~erlative forms should 
not be listed 3s A PREQ. 
We chose the first few people to ~velcome him. 
The next ten people will constitute the control 
group., 
WORD LIST: above, additional, another, best, bottom, first, good, last, necessary, nest, 
other, own, particular, previous, representative, same, top, usual, very, wrong. 
ASCALE: Franlc : 
an adjective is in ASCALE if it can 
Q N AdJ. (Adj is not comparative) 
occur to the right of the measure scquencc 
QN in which N is in suhclass NUNIT (inches, 
Fhamylcs: 
feet, pounds, years, etc.) &i7Q2), e.g., long in 
- 
The line is 10 inches long. 
a ten inch long linc. 
Tile line is ten inches lollg. 
Tlzis is a ten u~ch long linc. 
ASCAL I< includcs w, wide, - dccp , He is five years old. - 
hroarl , tall, thick, high, old. 
-- - 
Ile is a five year old child. 
Since both ASCALE and non-ASCALE: 
- 
adjcctivcs can occur in Q N AQJ in their This arca is 200 fret squarc. 
col~lparativc form (three shacles ----- darlccx) , 
This is a 200 foot scluQi-c area. 
the Q N 
Con~parative tic1 i. is accountccl 
for by a separate statenlent in \jTQ2. Thcrc- 
fore, comparative foi-ms need not be listeci 
as ASCALE. 
WORD LIST: broad, c\eep, high, long, old, prcn~e~urc . sc~~al-c, tall , midc. 
ASENT 1: I.l-anlc : 
anadjecti\~eisil~tl~esulK.lassASENTl SN be,Ac,, 
(similar to noW subclass NSENT1) if it can 
-- 
- 
occur as the object of the verb be - \i.hcn the 
Ihan~ples : 
subject of - be is a string froa1 tllc set SN 
%at he sold boolis is probable. 
Wllether he will come is uncertain. 
It is~ould be bad for John to leave no\\. 
- 
That \\ e solve the problem immediately is 
ciwcial. 
As the object of thc lrel-11 he -9 an 
It is cimcial that \\e solve the ])roi~lcnl im- 
adjective in ASENTI may have a string 
n~cdiatel y. 
from bN as its adjunct , provided the 
subject of be - is - it (DSN2) : 
That the; lit--1 is obvious. 
It is probable that he sold Isoolcs. 
8 John is probable that he solcl bolcs. 
\\?~cthel- tht11+ \\.ill conlc isn't cleal-. 
Several adjectives npllich occur as 
ASENTI arm occur as ASENT:3, e.g. 
It isn't clear \i.hethcr they \{ill come. 
John is certain that he sold books Dictio~larp klntl-y: 
(AS ENT3) 
Tt is certain that he sold hl;s. 
(AS ENTI) 
Therefore, such adjectives sllould be listed 
as both ASENTl and ASENT3. 
ASENTl is subdivided according to 
the type of SN string with ivl&d~ the parti- 
cular AS ENTls occur; i .e., 
1) ASENTl: (AFORTO) 
I;br us to leave now would bc easy 
It would be easy for us to leave 
now. 
- 
2) AS EINT1: (ASJIOULD) 
Tlnt he return is imperative. 
It is impcTativc that he return 
3) ASENTI:' (ATILAT) 
That they lied is ohvious. 
It is obvious that they lied 
I) ASENTI : (AWH) 
C LEA I<. 
-4DJ: 10 
10 AS EKT1: (AIVIj, ATEL4T). 
Whether he will come is uncerta~n. 
It is uncertain whether he will come 
AS ENTl: (A FORTO) is further sub- 
divided into three classes according to the 
type of extraction from the embedded sen- 
tence \~hich occurs with a particular adjcc- 
tive; viz. : 
1) ASENTI: (AFORTO: (OBSEXT)) 
occurs in -.. N, t be -- (for N1) to V -N2: 
The problem will be easy for Jolm 
to solve. 
related to 
For Jolm to solve the problem will 
be easy. 
occurs in - Ni t be -- to V OBJ: 
John was kind to invite me. 
related to 
Fbr .John to invite me was kind. 
3) AS ENTl i (A FORTO: OEXT)) 
occurs with neither type of extraction : 
For John to write a letter now tv~ulcl 
be curious. 
3 A letter would be curious for John to 
write now. 
8 John would be curious to tvrite a let- 
ter now. 
All three subclasses of ASENTI: 
(AFORTO) Can occur with a PN adjunct: 
Fbr us to leave now would be bad for 
John. 
f;br John to invite me was kind of him. 
fir us to leave now would seem curi- 
ous to John. 
WOLIiD LIST: A FORTO: OBJEXT: bad, base, convenient, difhlt , easy', simple; A FORTO: 
SUBJ'EXT: gross, just, kind, original, rash, wrong; A FORTO: NOWT: c~~~ious, justifiable, 
permissible, possible, practical, usual; ASHOULD: ~rUcial, desirable, essential, important, 
right; ATnKIT : apparent J bad, certain, crucial, curious, good, importm~t, just, likely. natural 
peculiar , possible, sighificant , undcrstmdable, wrong: A: clca r , in.C;i g~lifi~m~t. ~Ioui~tfiil. 
unccr tain , unclear. 
- -- - 
an adjective is an ASENT3 if, as the 
object of be, - it can have a sentential right 
(N f expletive it) - 
adiunct SN while the subject of - be is not 
Ekalnples : 
ne@essa~ily it - (see ASENTI); i.e. , AS ENT3- 
can occur in the environment N t be -- SN: 
I would be happy for you u, come. 
He is certain that they passed his 
doorway. 
He is tall that they passed his doorwav. 
ASENT3 is subdivided according to 
the type of SN string wmin which the par- 
ticular AS ENT3s occur; i.e., 
1) ASENT3: (AFORTO) 
I would be happy for you to come. 
2) ASENT3: (ASHOULD) 
I am insistent that you go alone. 
2) ASENT3: (ATHAT) 
I am certain that John will come. 
4) ASENT3: (AWH) 
They were eager for the speaker to address 
the crowd. 
I am insistent that you go alone. 
I am certain that John will come. 
I'M grateful 'that the stuff arrived on time. 
We re happy that you can come. 
He is doubtful whether the plans Mil come 
off. 
I'm not sure whether they \\ill come. 
We are uncertain nvhy he left. 
We are uncertaifi why he left. 
Die tionar y Ent qy : 
IUPPY 
ADJ: .10 
10 - ASENTS : (A FORTO, ATHAT). 
WORD LIST: A FORTO: anxious, eager, happy, impatient, ready; ASHOULD: empbatic , in- 
sistent; ATHAT : certain, doubtful, grateful, happy, hopeful, impressed, lucky, proud, sad, 
sorry; AWH: - doubtful, uncertain. 
ATIMETAG: Frame : 
adjectives (and articles) classified as 
TIMETAG may occur in the sentence adjunct 
AdvT WIMEl 
- 
position as left adjuncts of NTIMEl (NTIME1 
&am 
includes week, - year, day, etc .) (WPOS10). 
last week, John told Mary the news. 
- 
8 Good week, John told Mary the news. 
I will see him next year. 
He looked better this - time. 
WORD LIST: last, next, this. 
COMPARATIVE: 
an adjective is in the subclass 
COMPARATNE if it can occur in the en- 
vironment - N1 t be -- than N,: 
John is happier than Bill. 
8 John is tender than Bill. 
F'rame : 
N1 t be Adj than N., 
- 
- 
- ., 
Bcamples : 
John is happier than Bill. 
Adjcctivcs listed as COMPAIIATTVE This light is dimmer than that one. 
also occur to tile right of the measure se- 
My left hand is number than my right. 
qucl~cc QN in which N is in subclass NUNIT 
(cf. ASCALU (WQF) , (e.g. : 
three shades A is higher than B. 
darker, one pound lighter) 
CORIPARATIVK a(1jcctives arc listed 
separately from their positive forms. 
UTORD LIST: ablefir, deeper, earlier, greater, higher, larger, narrower, number, rougher, 
simpler, smallcr , straighter, stranger, stronger, sweeter, weaker. 
SUPERLATIVE: 
an adjective is in the subclass SI1LyPF:R - 
LATIYE if it occurs with the suffis - (ekt 
TNQN 
before a cluantifier which is a left adjunct 
of 'N (MrN5), e.g.: 
the ~t~orst ten days 
the tallest three boys 
Cf. APQE:Q. 
Fkamples : 
TI~ose were the Lvorst tep clays of my life. 
Tl~r longest five minutes of my life Rere 
spent waiting for tlxis. 
Give me the tallest five lmys. 
ROIXD LIST: ablest, dcepest , greatest, highest, ligl~tcst, longest, lowest, narrowest, roughest, 
simplest, straightest, strangest, s\~cctist, tallest., 
. Noun Subclasses. 
AGGR EGAT E: 
a singular noun is in AGGREGATE if 
it cah occur as the subject of 1~1th definitely 
singular verbs and definitely plural verl~s, 
(WAGREEl): c.g.: 
The group has changed its mind. 
The group have changed their minds. 
An AGGREGATE ;:noun callnot occur 
as a prrtlicate of - bc \\,hen the suhiect of tho 
sentence is singular (WAIGll EIZ) : 
,3' Ele is a group. 
In the construction Q of S', if N is 
singular, it is AGGR EGAT 1' (lh7N5:3) : 
five of the gl-oup 
)!! five of the hook 
Also AGGII IXAT I< nouns can occur 
Fkamples : 
Thc group has changed its mind. 
The g~oup have changed their minds. 
The couple is of me mind - 
Thc couple are of one mind. 
The pul~lic (I~sapproves of it. 
The j~ul~lic disapprove of it. 
A minority i's in favor of tllc action. 
A minorif y. arc in favor of tllc action. 
as the subject of collcctivc ancl rpcip~*ocal 
verbs (WAGR 1: El) : 
The group @thered. 
$ He gathered. 
The goup met. 
fi Hc met. 
Tests for NHUMAN allow for UGIIE- 
GATE nouns in the NHUM AN position : 
The group who call themselves the 
rangers are waiting. (WWIi:3) 
He brougllt the group a present. 
(Li'POS2 2). 
WORD LIST: aggregate, assembly, block, board, couple, e~~scmble , family, group. government, 
majority, nlino@ty, pair, publlie, remainder, segment. 
INITIAL (abmic clas~) : 
used for abbreviation of proper names 
(harry - S. Truman), names of organizations 
(A. F. of L.) , etc. 
The. 26 letters of the Englisl~ alphabet 
must appear in the dictionary each folloived 
by a period. 
A nnun is in NAME if' it can occur in 
the envixonnlent 
,- NTITLE 7 
I i NCOUNT~~ 
NTITLE 1 
{NC OUNT1) 
-- 
or in the environment 
for example: 
Prof. Jones 
President Nivon 
John P. Jones 
Mary Smith 
The subclass NAME also shares re- 
strictions with the other non-NCOUNT1 
nouns, i.e.: 
1) it cannot occur as the host of a rela- 
tive clause - S-N (DN5::) : 
8 Charles you slapped was a mere child 
 INITIAL 1 
NAME 
Examples : 
Prof. Mary T. Jones 
Mr. Smith 
Associate Director Robert Brown 
Secretary of State Kissinger 
2) it is a more likely subject of the 
relative clause S-N than are most other 
- 
nouns (DN51): 
Tl~c report John* prcscntcd,. . . 
?The report writers j~rcscnteci . . . 
3) it can occur in col~~nlaless nl~posi- 
tion to a host tlou~l (l41COM10).: 
IIrORD LIST: Ah, Acheson, IWedman, Joh'n, Jones, hbr.y, Maurey, Iiinger , Soloman. 
NCLASSI FI EI<: 
A noun is in NCIASSf I;'IE:R if it ac- 
curs as the host of another noun, N?; where 
N, wcurs in conlnlaless apposition to 
NCLASSII'IRR, e.g.: 
the term revolution 
the element lfydrogcn 
All NCLASSI FIE 1:s are NOh'IILTRMX; 
for r\: KTJUBTAN apposition (my friend Jolm) 
see NAhiE and NCOTJNT::). 
.A11 KCLASS1 FIEIZ is in cithcr : 
1) NC LASSI F'TERl, nfl~ich includes 
n~etalinguistic words that iilt roducc tcrmin - 
ology , c .g. tclm, synlbol , 
or 2) NCLASSI FIER2, wl~ich includes 
The N, N, t Ijc. . . 
- -L - 
- 
(N!, / NIIUhLlN) 
NCLASSI FIER1: 
The symhol S .is interpreted as the subject 
of a sentence. 
Linguists oftan confuse the - terms string ancl 
sequence. 
Tlle esl~ressiol~ I1a1-ificrl g~ammal- .u7ill be 
used to refer to thc grammar in Appendix It. 
NC LASSI FTEIi2: 
classifier words specific to the subject 
The element hydrogen is the lightest suh- 
matter area (supplied by the user), e.g.: 
stance. 
element, drug, acid, enzyme, e)rtract, hor- 
- 
- 
mone , lon, mineral , .coefficient, factor, ctc . 
The dng digitalis promotes undesirabJe side 
effects. 
Note: An NCLASSIFIER noun should 
not be confused with the host of a relative 
The feature singular is necessary here. 
clause S - N construction. If a noun can 
occur as N, in the string 
The N, N, bc . . . 
- 
then N, is a NCMSSIFIER. For cxamplc: 
The element hydrogen is the lightest 
substance. 
Therefore element js an NCIASSI FI ER. 
IJotvever , 
The reaction digitalis produces is 
dangerous. 
The reaction digitalis is dangerous. 
Therefore, reaction is not an, NCLASSI FtEII. 
WORD LIST: NCLASSII;? ER1: espressioq, syml)o], , term. 
NC LASS1 FTEII2 : acid, amphibian, cl~emical , carrier, compound, drug, cnzyn.le. estrac t , 
fibre, hormone, ion, isolate, mineral, molecule. 
NCOLLECT'IVK: . Frame: 
a noun is in NIU'OLLECTIVE if it oc- 
N CV. 
curs as the uon-plural subject of a collec- 
- 
tive verb when that verb hqs a null object, 
N tV - N. 
Dust gathered in the corners. 
$A book gathered in the corners. 
man~~les:, 
or as the non-plural object of a collective 
In the corners:, dust - collected. 
verb, (WAGREE:;), e.g.: 
The shelf will @hey dust. 
The shelf will gather a booli. 
Cf. AGGREGATE. 
While he \\.as away, the fortune accumulated. 
The cell accumulates sodium. 
These -books will only gather dust. - 
He accumulated a forhu~e. 
WORD LIST: acid, alcohol, ammonium, blood, calcium, change, digitalis, down, energy, 
evidence, fluid. hydrogen, interest, knou-ldge, plasma, salt, sweat. 
NCOUNfi : Rame : 
occurs ir~ the environnlent A 01) -- tV 
OW, and not in the environment -- tY OW. 
T - N 
WN9) . 
Examples : 
Nouns not classified as NCOUNTl (LC., 
mass nouns and many abstract nouns) caq A - book fell. 
begin a headless relative clause S-N (DN5.1): 
digital is) 
A series of coincidences occurred. 
The reaction 
3 drug 
produces . . . 
Book fell. 
2 A blood flows. 
WORD LIST: qct, advance, agent, amount, amphibian, analogve, animal, antidiuretic, assoc- 
iate, auricle, author, back, can, case, cat, cation, cause, chemical, chief, claim, collaborator, 
complex, compound, conclusion, controversy, correlate. cortex, couple, covering, decrease, 
degree, difference, dog, draw, drug, enzyme, equation, essential, event, example, explanation, 
factor, foot, fit, fraction, gradient, gross, group, human, hypothesis, inhibitor, investigator, 
ion, isolate, junction, king, lead, length, limit, loolt , make, maximum, mean, meeting, negative, 
nucleus, number, original, peak, ueriod, point, preliminary, president, problem, question. 
relation, relative, say, significance, source, subject, synthesis, test, thing, total, try, 
whole, worker, year 
NC OUN-T2 : Frame : 
an NCOUNTl which, as the object of 
a specified preposition P, occurs tvitllout a 
P - N 
preceding a~ticle (WN9). The particular P 
&amp1 cs : 
which occurs with a given NCOUNT2 is spe- 
cified in the dictionary entry of that NCOUWTZ. He came by - car 
Note: It is not necessary to apply the The solution is at hand. 
NCOUNT2 test to a word not classified as 
NC OU~TI. 
In conclusion, 
IIis illness was of ~ancreatic origin. 
He, stayed at home 
What is at issue here ? 
Dictionary Enm: 
(NSIX) GONCLUSION. 
11 = NCOUNT1, NCOUNT2: (iIN4) . . . 
WORD LIST: amount (in), answer on), approach (in), assumption (in, l~y), bed (in), case (in), 
charge (in), collclusion (in) , contra'ct (against, by, from, in, into, on) , course (in, of, on), 
depyee (in, of1 , end (without), estimate (according to, beyond, by), example (by, for), foot (on), 
focus (in, into, out of)-, gross (in), hand (at, by, in, on, out of), kind (in) , length (at, in), limit 
(l,cyond,within, without), line hn, on, off) , mark @f) , measure (beyond, to), number (according to 
beyond, by , fn, of, without), parallel (in, without), phase (in, out of), place f according t6, in, into 
of, out on, point on) , position (in) , process (in), question (beyond, in, into, under, without) , 
ratio (in), reach (beyond, in, into, out of, withid, sho~~ (for, in, on), significance (of), turn (in) , 
viev (from, in, inb , onj , way (by). 
NCOUNT3 : Frame: 
NCOUNTls which can occur without 
NtbeN 
a preceding article. alter be or in the object 
-- 
- 
- 
position in SOBTHE and OBJBE (see OBJLIST: 
(SOBJB E) , (OBJBE)) (WN9) : 
Ekampl e s : 
He is president. 
We- elected him president. 
He remained president. 
Ile is president. 
I am tr-easurer. 
He is chief investigator. 
We elected him president. 
They appointed me treasurer. 
WORD LIST: collcctor, director, head, investigator , judge, president, secretary. 
NH,U+N: 
Can occur as the firsir noun in the 
string NN -L i.e., as indirect object -- 
(WPOS2 2) : 
She bought the lmy a book. 
(cf. AGGREGATE) or as the host of a right 
adjunct WII string (relative clause) headcd 
11y who - /whom (WWHZ) : 
Frames : 
N, NI (NI indirect object) 
4 
Examples : 
She bg"nt the boy a book. 
Shc wlute the ~srorliers a letter. 
The man who ate the cheese left. 91c showcd i~c-r relations the prt>scint. 
NHUMAN does uot wcur as the host 
The man - whom you saw was Bob. 
N of a right-adjunct PN string with P - - into 
Sl~e needs a friend who can care for her. 
(WNLil) : 
8 The children into the house are noisy, 
or as the subject of the sentential predicate 
be - -I- SP? (DSN1) : 
8 The man is that we need rhoney. 
WORD LIST: agent, boy, chemist. doctor, German, host, independent, judge, man neighbor, 
native, neighbor-, ~bserver , parent, person, pmsicknt, relation, representative, sister, student, 
subject, woman, worker. 
NLETTER: 
a now subclass \vhio11 colltains all the 
letters of the English alphabet. It is used 
in the NQ string as a variant of Q (T'i'Nl2r: 
Table 1 
Table A 
size 5 
size B 
NONHU hx.AN: 
a 110~1 is in NONHUMAN if it callilot 
occur as the subject of a verb in VSENT3 
i( N - tV (V NOTNSUBJ: NONHUMAN) 
(e .g. : believe, deny, discover, -- kno~\~, read) 
&,ample~ : 
and other verbs which require a l~urnah sub- 
ject (e.g.: hand, - laugh, long, skin) fiVSEL2)-. 
- 
Cf. NOTNSUM. 
3 The clock believes that this is so. 
8 The account knows that he is wrong. 
fi The apparatus laughed. 
WORD ISST: ability, act, assumption, balance, can, day, dose, enzyme, feature, frog, gland, 
hypothesis, interaction, junction, London, mean, need, organ, pathway; peak, position, property, 
range, satupation, tension, use, wonder. 
N: PLURAL: Frame: 
a noun is in fie subclass N: PLURAL 
if it occurs in the environment These -- tV - 
These N tV OBJ. 
- 
OBJ and \not in.This -- tV OBJ (WAGREE4); 
- 
e.g.: 
Examples : 
These groups answer cd quicldy . 
8 This groups answered quickly. 
These men love mry. 
- 
8 This men love Mary. 
WORD LIST: abilities, ages, combinations, data, effects, groups, measures, mucosae, obser- 
vations, parallels, problems, rises, seconds, tries, uncertainties, uses. valencies, wants, years. 
NPII. EQ: I+%me : 
a noun which is not also a propername 
is it1 NPREQ if it occurs as the N of the se- 
TNQN - 
quence N - Q (Q quantifier, here restrictec' 
Pkampl cS : 
to numbers) in the left adjunct of a N, i .e., 
if it occurs in the environment T -- Q N a size ten dress 
a El 7 solution, 
a model six radio 
WORD LIST: area, base, Bgurs, model, pattern, pH, phase, section? site, stage, table, type. 
NSCALE: Frame: 
Subclass NSCALE can almost be de- 
fined extensionally. It cor$ains the words 
QNPN - 
length, width, depth, height breadth , thick- 
- 
Examples: 
- ness , e, weigllt, volume, area, and perhaps 
.- 
a few others. These words occur as Nt in The line is two inches in w11. 
the sequence Q N, P N, where N1 - NUNIT 
Ile is five years of w. 
(incl~es, years, etc .) and Q quantifier, in- 
cluding number s (WQ3). The area measures twenty feet in width. 
bl the case of length sequence Ct\cro 
The rectangle is two inches along the diameter. 
inches) a class of nouns, also classified as 
NSCALE, can occupy the place of length in 
P NSCALE: two inches in diameter, in cir- 
cumfrence , along the diagonal, etc . 
(The aciverbs across and arowlcl can 
also occupy the P NSCALE position.) 
WORD LET: age, altitude, area, breadth, height, intensity, length, luminosity, strength, 
volume, wavelength, width, circumfrence , diameter, thickness. 
NSENTP: Frame : 
occurs in the environment It be P -- 
SN, where P is of or to (DSN5). The ~l~oice 
It be P N SN. 
-- - 
- - 
of of or to must be indicated in the dictionary 
entry of Gch NSENTP. 
Examples : 
P + NSENTP functions like sentential It is of ihterest \vhether he cqme, 
adjectives: It is of interest that 'he cameL, 
It is of significance tlmt l~e was here. 
similar to It is interesting that he came; - It 
is to his advantage (for him) to be here, It is to your advantage (for you) to be here. 
similar to It is advantageous for him to bc 
here. 1)ictionar-y mti-g: 
INTER EST. 
N: .11,. . . . 
11 NSENTP: (i 0174 ), . . 
WORD LIST: account, advantage, concern, consequence, csscncc , inlportancc, int crest, r~lorneilt, 
necessity, note, value, weight. 
NSENTl : 
occurs with a 'ight adjunct SN (SN 
an embedded, or contained, sentence) or a 
predicate be - + SN but not ~vith both in the 
same string pSN5). 
The fact that he left surprised me. 
The fact is that no one wants to come. 
The fact that he left is that no one 
wantmtm come. 
Note : To avoid col~fusion betwe en 
NSENTl + SN and the relative clause N 
THATS-N (e.g., The book that he wrote) 
use an intransitive verb in the contained, 
or embedded, clause of the test sentence, 
viz., 
The falct that the atom exists is clear. 
3 The book that the atom mists is clear. 
NSENTl is subdivided according to 
the type of SN string with which the parti-. 
cular NS-ENTls occuc; i .c., 
1) NSENql: (A FORTO) 
The plan for him to go. 
His attempts to lmve 
2) NSENT1: (ASHOZTLD) . 
The demand that salaries be raised 
3) NSENT~: (ATHAT) 
The fact that they enrolled 
4) NSENT1: (AWN) 
The auestion whether to- .vote 
names : 
Tr) N be SN. 
The demand, that salaries be raised was 
rebuffed. 
The plan for him to go to college was fore- 
most in their minds. 
His atte~pts to leave were noticed. 
The fact that they enrolled is Imown. 
- 
The questiou ~vl~etlier or not to vote wrs 
posed. 
WORD LIST: demand, move, notice, order, suggestion, direction, analysis, asSumption , 
charge, claim, conclusion, criticism, doubt, estimate, fact, finding, hypothesis, idea, inter- 
pretation, hovvledge, observation, position, postulate, report, representation, response, 
theory, thought, view, alternative, question. 
A noun is in NSENT2 if it can occur 
in the environment T -- SN is SN (DSN5). 
Frame: 
Note: NS ENT2s are automatically 
Examples : 
allow@ by the grammar in the environment 
specified for NSENTls (i .e. T -- SN tV OW: 
The evidence that hc rcmainecl is that some- 
The evidence that he murdered her surprised 
one saw him there. 
me); therefore, NSENT2s need not also be 
The reason that he dih 't tell the truth nras 
classified as NS ENTls . 
that he loved her. 
WORD LIST: evidence, indication, reason. 
'NS ENT3 :- Fr am e.: 
occurs as the subject of be 1 $N 
(DSNl), t~ut not with a right adjunct SN 
(DSNS) . 
Note: NSENTl s and NS 2NT2s arc- 
(T) N be SN 
-- 
- 
automaticallp allowed by the grammar in 
Tlw trouble is that we have no money. 
the en\ironmei~t specified for NSENT~S, 
t11u s 
The fact is that 11e came. 
The reason was that he loved her. 
$ Tile troul~le that we have no money bothers 
US. 
The truth is that we need money. 
8 The truth that we need money hothers us. 
Therefore, NS ENTls ahd NSENT2s naed 
not also be classified a!s NSENT3s. The basis f@r this theory is that the hvo 
Eactors are the same. 
8 The basis that the two facbrs are the same 
is untenable. 
WORD LIST: approa'ch , basis, change, conflict, connection, considera,tion , deal , detail , de - 
velopment , difficulty, elding, error, point, problem, procedure, reason, result, reverse, 
rule, significance, situation, solution, thing, trouble, wonder. 
N: SINGULA 13 : 
a noun is in the subclass N:SINGULAR This tV 
if it occurs in the environment This -- tV 
-- - 
OBJ and not in These -- tV OW (WAGREE.1) , 
- 
Exam111 es : 
This book fell. 
This boy is happy. 
These book fell. 
$ Tl~cse by is happy. 
Note: words like - fish, series: etc. are 
in neither N:PLURAL nor NSINGULAR . 
WORD LIST: ability, age, combination, data, digital is, excitability, poup , Gunther , 1 actone, 
liberation, measure, mucosa , observation, plasma, rise, sodium, t~'y, uncertainty, use, valency , 
want, year. 
NTIMEl: Frames and examples : 
a noun is in NTIMEl if it cannot oc- 
cur alone as a scntence adjunct. It occurs 
LN N - Sentence (LN adjectival TILIETAG) 
asGa sentence adjunct with appropriate 1 eft Sentence LN N - 
or right acljuncts. Its left adjuncts include 
~VC '11 fi~i sh the tjsorli next timc. 
last, ne~t, each, every, ctc. (i.e., adjectival 
--- 
T1MT:TAGs). Its right ad juncls incluclc hence, 'Last wveelc, - we met in New Yoi-1;. 
am, later, etc. (i.c. adverbial TIWI<TAGs) 
(WPOSI 0). 
They cat eggs every w. 
If in the 13N lwight adjunct of N, P 
BUT NOT: 
since, the host noun is an NTIMI4:l (WN51) : 
Last nleal, the Illcat was ovcrtIo11~. 
The weel< since his arrival has been 
hcc tic. 
A noun in NTIMEl can also occur as 
the host of when 4 S (WCOM8) : 
I remeniber the day when he arrived. 
N RN Sentence (I3N adverbial TIMETAG) 
Sentence N RN' 
F 
An \lour - hence, the place will be deserted. 
I saw him two days ago. 
2 Five sentences ago T understood you. 
8 A report later they shonl 1101~ it \t.ol-iis. 
WORD LIST: century, day, evening, B11, generation, hour, miuute, moment, month, morning, 
night, second, term, time, nreeli, year. 
a noun is in NTIME2 if it can occur. 
alone as a sentence adjunct (W.POS10). 
N - Sentence. 
NTIMEZ is a closed class including yester- Sentenc,e N. - 
day, today, tomorrow, Sunday, Monday, etc . 
NTIME.2s (but not NTIMEls) may also Ehamples : 
occur alone as possessive nouns in noun 
phrases : 
Yesterday's meeting uras cancelled. 
Yesterday T went to the movies. 
Sunday he will run the race. 
$ Hour's meeting tool< place on Tuesday. Tliey will sail for Ihrope tol~lorroi\~. 
(hour NTIM El ) 
TlelZ1 be here Tuesday. 
Ii'OliD LIST: yesterday, tomorro\~, Sunday, Tuesday. 
NTITLE: 
A noun is i.11 NTITLE if it is a title' 
which can precede namesof persons, e.g. 
Frame: 
N NAh.II.1 (INTTIAL) (NARIE) 
2 
Dr.,, hks Mr., Ms., Prof., Professor 
- *I- - - 
Flsamples : 
(wPOS24). 
Nouns, in NC OUh'T3 (e. g. President) - Dr. John Smith 
need not be classified as NTITLE. 
Prof. Mary Jones 
- 
WORD LIST: Dr., Doctor, Rlr., >'Is. 
NUNIT: Frames and Examl->lcs : 
a noun is in NUNIT if it can occur as 
the N of the measure sequence Q N followed 
QNPN - 
by a P N or A of dimension (in length, of 
- 
It is hvo inches* in nridth. 
E, long, old; see ASCALE) @Q3). 
In the predicate position; NUNTT 
1-le is five years of age. 
agrees in number with Q fiYQl): 
The play is two hours in length. 
Ile is five years old. 
Ile is one ycars old. 
FTe is five ycars of age. 
2 Ile is one years of age. 
It is two inches long. 
in the LN position, NITNIT is singular (WC21) 
IIe is five years old. 
and Q N is not follo~\~ecl by a PN (Dm): 
a five year old child 
$a five years old child 
The play is two hours long. 
a two inch - (long) line 
$a five pears in age child. a Five year old child 
Nouns which arc not NUNIT by the a two - hour play 
above criteyia, b~~t.which occur in Q N of 
an LN sequenck (c.g., ,a three act .play) will 
he accepted in the N of Q N if the rare 
switch is on. 
II'OIED LIST: block, centimeter ,* ccntllry , coltlmn , clay, fooS, hand, hour, inch, kg., mile, milli- 
secotld , momcnt , morning, nights, pound, row, section, segment, i~celi, yars. 
LSel ection A+ttril)~~tcs of, the Vcrlx 
applies to verbs rcgtl-icted in terms 
of the noun objects \\it11 y\'hich they van oc- 
cur in scientific writi~~g. The noun SUII- 
Fhampl cs : 
NOTNORJ: (NII'CTRW) 
fi The government almlisl~ed the boy. 
classes lvith \\pl~icl~ the vprlj cannot occur NOT NORJ; (SOXII'I_'RLAh? 
are li,stcd as NOTNOKJ attriln~tcs of the 3 John surprised the C~Z~TIIC. 
vcl-11 01's EL1 ); c .go , since NS ENTI nouns 
cio not occur as the object of - eat ~ fle eats 
the fact), - cat is classifiecl as NOTNOBJ: 
(NS ENTI). 
The noun subclasses consictcrcd in 
NOTOI3J are N'IIUh'LRN, NONIlUhZAN, 
NSENT1, NSENT?, NS ICXT3, NTIRI El, 
NTI R'I 13. 
SC)TNO13Jclasscs also apply to tJle com- 
pounrl noun X TTing (hat \\vcaring) , the con~pouncl 
adject~ve Nving (, a hat wearing man) and 
the passive Ven as an RN (the verse yuoted): 
for any given verb - N4 -- tV N, does not, oc- 
NOTNOBJ: (NS ENT1) 
jf Joh~ ate - the fact. 
NOTNOBJ:, (NSENT2) 
$ John fished the reason. 
KOTNOBJ: (NSENT3) 
2 Jbhn dried the t1:ouble. 
NOTNOBJ: (NTIhIEl) 
3 Jolu~ c~lryinc~tl the ~veeli. 
NOTNOBJ: (NTIM E2) 
2 John convinced yesterday. 
cur tl~eil _ N, .. Viilg at(l N, Veil do not occur: 
--- 
Dictionary Entry :,. 
(WSI.:L:3, 3 and 5 rcsl~cctivcly) : 
That nlan \wars a hat 
IIat \vearhg 
A hat wearing man 
IIc cluotcd the irci-sc. 
The vcrsc cluotecl 
vs. 8 IIc rats thc fact. 
8 Fact eating 
;d A fact c~athg ma11 
jl; Tllc Tact caten 
ICAT. 
TI: (NOTKOBJ: .:! . . . .) 
NSENT1, NS ENT2 NSENT ::., 
NTlM I<1, NTlJI 132. 
learn, paper, peak, smobth, summarize; NOTNOBJ: (NONIlVRTAN) : convince, surprise; 
-- - . - 
NOTNOBJ: (NSENTI) : act, c~ntent , decrease, inactivate, lo\i7~r, prevent, tend, work; 
act, content, decrease, inacti~*ate, further, h\\.cr, maintain. tend, \\'orli; 
act, content, ebract, inactivate, 1 em'11, lo\\,cl', tend, riork; 
NDTNOBJ: 
(NTIME1) : achieve, diminish, oppose, restore; NOTNOW: (NTIME3) : .achieve, 
analyze, diminish, oppose. 
NOTNSUBJ: 
applies to, verbs restricted in terms 
of the noun subjects ivith which they call oc- 
cur. Similar t;o NOTNOBJ in form, the value 
of the NOTNSUBJ attribute is a list of noun 
subclasses w11ic11 calaot, 411 scientific writ - 
ing, at least) occur as the subject of the verb 
in question fiVSEL2). 
Also, for occurrences of adjectival 
Ving N (the dining gentleman), if' for ally given 
verb N tV QBJ does not occur the11 Ving K 
does not occur IDSEL1) : 
??lc gentlenlan dined. 
The dining gent1 elnan 
$ The gentleman occurred 
8 The occul-ring gent 1 e11la.n 
NOTNSUBJ: (NONI1URWN) 
8 Tl~c C]OC~< believed it. 
NOTNSUBJ: (NSENTl) 
8 The fact cares. 
NO'~NSUB~: (NS E~P) 
3 The reason ho\\.s. 
KOTNSUBT: (NSEKT::) 
2 The trouble shidiecd 
NoTNS'I-TBJ: (NTIRI 13) 
jl The \\-eel; designed the plan. 
XQTNSU BJ: (XTIAI 12) 
8 \+*esterday clesig~~ed the plan. 
Dictionary Entry: 
BELIEVE 
TV: (NOTNSUBJ: .I, .. . . .) 
1 NONHUMAN, NS ENTI, NSENT2, 
NSENTZ , NTIMEl ; hTIRI E2. 
WORD LIST: NOTNSUBJ: (NHUMAN) :. bound, occur, peali; result; NOTNSUBJ: (NONHZTMAN) : 
asses s , believe, care, hand, long, skin, stage, wonder,; NOTNSUBJ: (NS E,NTl): believe, care, 
consider, design, discover, dose, drug, eat, last, learn. occur, publish, sight, sleep, tlw, 
understand, wonder; NOTNSUBS (NS ENT2) : accelerate, consider, doubt, interpret, occur, 
sense, sight, sumnlarize , think, understand, ~onder; NOTNSUBJ: (NS ENT3) : associate, care, 
consider, initiate, 1 earn, publish, question, rate, think, w~desstand , wo~~der; NOTNSUBJ: 
PTIMEl) : compound, diminish, initiate, occur,. refer; NOTNSUBJ : (N.TII\?EI) : compound, 
dimhish, initiate, occur, refer. 
N. Obieet Attributes of the Verb. 
The ohject string ADJN is a permuta- 
tion of NA (e.g., Paint the house rtxl; see 
N - tV N ADJ 
ORJLIST: (NA)). Therefore the OBJLIST N tV ADJ N 
- 
of a verb which includm one must also include 
the other. Examples : 
ADJN is rna~~ginal it N is not roolimed 
He painted red the house on the corner. 
by a right ajhnct of N: 
?I painted red the house. 
I painted red the house ~vvhich you 
He bid tight the ropes which were slipping 
off the deck. 
saw last. Tuesday. 
She made secure the l'attling windows. 
He marked "fragilen the package we sent. 
Yoh Yve already pumped dry the source you 
were planning to count on. 
We split open the paclcage marked "fragil e ". 
WORD LIST: bind. color. draw. grind, keep, make, mask, plate, pound, pump, split, stretch, 
tie 
OBJLIST:. (ASOWBE) : 
The object string ASOBJBE must be 
distinguished from the adjwlct sequence 
as -t NSTGO. The two may be distinguished 
- 
by the fact that the as - of the ASOBJBE string 
is parapl~~asable as 'in the capacity or char- 
acter of1, e.g., 
They servcd as InessenTers. 
in the capacity or nlessengers 
whereas the - as of the adjtmct sequence is 
pamplirasable as 'when1 or rwl~ile e.g., 
They served as young men. 
when they were young men 
The two may also be distinguished by 
the fact that in sentences containing the 
ASOBJBE string, the primary stress of the 
sentence falls on the head noun of tie noun 
phrase functioning as the OBJBE, e.g., 
Enzymes function as catalysts. 
3 Enzymes fwlction as catalysts. 
tvhereas, in sentences containing the adjunct 
sequence, the primary sentence stress falls 
on the verb, e.g., 
John cllangc(1 as a lieutenant. 
ij John changed as a lieutenant. 
Examples : 
They served as messengers. 
Enzymes function as catalysts. 
He can act - ai bartender. 
This ide-iginated as a vague possibility. 
That invention began as a joke. 
John applied as a mechanic. 
He will continue as a private. 
He ran as a sprinter. 
- 
The reaction occurred as an after-effect. 
The fact exists as an anomaly. 
NOTOWLIST: (ASOBJBE) : 
John changed as a lieutenant. 
John dte well as a young man. 
Ididn't go to school as a child. 
Note 1 : a large number of verbs oc- 
car with both the object string and the ad- 
junct, c.g., serve (above). 
Note 2: An occurrence of ASOBJBE 
can frequently bt: related to an occurrence 
of NASOBJBE: 
They served (the king) as meshengers. 
Cf. NASOMBE. 
WORD LIST: appear, apply, arise, begin, Continue, enter, exist, fail, function, p, occur, 
originate, participate, remain, train. 
OBJLIST: (ASSERTION) : 
The verbs classified as OBJLIST: 
(ASSERTIDhy are a subset of the verbs 
classified as OBJLIST: (THATS), i.e.: 
Frame : 
SUBJ tV (that) S 
- 
- 
She Ino~vs John is an "An student. 
I assume you \\*ill arrive on time. 
She ~IIOSYS that John is an "An student. 
(Inao\v OWLIST 2 ASS ERTIOX, THATS) 
They feel they are being ahused . 
- 
$ She reported. John is an "AQtudent. 
He believes the earth is flat.. 
She reported that John is an nAn 
student. (report OBJLIST TFlATS She discovered he \\.as a11 cscellent cool<. 
# ASSERTION) 
Ire saiJ \ye he\\- a better' solution. 
- 
It should be noted that mnlputa- 
It seems he is happier anay from home. 
tional treatment of forms like It seelns that 
he was here i,s to define a small subclass, 
VSENT-I ( appear, happen, remain, seem, 
POT OWLIST: (ASSERTION : 
mrn cmt) , ~vhich can take OWLIST: (ASSER- 2 He added John \\ as a witness. 
TIOh? , (THATS) where applicable, provided 
3 He argped their approach was metaphysical. 
the subject of the VSENT4 is the expletive 
It. - 
2 She reported John was an RA"tudent. 
WORD LIST: appear, assume, believe, discover, feel, figure, find, imply, hot\., learn, maintain, 
mean, note, say, se?em, sense, snow, state, suggest., suppose, t~~, understand. 
OWLIST: (ASTG) :, Frame : 
Verbs which occur with the object 
siring ASTG each occur with a limited set 
of adjectives in the adjective position: 
This rings true. 
3 This rings red .. 
SUaJ tv ADJ 
- 
That story rings true. 
This limitation on the set of adjedtives 
She remained red in the face. 
which occur with verbs spebified as OBJLIST: 
They - fell sick. 
(ASTGS distinguishes thew verbs from those 
specified as OWLIST: (OBJBE) for which no 
He lav still. 
.. 
such limitation exists: 
John tui-ned purple. 
Math comes easy to him. 
air lscn3hins tr~lc. 
Sl1c rc~nlains ~-rld. 
rcma ins siolc. 
Stit ~*r>rnaii!s it~~c~lligtwt.. 
Ria r v \wn t c I-a Z.J. . 
Thc l'oj1e \t-ol*lcc!(l I<msc.. . 
'rhc) ol1c assayed high in siIvc>r. 
This class tostcct in rcadinp. 
-- 
U'0li.I) '1,IST:. assal, , iweal;, comc, glo\\ . g.0, iao!il , -lay, rest, ring, starltl , Lcrst , tu Inn, ~\'orli. 
The vct.1) of tlic SS is  lot, tcnsrci. 
I'e~*t)s ~vhicbl~ satisf~, thc t'r-amc .occu~* 
Slln,J ti' that X 1' 0Tl.J 
-- 
7 
\\ith s21ou l(l I' 'as \\.ell 1 a?: ' i\.i tli 1'. 
t.kan~pl cs : 
I clon~and that 11c1 corn ch. 
-- 
Tllc plan provirlcs that hc. Iw on timv 
It nccc~ssitatcs t.ht hc l~c on time. 
iYOIiD LIST: ask, demand, dircct , n~can , movc, orrlcl-, pi.ct'cl-, propose, provicle, recluirc, 
suggcst . 
It is neocssary to define this as an 
object string fin place of treating it as an 
adverbial adjunct plus Sh3 since some 
scqucnccs haye no analysis i41 terms of 
an SN string plus optional adjunct , c .g. : I Sound oust iijhethcr lic \+.as corning. 
Ilc pointed out that this was thc best 1l.e pointed out that this \\.as the i~cst approach. 
approach. 
8 He pointed that this was thc hest 
approach. 
The particular QI, must Ile spec ificd 
for each verb. 
They ofteh nlalic out tn 1~ villains. 
n hD 
TS': (OBtJLIST:. -2, . . . .). 
WOIiD LIST; bring (out, up), figure (out) find (out) , leave @I, ouf) , lct (011) , rnalic (out) u~al-I; 
(da~i~n), point (out), urrite flown). 
,C)BJLIST: (l)Pll: 
Applics 1, strings jn which thc aclverb- 
preposition (or particle), IIP, cannot be 
analyzed as an adverbial adjlu~ct, c.g. : 
They lined up. 
l\ey lined. 
Ck; if the verb also occurs witl~out a 
I>P or other object, then it occurs in a dif- 
ferent sense tha~ with the DP, as is often 
indicatcd by a difference in subject selection: 
Jolm carricd on. 
8 John carried. 
The point carried. 
Some of the constructiolzs classified 
Frame : 
N tV DP. 
- 
They carried on. 
He showcd off. 
We give up. 
The plane took - off. 
NOT OBI LIST: (DP1,) : 
Sfle drove in. 
He \vent out. 
as OBJLIST: @PI) arc the result of 'mid- 
They walked down. 
dling', i.e., they are related to a class of 
1' N DP constructions: Dictionary Entry: 
They blew the house up. 
The llouse blew up. 
Thc particular* DP must be specified 
for each ycrb. 
ACT. 
TV: (OBJLIST: .3 . . . .) 
DP1: .16, . . . . 
DPVAL: (JUPI ). 
~~'OIZII LIST: act (tlp), add (up) , back  doi in^, off, out), come (shout, around, to, up) , carry (on), 
clear but, up), cool (down, off), couple up) , cover Np) , double (back, up), dramr (back, up), dry 
(but, up) ! fa1 i (away, in, off, out) , follow (tlirougli) , give (in, out, up) , level {off, out) , look- (up) , 
lose (out), measure (up), phase (out), run (down, on, out, over, up), show (off, up), sleep (in, 
oirer) , slow (down; up) , split (away4 off, up), start (in, out, up), stop (by in, off, over, up), take 
(off), test (~ut) , trv (outj, turn (out, up), warm (LIP), work (out). 
OBnIST: (DPlPN): Frame : 
It is necessary to define this as an 
object string (in place of treating it as an 
N tV - Dp PN 
aclvorbial adjunct plus PN) since some 
secluences have no analysis in terms of a 
PN string plus optional adjunct, e.g. : I found out about his coming. 
She moved in on him. They settled down to the job at hand. 
1 .She moved on him. 
It all adds - up to nothing. 
Idl place of N, a Vinfl; string is sonletimes 
~mssiblc and is allo~ved by the grammar: 
NOT OBJLIST: (DP1 PN,: 
It ?mils down to their having taken 
IIe went down to Washington. 
The particular Dp and P must l~c 
specified for each verb. 
He walked around to the bus statioq. 
He sped on past the exit. 
hand (around, back, down, in, on, out, over), lead (in), lcave (in, out), level (down, off, out), 
line (un), live (down), looli (over, up), make (out, over, up), mask (down, off, up), move (in, 
out), paper (over), point (off, out, up), pump (in, off, out, up), read (over), reason (out), 
regain back), rule (out), save (up), show (in, off, out, up), sleep (off), slice (off), slow (down, 
up), smooth (away, back, down, off, out), space (out), split (away, off, up), stop (up), store (up) , 
strip (off), switch (off, on) , take (off, out, up), think (out, over), try (on, out), turn (ddwn, off, 
on, over), use (up), warm (up), wash (away, down, off), weigh (down), tvorlc (off, out, over), 
write (down, in, aff, out, up). 
OBJLIST: @P2PN), (DP3PN), (DP4PN) : Frame : 
applies to stripgs in ~i~hich the adverb- 
preposition, (or particle), DP, ccmot be 
N tV - DP N P N 
@PSPN) 
analyzed as an adverbial adjunct; i.e., mix N - tV N DP P N (DP3PN) 
up the last name with the first # mix the 
last name with the first -t 9. 
As the object of Ving in certain 
strings \c here Viilg usually is follo~~ecl 
by - of N there is an object form of the 
DPN PN string where the of - occurs 
between DP aild NPN (the splitting 
up of the 111-oject into three parts). 
This form is DP4PN. 
Any verb which takes DP2PN takes 
all the variants : OBJLIST: (DPZPN), 
(DP3PN), (DP4PN). The particular DPand 
P must be specified for each verb. 
h the WORD LIST, the arrow (-> ) 
follows the set of DPs specified for each 
verb and precedes the set of Ps specified 
for that verb. 
I mixed up the last name wit$ the first. 
I mixed the last name up with the First. 
The mixing up of the last name with the first. 
He split up the project into three parts. 
They bound up the old wheat with the new. 
He is linking up the defendants with this 
new crime. 
Di~ti6nar-y Entry: 
BIND. 
TV: (OBJLIST: .3, . . . .) 
3 - DPZPNl .19, DF3PX: .10, 
DP4PN: .19, . . . . 
.19 = DPVAL: (4 UPS ), PVAL: (4 WTTHC ). 
WORD LIST: add (in-) with) , bind (up+ with) , call (away-, to) , chain (down, up+ to) , 
divide (up+ with), end (up* in, with), follow (up+ with), link (up-) to, with), pair (up, off* 
with, into] , play (off+ against), separate (out, off+ from) sign (ovei-+ to), single (out* 
for), take (up+ with), trace (back+ to), yield (up+ to). 
In the WORD LIST, the arrow ((9 ) 
Dictionary Entry: 
follows the set of DPs specified for each 
MOVE. 
verb and precedes the set of Ps specified 
TV: (OEULIST: .3, . . . .) . 
for that verb. 
.3 DPlPN: .Is,. . . . 
.18 DPVAL: (iINC), PVAL: (CONi). 
WORD LIST: 
add (up + to) , build (up + to) , come (up, around, bacli-? to, with) , double (up + 
with), face (up+ to), feel (up+ to), fit (in+ with), go (along, do~m, in, off, out-> for, in, .3f; \YW) 
keep (away, up+ from ; to) , lead (up + 
to) , link (up + to, with) , live @p-~ to) , look (down, in , 
out, up+ for, on, to), measure (up+ to), own (up+ to), pair &p, off* \irith), play (up+ to), 
put (up+ with), reach (out* for), speak (out, up+ for), stand (up* to, for) , try (out+ for). 
OBJLIST: (DP2 , .DP3 , DP4) : name : 
DP2 may be distinguished from a pre- 
Nf tV DP N, @P2) 
positional phrase PN by the fact that the DP 
and N permute: 
(Kf PRO) 
N tV N LIP pP3) 
He looked the number up. 
- 
He looked up the number. 
Ekampl e s : 
whereas the P and N of the prepositional 
He loolced up the number. 
fillrase do not permute : 
He looked the n~~nlkr up. 
He looked up the shaft. 
$ He loo1;ed the shaft up. 
Fbr some verbs which take DP N ob- 
je-, the N position may be filled by a Ving 
string (They kept up their writing to the 
President). In the machine grammar, a Ving 
string is allowed freely in place of N in DP 
N, and is considered rare as a replacement 
of N in N DP. 
As the object of Ving in certain strings 
where Vhg usually is foll~wed by of N 
there is an object form of the DP string 
where the of - occurs between DP and N 
(the sending in of the entry). This form 
is DP-f. 
Any. verb which takes DP2 takes all 
the variants: OBJLIST: (DP2 , DP3 , DP4). 
The particular DP(s) must be speci- 
fied for each verb. 
He - sent back the gift. 
He - sent the gift back. 
He sent in his entry. 
He sent his entry in, 
- 
He took off his coat. 
He took his coat off. 
He puton his coat. 
He puthis coat on. 
He looked over his notes. 
He loolced his notes over. 
Dictionarv Entrv : 
LOOK. 
TV: (OBJLIST: .3 . 
DP2: .17, DP3: .17, 
DPVAL: (4 OVER+ ), 
. . .) 
DP4: .17, . . . . 
(4 UPS ). 
WORD LIST: act (out) , add ' (in, on, up), ask (in, out, over, up) , back (up), beat (up), bend (back, 
up), bin& (down, off, over, up), block (in, off, out, up), bring (about, off, out, up), carry (out, 
through), clear (away, off, out, up), cool (down, off), cover (up), deal (out), divide (LIP), draw 
(back, down, in, off, out, up) , dry (off, out), drive (in, off, out) , eat (away, up) , factor (out) 
figure (out), find (out), fish (out, up), fit ('in), follow (up) , give (away, back, in, out, over, up), 
OIRJIJIST: (DSTG) : 
applies to small subclasses of verbs 
which occur with narticular adverb sub- 
classes. Kg., act, -- do, mean, behave, require 
ad rcvaluative adverb (Ile behaves badly 
but he means wcll. 8 He behaves hut he 
means); other verbs require an adverb of 
motion (He glanced up, Me glanqed about, 
8 He glanced); still others require a loca- 
tive adverb (He resides here). 
The verbs which require a locative 
adverb also occur with other locative strings 
Ile resides on Prince St. 
He resides where he pleases. 
jf IIe meant. 
He did - poorly. 
2 IIe did. 
Ile resides here, 
jf IIe resides. 
-although a sct of locative ol~ject strings 
is not in the prcsent gran~mar. 
WORD LIST: compare, do, handle, head, lie, place, range, rate, tunnel. 
OMLIST: (FORTOTV'O) : 
The computational treatment of forms 
like It remains for us to make.the fin'al de- 
ci&m is to define a small  subclass^, VSENT4 
(=appear, happen, remain, seem, turn out) 
which can take OBJLIST: (FORTOVO) where 
applicable, provided the subject of the 
VSENT4 is the expletive it. 
Note: To distinguish between F'ORTOVO 
and the object for N + to V (OBJ) where to V 
(Ow is an adjunct (He is looking for an as- 
sistant to aid him in his work), use there as 
the subject of the FORTOVO: 
He plans for there to be five people 
on the committee. 
I asked for there to be a proctor at 
the exam. 
Frame: 
N tV - for N to - V (Om 
Qamples : 
I prefer f~r him to go to college. 
It remaips for us to make the final decision. 
I plan for him to do it. 
I asked far there to be a proctor at the exam. 
He is longing for her to ask him. 
She moved for the meeting to adjourn. 
WORD LIST: appeal, arrange, ask, cry, demand, fight, hope, intend, like, long, mean, motion, 
pay, plan, prefe~, press, provide, remain, wait, wish. 
OBJLIST: NA: 
Frame: 
Verbs which occur with the object 
string NA eachoccur with a limited set of 
N tV - N ADJ 
- 
adje~tives in the adjective position in NA: 
N tV - AD3 N 
He painted the house red. 
He painted the house strange. 
IIe painted the house red. 
This selectional dependency between the 
verb and the adjective distinguishes the 
He bound the ropes tight. 
verbs whicll occur with NA, such as pain6 
from sentence-container verbs, such as 
think, - consider, judge, etc. (classified as 
She made the rattling windows secure. 
He marked the package wfragilen. 
OBJLIST: SOBJBE), ~vhichesl~ibit~~o selec- 
Don't pump your sources dry. 
tional dependencies between the verb and 
the adjective: 
we split the package open. 
I consider the house red. 
I consider the house strange. 
Verbs which occw with the object 
Not OBJLIST: NA: 
He considers this book worth1 ess . 
string NA also differ from verb which She thought the question absurd. 
occur wit11 the sequence NSTGO adjec- 
He drinks his coffee blacli. 
tival adjunct (e.g., She ate the apple green) 
These two sequelices differ in that the noun She prefers her men tall and thin. 
and adjective of NA permute ~vhile the noun 
and adjective of NSTGO + adjunct do not: 
He painted red the house on the corner. 
He ate green the apple on the table. 
Some verbs which occur with NA re- 
quire an NA object, i.e., they do not also 
occpr with a N object: 
The blow knocked him senseless. 
8 The blow knocked him. 
Some border on the idiomatic: 
Strike him dumb. 
Pump it dry. 
WORD LIST: bind; color, draw, grind, keep, make, rnarli, plate, pound, pump, split, stretch, tie. 
OBJLIST: (NASOBJ131.C) : 
A vcrb is classified as occurring 
with OBJLIST: (NASOBJBE) if it occurs 
in the frame 
where N, is a predicate of -or refers 
to - N,. For' esample, in They served the 
king as messengers, messengers is pre- 
dicated of they. 
This distinguishes sentences occur- 
ring with the object string NASOBJBE from 
those occurring with the object string 
SASOBJBE, in which N., is a predicate of 
N, (They treated him as a lackex). 
The object string NASOBJBE mu-st 
also be distinguished from the sequence 
N + as - + N, where as - + N is a sentence 
adjunct. These two may be distin yishccl 
by the fact that the as - of NASOBJBE isa 
paraphrasable as 'in the capacity or char- 
acter of', e.g., 
Frame : 
N, - tV N, as N1 
- 
- 
N, is a predicate of N, 
&ample$ : 
They served the king as messengers. 
He entered the army as a private. 
She interpreted it as a linguist. 
He - ran the race as a sprinter. 
NCITOBJLIST: (NASOBJBE) : 
Tliey treated him as a lackey. (SASOBJBE) 
We will considcr John as our ( w 1 
preferred candidate. 
He established it as a fact. 
(" ) 
They served the king as young men. (adjunct) 
ITc discovered the enzyme as a student. (!I) 
They served the king as messengers. 
in the capacity of messengers 
whereas the as - of the sequence N + as - 
N is paraphrasable as 'when br 'whilef, 
They served the king as young men. 
= when they were young men. 
Cf. OWLIST: (ASQBJBE). 
Note: a number of verbs occur with 
both the object string and the adjunct se- 
quence, e .g., serve (almvc) . 
WORD. LIST: begin, continue, enter, interpret, run, serve. 
OBJLIST: (ND) : Frame: 
applies to strings in which the adverb 
N tV N I) 
(D) cannot be analyzed as an adjunct, e.g.: 
- 
IIe put it there. Pkarnpl lc s : 
- 
$He put it. 
Or, if the verb also occurs \vith a 
noun object alone, it occurs in a tliffcrcnt 
They trcat thcrh ivcl l/l)adly. 
senee than with thct N 1- D: J-Tc lmrc tllc nci\iss i\.cll 1. 
V~ey treated thcnl. 
They treated them ~vell. 
She set it down. 
- 
Tiler e is a selectional dependency 
Sl7~ wears her age weI1. 
between the verb and the adverb such that 
veybs specified as OBJLIST: (ND) call oc- 
cqr only wit11 either locative adverbs and 
adverbs of motion (here, there, near-by, up, 
down) or with 'evaluative CGGm-6-I -. 1 9 - 
badly, poo rly) ( W POS1 I\Q : 
I3e put it there. 
8 He put it about. 
~e bore the news upell. 
He bore the news there. 
The particular adverb subclass 
(whether DLOCl or 13LOC3 or D EVALl ith 
ivhicl~ e'ach verb occurs is not at present 
checked by the grammar. 
WORD LIST: bear, put set, treat, wave, war. 
OBJLIST: 0: 
In saltmlces occurring with OBJLIST: 
(NN) either the verb is give in its 111odal use 
(He gave the door a icicli) or N (the indirect 
I gave him a b~li. 
He bought his family prcsehts. 
fl7POS22). 
A majority opthe verbs classified as 
OBJLIST: (NN) enter inb the transfornla- 
tion 
NtV NqP N., (t NtV N: N2 
where N, NHUhlAN or AGGREGATF 
Others occur with idiomatic estensions 
of thc transformation: 
I sho\vecl him a good time. 
or ~ii th cluantity csprr~ssions of thr NQN 
type: 
I gave him a imoli. 
They bugllt John a present. 
I_.sho~ved him a good time. 
They allowed the palic?nt a cig-ar, 
It cost him five clollars, 
- 
Ile gave thcb door a kick. 
It cost hin~ five tlollalws. 
Ll'OIUl LIST: allow, ask, hring, cause, cllargc, choose, deal, deny, clesign, do, draw, find, 
gain, give, hand, leave, malic, not, order, prepare, read, save, show, take, tell, will, drite. 
ORJLIST: (NPN) : mame : 
There are at least several types or 
NtVNPN 
vc~bs nihich occur i~ith the object string 
- 
NPN: 
particular P for each tir 
1) Tllose ~vhich require the complete 
NPN obic?rt: Ihampl cs : 
They attributed the painting to 
RIassaccio. 
8 They attributed the painting. 
I yefcrred him to the librarian. 
if I referred him. 
They attributed the painting to h4assaccio. 
I - fed his lunch to him. 
I entered him into school. 
I continued him in -school. 
2) Those for which the PN is drawable - 
I my attention to the 
They liberated the city from the enemy. 
I blaught a gift to 
They libel-ated tl?e city. 
1x1 t \\vllich exhibit a strong sel ectional 
clepcnde~lcy bet~vccn the verb and the pre- 
position : 
8 They liberated the city to tlie enemy. 
I filled it with water. 
8 I filled it around the edge. 
I bought a gift for hIary. 
3 I bougllt a gift to Mary. 
This dependency helps to clis tinwish 
the object string NPN from the sequence 
noun object plus P N adjunct (c.g., They 
liberated the city on Sunday). Many verbs,, 
can occur with either the NPN object string 
and the noun ohject plus P N adjunct, where 
the preposition is the same in 110th cases: 
They libcrated the city from the 
cnelny. (NPN) 
They lil]erated the city from motives 
of l~olitical advantage. (N PNadjunct) 
Thc particular P must 11e specified 
for each varb. 
One can tr'ansform X into Y. 
I emptied the water into the sink. 
ITe conceriled himself with the issue. 
I incorporated your suggestion into the paper. 
I applied my solution to our problem. 
I connected the plug to the outlet. 
I dippec! my donut into my coffee. 
I divided the pie into five parts. 
- 
IIe fastened the chain to the door. 
\V01lD 1,IST: accclcratc (lo) , atlraN (to), add (to) , apply (to) , ask (illto, to) , associate (witl~) , 
attril~utc (to), l~alancc (against, on) , heat (into, to), bring (into, to), catalg sc (into), charge (to), 
clear fof) , c:oml)inc fivitl~), correla~e (uith), demonstrate (to) , dcprivc (04, direct (against, at, 
to, tnwarrl) , cnt cr (in), cxpc.1 (from), give (to) , icke11tif-y ~\!*ith.) , limit (to) , nlal~e (of), obtain (from), 
pattern (after), prcscnt (to, ~vit'h), slice (t'rom, off), subjcct (to), take (fi-om, to), turn (against, 
from, into, on, to), view hvit.11). 
OBJLIST: (NPSNWI~,: 
The particular Rep must be specified 
for each verb. 
The, P is restricted in terms of the 
container verb, not in teims of the con- 
tained SNWH. This is evidenced by the 
fact that the, P of NPSNWH does not permute 
to the end of tlie SNWH string, e.g. 
John asked me about what 11e should do. 
John asked me what he should do about. 
Cf. OBJLIST: SNWII. 
Note: Avoid use of what - S as the 
SWH in the test frame since 1~11at S may 
be the replacement of a given N2 in N,PN,, 
I asked him about whether my passport would 
be stamped. 
fie interested her in what he was planning 
t.0 do. 
I will base - my opinion on whether sl~c shows up. 
I - saw the organizer abut ~v~lose car wc 
should take to the picnic. 
They made a big deal of whether you czme 
e.g. : on time, 
I covered it with what you gave me. 
Dictionarv Ehtrv: 
INTER EST 
TV: (ORJLIST: .:3 . . . .) . 
3 - NPSNCVII: .17, . . . 
.17 PVAL: (+IN+). 
WORD LIST: asl; (about), base (cul , upon) , brief (on, abut), contact (about), interest 011) , 
lnalie (of), question (ahut), see (about), trace @) : 
OB JLIST: .(NPmNG0) : name: 
As distinct from the object string 
NPVINGSTG, the N, of NPSVINGO is not 
N, tV N2 P N3 Ving (Ow 
- 
possessive : 
Examples : 
I asked him about John's having been 
there ( NPlrINGSTG) 
I asked him abut no one having been there. 
I asked him about no one having been 
I charge his acquittal to there having been 
there. (NPSVING O) no witnesses. 
If N, is a pronoun, it is accusative (WPOS5). 
Note: to avoid confusion of the object 
string NPSVINGO \vith the sequence N P N 
plus a right adjunct Ving (He kissed ary 
near the door opening on to the balcony), 
use the expletive there as MI]: 
I asIted him about there having been 
no witnesses. 
The particular preposition (s) must be 
specified for each verb. (WPOS15). 
He attributes* his success to there having 
been no competitors. 
He told - us about therc being no doubt in his 
lnirld. 
Dictionary Entry : 
,ASK. 
TV: (OB JLIST: .3, . . . .) . 
.3 NPSVINGO: .16,. . . . 
.I6 PVAL: (ABO'IJT) 
\IrC)IZD LIST: ad< (about), attribute (to), base (on, upon), brief (about, on), caution (about), 
ccxltcr (on, almut , around, upon), charge (to), compare (to, with), contact (about), contrast @, 
wi,tth), corrclatc Ovitll), drducc (from), identify (with), limit (to) , make (of) ,-question (about), 
1-elate (to), tell (about), trake (to). 
OBJLIST: (N'PVINGO): 
The noun object (N2) of is under- 
stood t3 be the subject oaf Vhg. 
The particular preposition (s) must 
be specified for each verb fiVPOSl5). 
Ni tV - 'N2 P Ving (OBJ). 
I prevented him from ruining his health. 
I cautioned him qgainst ruining his health. 
I tall~cd him into going to Chicago. 
T cured him of stuttering. 
I converted him to smokling cigars. 
Dic tioiiary lmtry : 
CONVERT. 
TV: (OBJLIST: .3, . . . .). 
st] NPVINGO: .lG, . . . . 
.16 PVAL: (I TO!) 
I\TORD LIST: attract (to), charge (~vith), clear (of), coi~dition (in), drive (to), end (by), expose 
(to) , fit (for) , inhibit (from) , interest (in), limit (to) , prevent (from) , release (from), restrict 
(to, from) , stoil (from). 
OBJLIST: (NPVINGSTG) : Frau: 
In the object string NPVINGSTG, the 
N, tV N2 P N,'s Ving (0833. 
left adjunct of Viiq (specified in the frame 
- 
as - Na is either an overt subject - - 
Examp1 es : 
I told him about Maiy 's leaving. 
I asltcd him almut their offering him more 
-- a+rl article -- money. 
I told him abut the singink of the 
aizthem . 
-- or null -- 
I told hill~ almut nli-iting pmograms. 
Ilowcver, a vcrl) classified as occur- 
ring with the oh jcct string NPVINGSTG 
must bc capahlo of occurring with a sequence 
N P Vingstg in \v11ich the Ving 'has an overt 
subject aid n ~vhich this over+t sul~jcct is not 
I told - him abut NIaryls leaving. 
She asked - lrinl abut writing programs. 
T attributed my success to changing my plans. 
Do11 'C subject me to Jolm Is singing. 
Dic tionarv hti-v : 
ASIC. 
TV: (ORJ1,IST: .:: , . . , . .) . 
1-l 
NPT71NGSTC:: .17, . . . . 
17 PVAL: (I ABOUTl ) 
coreferential ~vith' either the subject (NI) 
or the noun object (N,) of the tV. 
Note that VINGSTG here refers to 
either the object string NSVINGO or the 
object string VINGO FN. 
The particular preposition(s) must be 
specified for each verb (WPOS15). 
WORD LIST: ask (abut), attach (to), attribute (to), base (on, gpn) , compare (lo, with), 
comlect fif~ith), dduce (from), identify (rvith) , li13k fiirith), malie (on, pattern (after) , prepare 
(for), question (abut), relate (to), separate @'on$, set (on), subject (to), tell (abut), trace @). 
OBJLIST: mSwI3) : 
N, is NMTRlAN (JVSKS) 
Note: Avoid the use of what S as the 
SWH in the test frame since nrllat S nlay 
be the replacement of a given N2 in - N15 
(e .g., ! gave him what he neede'?. 
He t;old - me i~hetller they were coming. 
They nrrote him who was conling. 
I asked hill1 \\'hy he did it. 
I taught hi111 llo\\- to do it. 
Il?OIiD LIST: aqli, teach, tell ,  rite. 
OBJLIST: (NSTGO)) : 
verbs classified as occurring wit11 the 
object string NSTGO include 
1) the pure trmsitives (He accomplished 
his mission) including those ~d~.icl~ drop the 
N object (He reads holis; He reads). 
2) verbs which occur with \an NPN 
object where the PN is droppable (He fqsteqed 
the chin to the door: He fastened the chin). 
(Dl-~pping of PN is not an automatic process 
of the grammar). 
3) verbs ~vlxick require either a con- 
joined. or plural object (He equated A and' B; 
Ile correlated the,hiro sets of values) or a 
collective noun object (It gathers dust). 
4) verbs w11ich rccluirc rcflcsivc ob- 
jects : (He absented himself). 
5) measure verbs (The line measures 
hiro inches; It costs five dollars) . 
Notc: due to thcir rclativcly infrccjuent 
He analyzed the compound. 
John met 11Iary. 
- 
He amassed a fortune. 
He equated A and B. 
This liey opens the door 
They periured Blemselves 
It costs five dollarsz 
Ilc fastened the cl~ain. 
occurrence wit11 nou~ ohjects, verbs 1vl.lic11 
occur only with special noun objects (usually 
nominal transforms of the verb of the sen- 
tence: IIe slept a good sleep) arc classifi'ed 
as OBJLIST: (NULLOBJ) only. 
WORD LIST: ask, believe, combine, divide, eat, face,, fish, group, like, mean, number, order, 
part, place, prefer, provide, question, run, relax, require, say, skin, substitute, suppose, take, 
tell, try, underestimate, vary, want, work, write. 
OBJDIST: (NSVINGO) : 
- 
The Ving in the object string NSVINGO 
may occur with either an overt or a zeroed 
subject : 
She favors doing it. 
She favors their doing it. 
The subject of Ving need not be the 
same as the subject of the container sen- 
tence; e .g., in 
John described his studying. 
his - - John - or, alternatively, his - 
some 
other person. Cf. VINGO. 
Snce NSVINGO is more se~tence- 
like in its form than the VINGOFN string 
it is helpful to include in the test frame for 
NSmNGO features which are characteristic 
of sentences, e.g.: 
1) an object after VfrJg: We discussed 
writing: novels. 
2) an adverb after the object: - She 
prefers doing it quickly. 
3) a negative element before the Ving: 
She favors not doing it. 
Note: to avoid possible confusion, do 
not use in the test frame for OBJLIST: 
(NSVINGO) a Ving which can function as a 
noun modifier (see W ERYVING) . I.e., you 
don't want He needs designing women classi- 
fied as a case oE NSVINGO. 
N tV - (Ws) Ving (OBJ) 
Examples : 
He described (his) studying at night. 
He decided to accelerate their advertising. 
The group discussed writing novels . 
In their program of exercise, they include 
climbing a mountain. 
The nurse has limited (her) seeing visitors 
so frequently. 
He mentioned (his) seeing Mary. 
They opposed (their) adjourning early. 
She prefers doing it her 1t7ay. 
They proposed sending another letter. 
He questioned having to arrive at 8 P. M. 
The doctor has restricted his seeing visitors. 
He s~ested swimming more slo~~ly. 
Iunderstand his wanting to leave so early. 
WORD LIST: almlish, accelerate, nllow , cl~oose, complicate, describe, deterlnine, discuss, 
eviclence , facilitate, include, hkr, limit, mean, mention, ilotice, oppose, prefcr , prevent , 
propose, question, restrict, suggest. 
OBJLIST: (NTI-IATS) : 
The noun object of a is NIlUMAN 
(Wsw 
Note: a verb tvlxic'h takes a sentence 
string as its subject. (That no one wants to 
come troubles her) may appear to take the 
sentence string in its object when the sub- 
ject is tdoe eAxplettive - it (It troubles her that 
N tV - OBJ (that) SN 
- 
I told - you that he came. 
I taught him that hones@ is the best policy. 
no one ~iqnts to come); ht these are not 
considered to be object strings or parts of 
object strings. The otle exception is the 
closed class VS ENT4. 
WORD LIST: advise, caution, content, convince, interest, promise, satisfy. shoa., teach, tell, 
trouble, write. 
OBJLTST: (NTOBE): 
verbs classified as OBJLIST: (NTOBE) 
can occur with the fdllo1i5ng object strings : 
'N be OBJBE 
N to have N 
N have Ven 
They discovered him to be in error. 
We consider Dr Smith to have the best 
solution. 
Jolm was found to have Ieft early. 
N, tIT , to be OBJ 
- --- 
Fhampl cs; 
They she\\-ed him to be a fool. 
8 They shon ed him to cross the street. 
\Ye found him to he an cscellent companion. 
$We found him b cat haml~urgcrs. 
\ire noticed this to 1)e the case. 
Verbs classified as occurring with the 
object string NTOBE cannot occur with an They demonstrated the solution tLo bc correct. 
KTOVO object string: 
They shoned US to he in error. 
Hodever, when fl occurs in the passive, 
any verb is allowed in the infinitive: NOT OBJLIST: 033 12 : 
John was found to frequent houses of They allow him to be im~lite. (sf. NTOI'O) 
ill repute. 
vs. 3 They found John to frequent houses 
of ill repute. 
The to - of OBJLIST: (hTOBE) does not 
They asked him to be quiet. (cf. h3'C)I.O) 
equal in order to; i .e., sequences such as 
They introduced this plan to be controversial 
( They introduced this plan in order to he 
controversial) should not be considered as 
cases of OBJLIST: (NTOBE). 
IS N, is a pl*onowl, it is accusative 
fiI'I'OS.3). 
\\'01<1> LIST: assun~c , l~clicvc , clain~ , confirm, consider, demonstrate , dctcl-rninc , cli scovcr , 
cStabl ish , feel, fi~ltl, lalow, ol~servcl, note , notice, report , shouf, SUJI~OSC, thinlc. 
The IT of t11c ob i'c t string NTCIVO 
includes be - and l~a.la\~c but also other 1': 
solution. 
They allo\s.ecl him to go. 
They concI.itionc(1 them to I~cg foi- food 
Tllcl - to of OBJ1,'TST: (XTOI'O) tlocls 
i 1 ilic llim to Come home car1 y . 
not cclual in orcltll* to; i .e. , sct lutlncc>s suc.11 
- 
as Ilc dr.il11.r~ n1i.ll.c to I;twp thin ( 1Ic clrinl;s 
I ti~l(l - him to (lo it o\.er. 
~nilli .in 01-dcr to Ii('c~l) thin) should not !,ti 
Thpy forcctl 11im to sign. 
consitlclccd as cases. of OKJI,IS?': (ST< )IT( 
X~tc: tlo not classify vc\l*l)s \\.11ic.l1 
1111~~~ arc rtic~iring ):out to she\\. your I. 11. 
occur \\-it11 tlw ~splc>ti\~c - it as su1)jcct (It - 
cnont cnts him to Icno\\- that shc~. is he t-cl) 3s 
NTOI'O (sc~cl OF3,JT.I ST: (STILATS)). 
If' S., is a 1)1-(-illoun, it .is accusatii.~ 
fi\'Pns.-j). 
ii'OTiI1 LIST: is , 1 lo asl; ; tBauseJ, caution, cl~allc~ngc~, cb'hoosc~, c80ntli tion, co~~vince, 
tics ignatc . rlcltail , cmplq., tanga;rr;ch, cbsl)cbct, for11id , foi~c, incluccl . hflucncci , intent1 , lilcc. mean, 
nloticn, nlotii.atch. orrlcli* . pay. pornlit ? p~-c~fc~l-. ])i-c])aro, II~C'SS, I)~-~~ssuI'c. rcc~uir~, stimulate, 
suffcr, tcbach, tcll, troul)lo, trust, \\.ant, \\.~'itcb. 
~chl.1)~ rlassif'ic~tl as r)c-cw~.r-ing I\ it11 
the: ol)itd, st ring SIT1.,1,( )I3J\i11c~l q~(ft: 
.1 ) i*c~-l)s \\.llic.-l~ (10 not ah0 ~r)c:c-uz. \\.ith 
S or 13s 01- O~~C~I* ol)jclclt S~I*~IIF;S &l.isal)p~ha1* 
.la\~cbgetat.cb , ac-l~cq - . 
2) i.iit-1)~ \\.l~ic*ll clan occlur \i-ith spchcial 
ol,j(:(.t 
(11~ sl'cbl)t I (scc ( JILT: (SST( ;( )I 
not c . 
::) nol-nlallj- t ~-ansiti[?o  chi-1)s n.liic-1.1, 
iil10\\~1 c!(I~:'c '3 cuc-un~u 1 :i tc~ . 
mav occ-ur \i.itl~out tl~ciir N ol)ic~c~,ts fllc t-cla(Is: 
.I) a V('( )I,I, I-:CTn''I-: if' it ocbc*ul-s \\.it11 
,John ram c . 
a ntsn-sinp~la 01- cbollchc*ti\lcl sul)jilcbt (ih~st 
- 
5) verLs with droppnble PN or adverb 
objects: 
IIc \iporl;ed on the problcnl. 
1 Ie ivorlied . 
Ile walked by, 
IIe walked. 
WORD LIST: accelerate, act, age, appear, care, cllange , come, compete, compound, continue, 
decrease, demonstrate, clilninish , draw. eat, enter, csist , fail, fish, follow, go, happen, homo - 
genize , lnoa9, last, lengtl~cn, live, looli, matter, move, occur, point, provide, publish, ran, read, 
rela.. , rest, result, retun, ring, see, sleep, start study, sjveat, take, think, try, n.ondel 
n-oxI<, n-1-ite . 
OBJLIST: WILLR ECIP) : 
a verb is classified as occurring wit11 
the object stri-rig IWIALRECIP if, nhen it 
W, and N, tV (P) each other. 
- L- - 
-- 
occurs ~iitll no overt object and with a noun 
I-:sal~~pl cs : 
subject which is not silzgular &e., is AGGR 1.:- 
GATE, PLCRAL, or conjoined) it would be 
John alcl l\la~y lnet each othcl* at school . 
natural to recoi~struct the. object gach othcr 
or P -- each other (on at lt.:~st ollc seading) ; 
Your claim and mv claim ccpltlict hi-ith each 
Tile couple fougl~t C\\ it11 cach othur) , 
(0tllLT) . 
hi it11 me). 
Tile parties confci.1-td C\\.ith each other). Dill ant1 k1~ foug'ht (I\ it11 cacll other). 
Jolm and 3h-v aqrec hi.1t11 each other), 
The g2;l*oups separ.ated (fro111 each olher ) . 
(to your plal~l 
$ John n~et 
2 John fouxht nit11 eac.11 other. 
The li~lcs pa~al lel each other, 
WORD LIST: agree, arLguc, associate, combine, confer, conflict, correlate, differ, link, meet, 
part, parallel, separate. 
OBJLTST: (OWB ICj : Frame: 
In the object strong OBJBE, the OBJBE 
N1 tV OBJUE 
is the predicate of N1. The machine grammar 
- 
allo~vs four possible values for OWBE:: OBJBE noun, adjective, adverb, P N 
1) NSTG (neun string.) 
Jolln appeared an idiot. 
ITe seemed a happy man. Jolm acted strange. 
The restriction on number agreement between 
Thcy appear happy to be here. 
sub jcct and, object (U'AGR EE2) applies here. 
Hc: became ecstatic tvhen I told him. 
Note: if the secjuences N:SINGVLAR 
tV N:PLURAL and/or N:P.LURAL tV N: 
They - feel able to assume the responsibility. 
SINGWAR occur, the - tV is not classified as 
OBJLIST:  COMB^.! 
She looks capable. 
2) ASTG (adjective stringl, including Whether they will come remains unc1ea.r. 
adjectival - Vens and Vings (see VENDADJ 
and VV ERYVING) : 
They looli happy to be here. 
We felt satisfied. 
She seems right for the job. 
The eggs smell bad. 
John appeared an idiot-. 
Tllc results might seem surprising. 
Ile became president a year ago. 
Note: VPP~S which occur nrith ally a 
limited set of adjectives (r.&g true, blush She remains a strong woman. 
red, etc .) are classified as OBJLIST: (ASTG) , 
- 
Ile seemed a happy man. 
not OWLIS'I': (OEUBLJ. 
3) DSTG (adverb string-) : 
John appeared clown and out. 
Bill felt apart €ram the rest of us. 
- 
He seems clown and out. They 1ooI;cd ~vcll . 
They looked n.cl1. 
They seem well. 
A restriction limiting adverbs to those wliic11 
The matter appears in d3spute. 
occur after be - (U'POS1 II) applies here. 
Note: verbs wllich occul* with a nider It will remain ta his advantage to see them. 
range of adverbs, i.c. which occur with ad- 
Thc cake smells of anisette. 
vcl-bs of 'nlotion, malliler, etc., are not classi- 
fied as occui-1-ing \vith the object string 
OTJJBE: (DSTG), c.g. He came here,up, 
do~vn, guicl.;l~, etc, 
4) P N: 
- 
This appcars of great significance. 
The matter seems in dispute. 
Note: Verbs classified as occurring 
nit11 OBJBE: PN, as opposed to those classi- 
fied as occurring .rvitll PN, can occur nit11 a 
range of P ! NSENTP (to his advantage, of 
value, of interest, of significance) construc- 
tions. Therefore, verbs Ivhich can occur with 
this range of constructions should 1)e classi- 
fied as OBJBE: (PNJ, altllougk otller PN con- 
sti*uctions are also possil~le here. 
WOIID LIST: ASTG: act, appear, become, feel, look, remain, seem; DSTG: appear, feel, look, 
seem; NSTG: appear, become, remain, seem; PN: appear, remain, seem. 
- 
OBJLIST: (ORJECTBEl) : 
I 
applies only to the verb be - in all its forms 
(am, -- are, be, been, being, - is, was, were). 
The sequepces which are treated as objects 
of be - include: 
1) Ving (OBJ) (IIe is loolring into the 
matter). This is the same string as the ob- 
ject string VTNGO. As object of - be, the string 
represents a treatment of theprogressive 
.tense; it is therefore restricted so as to cs- 
clude non-\velle-formed verbal sequences : 
He is having gone. 
8 She was bebg going, etc. 
2) passive V* + (OBJ) (War was never 
derlared) . Because of the frequent occurrence 
of the passive construction in scientific writing, 
it is more economical to list the passive objects 
for each verb in the word dictionary than to 
compute them by a rule of passive omission. 
The correspondences between active and pas- 
sive objects used in the preparation of dictionary 
entries is given in POBJLIST below. 
3) ORJBE, i.e., a noun. adjectiye, ad- 
verb or PN string (cf. OBJLIST: (OBJBE): 
He is 2 carpenter. 
He is happy. 
ZIe is here. 
The matter is ip dispute. 
4) SN (an embedded sentence): 
The trouble is that no one lcneu.. 
To ask the question is to answer it. 
It is not that there was nothing to do. 
5) Ving strings (see OBJLIST: (NSVINGO) 
and OBJLIST: (VTNGOFN)) : 
An added burden is filling out innumerable 
forms. 
6) TOVO (John is to start Monday). 
7) IISSERTION me trouble is 30h.n wants 
to w). 
8) BEINGO (John is being a fool). 
9) EhIB EDDEDQ (The question is: 1vI157. 
did John PO 7) 
OBJLIST: (PN) : 
verbs which occur with OBJLISI': 
(PN) cshibit a strong selectional dependency 
nrith the preposition : 
ICIe depends on Mary. 
8 IIe depends with Mary. 
It matters to me. 
$ It matters wit11 me. 
and, for the *most part, do not also occur 
(with the Samd meaning) with a zeroed object : 
You can rely on John. 
jf You can rely. 
Ile stands for justice. 
He stands. 
Verbs which occur with the object string 
NPN from wlrich the leftmost N can be dropped 
(He gives (money) to charity) are also included 
here. 
In the case of some verbs, a middle form 
of the verb takes both NPN and PN objects: 
Frame: 
NtVPN 
- 
I looked at him. 
It consists of protein. 
He happened across a new solution. 
IIe accounts for the esceptions. 
This adds to our i~roblcms. 
He - ran tor president. 
IIe is referring b the latest dcllate. 
The pie divided into five parts. 
Dictionary Entry: 
DEPEND. 
TV: (OBJLIST: -3, . . . .) . 
0 
.I> PN: .15, . . . . 
.15 PVAL: (iON1, rUPON+). 
One can transform X into Y. 
X transforms into Y. 
The particular preposition (s) must be 
specified for each verb (WPOS15). 
WORD LIST: account (for), act (on), add (to), agree (on, to), amount (to), ansurer (for), ask (about, 
for) , associate (with) , balance @n) , believe (in) , care (about, for) , change (into, to) , compare (to, 
Nth) , consist (in, of) , deal (with) , depend (oil, upon) , differ (from,, in, with) , divide (into) , dram 
(fr~m , on, to, upon) , drive (at) , enter (in upon) , focus (on) , give (of, to) , happen (across , on, upon) , 
idenlify (with), long (for), look (at, after, for, into, upon), meet Iwith) , reduce (to), run (for) , 
su11stht;ute (for), tell (of), transfer (to), wonder (about). 
OBJLIST: , (PNHOWS) : 
includes those verbs which occur with 
how S but not wit11 SNWH, e.g. : 
N tV - (PN) 1101il S (and not N tV, whether S) 
- 
- 
IIe ,liked how it was done. 
Examples: 
$ He Zil<ed wrl~ether it was clone.. 
Many of these verbs also occur wit11 
PN how S which is ihcluded in this string. 
This will complicate 1~01ir it iS to be done. 
They demonstrated (to us) Ilo\v the situation 
was ha~lclled. 
Ebr tl~ese verbs the particular preposition (6) 
NOT OBJLIST: . PM-IOWSL: 
haw 
This concerns [ 
] we are to escape. 
whether 
( -- OBJLIST: (SNWI-I)) . 
Dictionayy Entiy: 
DI?RTONSTIZATE. 
TV: (OBJLIST: . , . . . .). 
.3 -= PNHOLirS: .IS, . . . . 
.18 -- PVAL: ( + FOR $ , 4 TO4 ). 
WORD LIST: conlplicate, correct, define (for), demonstrate (for, to), describe (for, to), expose 
(to), film, infer, like, mention (to), restrict, 'eview (for), summarize (for), understand. 
OBJLIST: (PN'N) : 
Since PNN is a permutation of NPN, 
any verb specified for one nust be specified 
for the other. 
PNN, ho~~ever, usual,ly occurs only 
\\~Wll N: - N 1 RN: 
?Mary galre to Jolm the book. 
Mary gave to Jolm the book 1v11ich he 
needed for his esanls. 
The particular preposition (s) i~lust be 
specified for each verb fiVPOS15) 
Frame: 
N, tl' P N, N,, 
J- 
He gave to her the bool; \~Ilich he lfinlself 
needed. 
They attribute to hhssaccio the iiltroduction 
of perspective into meul -1val art. 
They correlated with speech variatidn several 
factors nrllich are usually considered sociolog'fcal . 
They have depleted of its riches the $oil which 
we cared for so lovingly. 
Dictionary mtry: 
ATTRIBUTE. 
TV: (OBJLIST: .2, . . . .) . 
.3 = NPN: .I?, PNN: .17,. . . . 
.17 PVAL: (1 TO4 ). 
WORD LIETi .see OBJLIST: (NPN). 
The noun of PN is Ntl'l_l'R'TilN (C17S"N8). 
2?le P is from. to or of. 
Verbs which can occur only with PN 
bhampl c s : 
& S and not with the full range of SNM'lI 
strings!-- They incluirccl of him nlhcther hc was coming. 
I3e described to me how to go. 
j3' IIe described. to mc nvhcthcr to go. 
It' matters to nle whcthcr he comes. 
IIe dic1nft mention to lnc \vhclher hc was 
--are classified as OBJLIST: (PNHOII'S) intcrcst~~l. 
and not 3s OBJLIST: (PNSNIIJH).. 
Note: avoid use of what S as the SNIVII 
in the test frame since wlmt S may be the 
replacement of a given N2 in - P N1 mu N,&.g. 
T will give to him ji7hat he needs). 
Note: do not classify vcrhs which oc- 
cur with the expletivc it - as sul~icct flt 
matters to me whether he comes) as PNSNIYFI 
(see OBJLIST: (NTIIATS)) . 
The particular prcposition(s) must l)c 
specified for each vel-11 (TTTPOS1 5). 
R~ORD 1,IST: admit (tar, comnlurlicate (to), conceal (filom), esplain (to), )lint (to), indic&tc (to), 
learn (ffonl) , mention (to), prow (to), rclatc (to), say (to), witc (to). 
OBJLIST: (PNTHATS) : F'rame : 
The noun of PN is MIVATAN (IVSNH). 
N tl' P h' SN 
The P is fyom, to or of. 
- 
-- - 
The conlputational treatment of forms 
fiamplcs : 
like It appeared to Jolm that hbry was here 
is to define a small subclass, VSENT.4 (- q- I learned from pJoJln that the matter was under 
pear, happen, remain, seem, turn out) 1i~hic11 cliscussiou. 
can take the ol~iect string PNTIIATS, whcre 
I demonstratccl to them that the hypothesis 
appropriate, provided the subject is - it. 
accounted for several disparai-ate facts. 
Note: do not classify vcrl~s 1-\.11ich oc- 
cur wit11 the cspletivc it as subject and \~Ilich It apl~carecl to him that A'Lqi-y was hcl-c. 
a1 so occur with a scntcncc string as subject 
(It occurred to John that he was nccdcd. That - Dictionary Entry: 
he was fieeded occurred to John) as PNTIIATS. 
(see OBJ1,IST: (NTIIATS)) . 
PN can be accompanied 11y an adjunct, 
in tvhiqh case the subject of SN is usually a 
pronoun : 
They rcpol*tcd to him (almut his lcaving) 
that it 'had not I~ecn voluntary. 
I) E:hIONSTIL1TI-:. 
TV: (ORJLIST: .3, . . . .) . 
I1NTlIATS: -5, . . . . 
I'lrAT,: (4 TO4 ) . 
The pal-ticular ~~-CIIOS~~~OII (s) nlusl l)e 
specified for each verb (JVPOSlf,) 
\~()I<D LIST: admit (to) , nnnounrcl (to) , assc1.t. (to) , cr~~ (to) , (~ommunicnlr (to) , tlcmonstmte (10 , 
disclose (to) , csplein (to), llillt (to) , illusli~ntcl (to) , intliratcb (to) , intin~nlc (to,, 1 cn l*n (from), 
mpntion flu) , ll~tion (to), occur (I , 10 (to) , rcnlarlt (to) , i'rcluil'c (on , i*tii?t!al (to) , s;ly (to), 
seen1 (to), suggest (to) , \\-ritc (to). 
O.RJLIST: .(lWTIIATS\'( 1) : 
the vci-1, of the clnl~~rlclcd sclltcllcc is 
not tcnscd. (cf. OBJLIST: (C 1 SIIOI'LI)) 1. 
Verbs \\.hicll satisfy the t'l.an~c occur 
with should V as \vclI as ,\\pith IT. 
The i~oull of IyK is S7II'RIAAi\: (I\'SNS). 
The particular preposition (s) must he 
specified for each vcrl~ (TI'POSI 5). 
I.ha~ni)l cs: 
Thchy 1-tlclui rcyt of John that 11c) att rlncl. 
I i I~:~~lTI1< 1.:. 
Ti: (OI3tJI.IST: .:: , . . . .1 . 
I 
. , 111TS: .I!. . . . . 
. (; l,lT.-11,: (4 0 1,-4 1. 
li'Ol'\D LIST: ask (of), dvnlanc-1 (of), cspc~t (or), l)l'olx,sc> (to) , rcclllil'c\ (017, suggclst cto~. 
ORJLIST: (PhTrINGSTG) : 1.Yalnc : 
Siilcc PhSrTNGSTG is a per~~~utation of 
XI tl' I' S., I'IXGSTC; 
VINGSTGPN, any vcrb sl~ecifiecl for one lnust 
- 
be specified for the othcl*. XI - tiv IVIXGSTG 1) Xs, 
Csually, however, the acceptal~ility of 
the PhTTINGSTG permutatioii dcpends 011 thc 1-halnpl cs : 
presence of one or more adjuncts ivithin the 
VIKGSTG: 
?He prefers to going out \vith hhry 
They lifnitccl. tr, certain 110~11's his sc'ci~lg 1~isito1-s 
staying home. Y1cy atti*ihutc?cl. to his i\~if~~'s 1)usincss ac3un~cin 
He prefers to going out \\.it11 hkry his snccccding i1.11c.r.c) cvPl.yo~lcL clsc had failccl. 
staying 110111~ i\.it;h someone else. 
I lc- charged ta a l~eavy \\~orl;loacl his going honlc 
The particular p,mpositicm (s) must l~e 
late. 
specified for each verb @i1POS15). 
ATTI3IDU.T 1.: . 
TV: (OBJLIST: .:I, . . . .) 
. 3 V INGSTC: PN: .14, I'W INGSTG : 
. I 5, . . . . 
.15 PVAL: (ITOI ). 
WOliD LIST: see OBJLIST: (YINGSTGPN) . 
OI3JI,IST: (l~SNli'11) : 
The I" of the ol).jcct st~i11g PSNtVlI is 
rc.s t i*ictccl in terms of the container vcrb , 
not in terms of thc containcul SN'IVII. This 
is cvidcnccd by the fact tint thc P of Z'ShTVEI 
docs not pern~utc aro~u.ultl the SNlY1I (Cf. 
ODJLIST: (ShIVII)) : 
John asltcd ahut whether he should go. 
$'Jol~n asltml xhcthcr he should go about. 
Notc: a\-oid use of \\.hat S as the SNWH 
in the tcst ffanlc since i\fl~at S may be the 
rcplaccnlent of n given N ill PN (c.g., John 
landed on \\+at he had been looliil~g for). 
The particular prepofition (s) must bc 
spcci ficd for cnc11 vcrl) fiVPOS15). 
I asked about whether he ~vould come. 
I inquired into whether he \\rould come. 
They pondered over whether he \ivould come. 
John. wonclerecl about why she did it. 
Dictionarv htrv: 
ASIC. 
TV: (OBJLIST: -3, . . . .). 
.3 PSN\VTI: .1.'3, . . . , 
.In PVA L: (I A BOUT + ) 
I\'OIID LIST: ask \,tbout), care (about), checli (on, into), depend .(on), figure (out), hear (almut), 
hint (at), line\\. (dbout), loolc (into), pertain (to), read (almut'), refer (to), 
(on, upon), 
remarl; (on, al~out) , report (on) , .spealc (about), talk (about) , tell (abut) , thinli (of. armut) , touch 
(on, ulx~n) , \\.onrlcr (almut) , ~vritc (about). 
As distixct from the object string 
N, tV P N, LTing (OBJ) 
131'INGSTG, the 3.) of PSVINGO is not 110s- 
- 
scssivc; hoi\.evcr, the t~vo ol?ject strings 
Fhamples : 
ovcrlap estensively : - 
This - 
Tllg nnrried ovcr L . 1 drinking 
11 iln 
so much. 
f N,, is a pronoun, it is accusative (iVPOS5). 
They worried over him .drinking so much. 
He focused on the president flying to norida 
in a private plane. 
Kate: to avoid confusion of the object We asked about there being no food. 
staring PSITNGO with the scclucncc PN plus 
He writes about John's absence disturbing 
a right adjunct Ving (He looked at the door 
Mary. 
opening on to the I~al~ony), use the expletive 
tllcrc as the. N2: 
Dictionary Entry: 
We aslicd almut there being no food. 
T'llc ~~articula~ preposition ($) must be TV: (OBJLIST: -3, . , . . .) . 
spcci fi'crl, for each verb (WPOS15). .I> I-l PSVINGO: :IS, . . . . 
.I8 PVAL: (4 ON1 ). 
worin I,@T: account (for), amount (to) ,ansnvcl* (for), approve (of), argue (about), aslc (about) 
began (with), ccntel- (on, almut, around, upor,), come (to, of, from), car.e (ahut, for), compare (to, 
with) , dcpcncl (on, upon) , end (in, witl~) , explain (about) , Focus (011) , hear (of, abut) , lie (about), 
plan 'on) , poiilt (to) , read (abut) , remarl; (on, about). remembeil (ahut) , speak (of, almut) , t~lk 
(of, almut) , tllinli (abut) , \irondei- (about) , write (about), 
OBJLIST: (PVINGO) : IiYam e : 
There is no overt subject of Ving 
N, tV 1' Ving (OBJ) 
@! l3.e 
from his pressing the point). 
- 
The subject oC tP - (3,) is understood to be the 
Ihamples : 
subject of Ving. 
The paf ticular preposition (s) must be 
I can't keep f~ om smolcing. 
specified for each vei+ fiVPOS15). 
IIe refrained from pressiilg tllc point. 
She succeeded in passing. 
She is engaged in n~riting a novcl. 
He - left off seeing her. 
NOT OBJLIST: (PVINGO) : 
He rcl ies on (ou~) 111al;ing an in~prcssion 
(PI'INGSTG) . 
He couldnlt acco~ult for (thair) nlal;l:lg a 
11Gstal;e. (PI7lNGSTG). 
WORD LIST: acllllit (to) ; convert @), delay (in), ellgage (in) , fail (in) , go (~vithout) . 1;ecp (from) , 
specialize (in) . 
OBJLET: (PVINGSTG) : 
In the object s_tri.ng PVTNGSTG the left 
adjunct of Ving (specified in the frame as 
Nqls) is either an overt subject-- 
- 
He asked about their writing progyams. 
He aslied abut the writing of programs 
Ile aslied about writing programs. 
Ilo~vever , a verb classified as occurring 
with the object string PVINGSTG must be 
nbry couldn't account for (John's) losing the key. 
nkry couldn't account for the losing of the key. 
This amounts to (his) writing a new program. 
This axnomts to the writing of a new program. 
Tlley asked about. (his) leaving early. 
They asked about Jolmls reading of the passage. 
capable of occurring ~5th a sequence P Viagstg 
in which the Ving has an overt subject and in 
which this overt subject is not cortferential 
wit11 the subject of the tV. - 
w. 
3- 
s 
C 
" 
C1. 
3 
$ 
'3 
"3 
* 
% 
F. 
cn 
3 
G 
l-t 
0 
.. 
L 
c! 
5 
$ 
.a 
4 
F, 
G 
? 
U 
9 
0 
E 
" 
3 
(D 
z 
5- 
t; 
" 
& 
cJ 
u 
F, 
3 
.. 
C u 
L 
0 
32 
CD 
S 
r'- 
v 
L 
u 
2 
't 
0 
cn 
0 
" 
-G 
C, 
0 
5. 
3. 
0 
u 
z 
c 
?t 
" 
C: 
0 
C3 
m 
2- 
'3 
d 
F; 
" 
3 
t 
33 
0 
'92 
TI- 
., 
'TI- 
1 
P 
5' 
.. 
r- 
r: 
'< 
" 
s' 
3 
C 
0 
C, 
d- 
P 
x 
CD 
" 
C 
cn 
rD 
" 
5 
k-• 
C 
C. 
N 
0 
.. 
4 
r- 
9 
< 
.. 
OBT,LIST: (SNWH): 
Note: a P may occur at the beginning 
or end of the SNWH string: 
1 wonder to whom he is referring. 
I wonder whom he is referring to. 
I don It I~IO\Y from nll~onl he obtained 
the information. 
I don't knon tvt~~nl he obtained the 
information from. 
Tllis P in SWVH is not to be catlfused with 
the P which is dependent on the container 
verb (cf. OBJLIST: (PN) , (PSh?YH)). This 
latter P does not occur at the end of'the 
SNLW string : 
I ivondered about whether to go. 
3 I wondered n~hether tu go about 
Note: avoid use of nrkat S as tile Sh!T'H 
in the test frame since what -- 'S may be thc 
replace~~lcnt of a given M in NSTGO ye.~. , 
1 ate what he cave mcl . 
ASSERTION 
tV WH 'to V(OBJ) 
1 
WH - Whether, if- where, -- when, how, *, 
aho, - ~vllorn, which, - what, ~\:kose 
The results will affect wl~ether or not we nil1 
I'asked whether I sl~ould go. 
I don't care nvllo you got it from. 
This statenlent concerns why he chose to leave. 
She is trying to discover whether he killed 
the wonlan. 
?hey are discussing \\hether to lea~re. 
I doubt if he can do it. 
We ca1u10t establish ko\~ this process I\ orks. 
Note: do not classify verbs which oc- 
cllr with the expletive - it as subject fJt does11't 
rnniter ~vhether he comes) as SN1171 (see 
OBJLIST: (NTILATS)) . 
WORD LISP affect, ascertain, ask, calculate, check, contemplate, choose, concern, consi~lc~. 
control, decide, deduce, clc!loie, discern, discuss, clo~~i, establish, e~ar\lil?e. heal*, indicate, 
influence, investigate, judge, knol1. , lean?, matter, nleasur-e, mention, mind . !late, observe, prcc!ic,t, 
nrove, question, remember, report, reveal, say, see, shou . state, tell, verify, iion~ler, I\ rite. 
(IRJLIST f (SOBJBE) : Frame: 
LQ the object sirii~g SOBJBE the OBJBE: 
N, tV K9 OBTBI: 
is the prtiicate of N2. The machine grammar 
allows four possible values hr OEJBE: (IE.JBT< 
noun, acliectit-c, adyer'u, 13 iL' 
1$ NSTG (noun string) : 
pampl L* : 
They considered him their savior-. 
They elected him president. 
They consider him their savior. 
They call him a genius. 
They termed him a genius. 
Tlle restrictions on number agreement be- 
hireen subject and object (WAGREE?) apply 
She thoufiht him a good man. 
He con~iciers them foolish. 
2) ASTG (adicctive string), including 
adjectival Vens and Vings (see VENDADJ 
I found it well-dcsigned. 
and VVERYVTNG; also OBJLIST: (SVEN)) : We thougl~t him interesting. 
FIe considers them foolish. 
I found it well 4es ignccl. 
We thought him interesting. 
I believe it possible. 
I prefer him here. 
I supposed it nearby. 
3) DSTG (adverb string) : 
They assumed him on the premises. 
They mistakenly thought him here. 
We prefer a meeticg today. 
They find -- it of slight interest. 
A restriction linliting adverbs to those which 
occur afte~ be - (li7POS1H) applies here. 
For legal purposes, they assumed him 
on the premises. 
They find it of slight interest. 
The particular values of OBJBE must 
bc specified for each verb. 
They ruled him out of order. 
I consider the matter in dispute. 
We thought it to his advantage to see you. 
Dictionary Ehtry: 
TV: (OBJLIST: 5, . . . .) 
.n SOBJBE: .19,. . . . 
.I9 BVAL: (ASTG,NS'~'G,PN). 
WORD LIST: believe (.4STG, DSTG, NSTG, PN) , consider (ASTG, NSTG, PN) , find (ASTG, DSTG, 
NSTG, PN) , judge (ASTG,NSTG), lnbcl (ASTG, NSTG, PN) , prefer (ASTG, DSTG, PN) , pronounce 
(ASTG, PN) , prove (ASTG, DSTG) , report (ASTG, DSTG, PN) , show (ASTG) , suppose (ASTG, 
DSTG, PN) , term (ASTG, NSTG, PN) , thinlc (ASTG, DSTG, NSTG, PN). 
OBJLIST: (STOVO-N) : Frame: 
The verbs classified as OBJLIST: 
(STOVO-h? are be and have. 
N, tV - [N' 
- Vingstg 
I tov. 
- 
If the to - V is deleted from an occurrence 
of STOVO-N either the remaining sentence is 
unacceptable : 
He has paying his workers to consider. 
3 He has paying his worliers. 
There is not a moment to lose. 
j3 Ther8 is not a moment. 
or the sense of the remaining sentence is 
changd : 
T have a guy to see. 
I have a guy, 
It is nothing to sneezc at. 
It is nothing. 
He has - paying his workers to consider. 
I have some stuff to deliver, 
He has - money to burn. 
There is not a moment to lose. 
C 
There - is paying the worlcers to consider. 
That is the right principle to maintain. 
- 
The N? or Vingstg functions as the 
logical object of the verb of the cml~edded 
sentence. 
OBJLIST: (SV FIN) : 
The object string SVEN (as in Jgot the 
papers duplicated) must be distinguislled 
from (1) the sequence noun plus adjunct 
delivered the papers duplicated) and (2) the 
object string SOBJBE (I considered the 'house 
well-designed) . 
SVEN may be distinguished from the 
noun. plus adjunct sequence by the fact that 
ifthe Ven - is deleted from an occurrence of 
SVEN either the remaining sentence is un- 
IIe I\-ishes the tapes destroyed. 
3 IIc ~~ishes the tapes. 
or the sense of the main verb is changed: 
T got the papers duplicated. 
f got the papers. 
whereas if the - Ven is deleted from the noun 
plus adjunct sequence the remaining senteilce 
is acceptable and the sense of the verb 1:e- 
mains the same: 
I deliyered the papcrs duplicated. 
I delivered the papers. 
SV EN may be distingui6hed from SOBJ- 
BE by the fact that the Ven - of SVEN is a true 
passive, whereas the Ven of SOBJBE -is 
7 
adjectival: 
I got the papers duplicated. 
$ I got the papers beautiful. 
I cbnsider the house well-designed 
T consider the house beautiful. 
Note: h distinguishing verbs which occur 
with SVEN from those which occur with SOBJ- 
BE : (1) add an adverbial left adju~ct (well, 
badly, very, etc.) ta the - Ven. If this addition 
is acceptable, the verb being tested should 
be classified as SOBJBE: 
I thought the house well-designed. 
I consider him very reserved. 
if the addition is marginal, the verb should be 
crassified as SVEN: 
I got the papcrs ~Iupli~atcd. 
I saw him rob1~Cd. 
- 
IIe had Jolm punishc~cl. 
- 
We n-ant the probl elms c.1 inlil-ia t cut 
The Icing ordered tlren~ 1)rlhcadcd . 
NOT OBJ1,TST: fS\'EX): 
I deli\vered the papcrs clul~licatcul. 
(Ti 
adjunct) 
I considered thc house \\ cll l-lc~sign~~cl. 
(OBJLIST: (SClBJI31;3) 
?I ordered the house well-designed. 
3 T got tha papers very duplicated. 
('2) i*cq)lacnc~ thtb - I'cn ivith a pure1 atlirwtivc 
I, 1 I , i~rllic~t, t . . If thr scn- 
tc.ncbc is still ac~ctq)tnldc, thel vc~~-11 I~cing tcstccl 
slu~ultl Ilc classifirul fjs SOI3,T~E:, not SI'1;'N. 
If N., is a pronoun, it is accusativtl 
fi\* I)( IS51 , 
1\11 IT: assunlcl, hat\, lilic, 01-dcr, rcyuirc, sr~o, want, ~\-ish. 
OLLT1,JST: (SI'IMX 1) : 
Tllcb ol)itbcl1 string Sl'TN('I0 must 1111 tlis- 
til~g~ii sllrul Cn~m (l ) t 11c scnclutlncmrl 110un plus 
acl junct ancl (2) tlu.1 ol)i~bc.t string SOI3JH 1.1. 
SI'INC'IO  nay 1)~ (ti sting~~ishcul fronl thtl 
noun plus ;lcIiullct scacluc~lcBcl 11~ thcb fact Ilriqt 
if the Ving is dclrtcul fron~ an occ.ui*rtallrcl of 
SI'INCO ctithtbr the1 ~~clnluining stbntclncc is un- 
a(-ctbl)tal)Ic~: 
or th~ sc.nst1 of thc main \.chrl) is clir211gc~l: 
John I<tq)t hL?lWv \iSaiting. 
John licl) t hh L:\.. . 
Xotc: vcrl~s such as sli~tch, illustrate, photo- 
graph may I)(. aml~iguous i)c.t\vrncn thr noun 
plus ad iunc t ~*t~acling and thcl SlTXG< 1 I-cacti ng , 
r= .g. : 
I lc 1111otx)graphccl thcb ~41.1 laughing. 
SIN I I Ira pllotogrnl)lld hci* 1 nughj ng , not 
crying; S ad iunct I lc photr)gral~l~~ul thr~ 
gi rl who was laughing). 
SVTNGO may I)c tlistinguisllt~l fi-om 
SOBJBI< l)y thc fact that thc Villkof SOIUI3I.: 
is acljcctival \vllcrcas the Iringaf SlmGO is 
not (uf. OMLIST: (SIT ICh?). TI~~r~fort', l'11cl 
Ving or SOIWBI< occurs with ccartain ac1vrrl)ial 
I cft ad iuncfs kJuitkb, vcry, cbtc-. : 
I*hampl PS : 
Thty kcq~t John waiting. 
Ile has - thc~ (-lock \iol-liing   lo^.. 
I - lcft thc I>tmli Iving on thc tai1lc1. 
\VP ol~scbr\~tul tlltbi r intcll l cct ant1 thclir moral 
scnscA tssl~ancli~~g. 
NOT OBJI,IST: (S'FqNG.0): 
I'nS covci-tb(l thc. invcstigatio~~s ini*olving 
\\'atc~rgatt~. W adiuntt). 
whrlrcas thc Vin~ of SVTNCO tlocs not: 
8 They kept hin~ vcry waiting. 
If N, is a pronoun, it is accusative 
(cv POS5) . 
WORD LIST: detect, discern, display, feel, find, have, illustl'ate, keep, leave, mind, observe, 
photograph, remember, sketch, start, watch, visualize. 
OBJLIST: (SV0)-: 
If N, is a pronoun, it is accusativ'c 
(W POSti) . 
SUBJ tV - N2 V (Om 
Note : to avoid confusioll with OB JLIST : 
Bcamples : 
(ClSHOU-LD) (I;crggest he go), use pronouns 
br N, in the test frame for SVO. 
I let - him go. 
I made him sign a statement. 
I watched him do it. 
I had him pick up hbry at the station. 
- 
\YOliD LIST: have, let, make, observe, see, watch. 
QBJLIST: (THATS) : Frame : 
The verb of the embedded sentence is 
N tV that S (V of emhtdded S tV) 
tensed. 
d- 
- 
Both the verbs for ~vhicl~ the that is 
Ekamples : 
optional (He believes (that) the earth is flat) 
and those for which it is obligatory (He arpes He added that they were happy. 
that it is impossible) must be classified as 
occurring with OBJLIST: (THATS) (cf. 
He wrote that John was returning. 
OBJLIST: (ASSERTION)). that the matt'er should be 
It should be noted that the computational 
treatment of forms like It appears that John 
1 kno~v that he was here. 
has left is to define a small subclass, VSENT4 
- 
(=appear, happen, remain, seem, turn out), We estimate that it will take five months. 
which can take OBJLIST: (THATS) where 
It appears that John has left. 
applicable, provided the subject of the VSENT4 
is the expletive It. 
WORD LIST: add, agree, allow, answer, appear, argue, assume, believe, calculate, charge, claim, 
conclude, confirm, consider, demonstrate, deny, denote ,,detect, determine, discover, doubt, 
establish, estimate, evidence, expect, explain, feel, figure, find, follow, happen, imply, infer, 
intimate, know, learn, maintain, matter, mean, mention, note, notice, observe, provide, read, 
reason, report, rule, say, see, seem, sense, show, state, suggest, think, u~lderstand, write. 
OBJLTST: (TOVO) : 
verbs classified as occurring with thc 
objcct string TOVO include the aspectcia1 
verbs (those verbs which ncvcr occur with 
an overt subject in the contained sentence: 
Jolll~ tried to go .) 
and those containel. verbs which occur with 
either an overt or a zeroed subject: 
I want to go. 
Iwant to go. 
Ile appears to iilie her. 
IIt. attempted to mect Ijer. 
IIe claims tn 1mnlv l~cr 
Ile agrccd to meet him. 
She cspccted to Icavc. 
Note The to - of OBJLIST: (TOVO) does 
SIC \voul(l lilic to see him. 
not equal in order to; i.e., sequences such as 
- 
Sl~e w~sheci to please heib mothey ( 
She \\.ashccl 
in order to please her n~othcr) , shoul(1 not 1~ 
consiclcrecl as cases of OBJLIST: 
(TOVO) 
WORD LIST: affect. agree, appeal*, ask, attempt, choose, claim, cornc, continut., dr.m:lncl, 
determine, expect, fail, 'happen, have, learn, lilic, long, mean, nvcvl, prcf~r, I)rrhpare, III-~I~IOS~, 
seem, start, tend, use, want. 
OBJLIST: (WENO): 
The verb haye (has, 11.gd) is classified 
as OBJLIST: (VENO) for its occurrence \vith 
the past participle : 
John has gone. 
We have beenlsatisfied. 
OBJLIST: (VINGO) : I?ranlc - : 
The Vingof the objcct string VINGO 
N, tlT (N.:,'s) Iring (0n.n 
may occur either with an overt subject-- 
- 
He delayed his i\rritil;lg for two years. 
- IC~arnl~l cs : 
-or a zeroed subject-- 
SIC I~egan claing it. 
He delayed writing for two ye8rs. 
Hc dclayd writhlg the i~li for tuSo \vcars. 
Zn either case, thc subject of Viilg is 
S%e has coptinucd \\to~liing. 
understood exclusively as referring to the 
subject of tV. - Cf. ORyLIST: (NSVINGO). 
They started (bating at fi1.c 07c10cl~. 
Thus She began doing it is a case of OI3JLIST: 
They stoppc(1 catillg at 1litlc1. 
(VTNGO) whihilk She favors doing it is not. - 
NOT ORJIJIST: (IrTNG( )) : 
She favors tloing it. 
Tl~esc ne~v glasscbs \i ill facilitate ~-clacling 
fine print. 
Ilc osplaincd seeing to the blind man. 
Simon opl~oscs rationing gasoline. 
I 11. 111-olmscd Imycotting grapes. 
Ilc rcal ly uncicrstands teaching. 
iVO1tD LIST: attcmpt, clontinuc, dclny , start, slo11, try. 
C)'I)JI,IST: (I?NGO la'hi : 11'1- an1 c : 
Thcl Ying in t11r obivct string \'INGOl*'K 
K's 
may occur \~ith cit11cr.a l)osscssive> i~oull 
N I' I +., 1 (Adp Iring of - OD3 
Tiley ITIWMLYJ lu s singing of thr song. 
I9ian1pl cs : 
--or an ai*tictc-- 
Ttlcy in~tatcvl thc singing of the. song. 
Sincc I'II1'60 1a.R is lnortl noun-likc in 
its for111 than tlnc NS\'IN(X') al)jcct string, it 
is also 11cll1ft1l to includc t hosc~ ptlcno~~l~lna 
\vhich arc cllararfcristic of noun  string^ in 
tllc test fl-alllc, c.~.: 
1) an adjccfivcl l)~fol*~ the  in^: 
You coultl 11ot r1ul~licat.c~ his tactful 
llancll ing of thc~ situation. 
2) a ~~hlral Ving form: 
They covc~--ccl tllc Imml~ings of Siagon. 
You cr>ulcl not tlul~licate his tactfu'l handling of 
thcl situation. 
'Ihc~~ imitated his sinp$tlg of thc :;ong. 
They co\lc~*ccl t.hc bmhing of Saigon. 
Thcy lla\rp clecrcas~~cl tlnc scl;lrl-hlg of sulq)lies. 
'fhcy rlc~laycul t11e signing of the contract. 
'Ihcsc factors rli.tcl*r-ilinc thc stating of the 
conr lit ions . 
Ilc dircctcxl the ccliting of t11c manuscript. 
T11ca full asl~trays evidence the snloking of 
n1an-y cigars . 
This \\-ill facilitate nly u~lde~*standing of the 
matter. 
John influencccl his handIing of the situation. 
Ilc   lot iced thc wording of the pame. 
They have restricted tlle selling of gas. 
1 ST: advancc, affcct, asscss, lllock, cause, cdnccrn, consider, control, cover, decrease, 
denotc, clescrihe, cli~-li.clt, rli~cuss, cspect , usl~lain, facilitate, film, follow, further, include, infer, 
influence, inhibit, invcstigatch, limit, mcntio~~, notice, oplmsc, order, propse, question, report, 
restrict, rc~ic\f~. study, timc, valy . 
OBJLTST: (VINGSTGPN ) : 
As with verbs which occur with 'the 
object string NPN, those which occur fit11 
VINGSTG PN either require the complete 
VINGSTGPN object: 
They attributed his succeeding in busi- 
ness to his wife's business acumcn. 
$ They attributed his succeeding in 
business. 
or exhibit a strong selectional dependency 
behireen the verb and tne preposition of 
VINGSTGPN: 
Ile charged his going home late to a 
heavy ivorldoad . 
;I, He charged his going home late for 
a heavy workload. 
This dependency helps to distinguish 
the object string VTNGSTGPN from the se- 
quence VINGSTG plus P N adjunct, e.g.: 
IIc described his frequent writing of 
letters wit11 reluctance. 
IIe described his frequent writing of 
letters during his absence. 
Ire described his frequent writing of 
letters for money. 
Note that VINGSTG here refers to either the 
object string NSVINGO or the object string 
VINGO FN. 
The particular preposition(s) must be 
specified for each verb (WPOS15). 
Frame: 
Nl tV P N2 VINGSTG 
- 
Nl tV - VINGSTG P N2 
Examples : 
They attributed his succeeding in business to 
his wife's business acumefi . 
IIe charged his going home late to a heavy 
workload. 
They reported his seeing visitors to the nurse. 
They limited his seeing visitors to certain 
hours. 
He correlated the sinking of the ships with the 
bad weather in Pyraeus. 
Dictionary Entry: 
ATTRIBUTE. 
TV: (OBJLIST: .3, . . . .) 
VINGSTGPN: .15, PNVINGSTG: 
PVAL: (4 TO+). 
WORD LIST: add (to), associate (with), attribute (to), base (on, upon), charge (to), combine (with), 
compare (to, with) , equate (with), exclude (from), identify (with), isolate (from), limit (to), mention 
(to) , pattern (after), prefer (to), report (to, view (with). 
V. Passive-Object Attributes of the Verb. 
POBJLIST; 
Because of the frequent occurrence of the passive construction in scientific writing, it is 
more ec~no~mical to list the passive objects for each verb V in the word dictionary, than to com- 
pute them by a rule of passive 'omission'. The POWLIST values of a given verb are listed 
under the past participle pen) form of the verb. The correspondence between active and passive 
objects used in the preparatioh of dictionary entries is as follows: 
V . hw passive obi ect 
NULLOBJ 
if V has one of the active objects 
NSTGO, THATS, ClSHOULD, SNWH, FORTOVO, 
NSVINGQ, VINGO FN, VINGO 
P* PN, PVINGSTG, PSNWH 
VINGO SVINGO 
TOVO 
NSTGO 
THATS 
s~H 
NTOVO, NTOBE 
NN(for. N, or N,J , NT-HATS, NSNWH 
NTHATS 
NSNTVH 
NPN, PNTHATS, PNTHA-TSVO, PNSNVH. 
PNVINGSTG, PNHOWS 
PVINGSTG * NPVINGSTG 
PVINGO * NPVINGO 
PSVINGO 
PSNWH 
N PSVING 0 
NPSNWH 
OWBE SOBJBE 
ASOBJBE 
VENPASS 
kSTG 
DSTG 
SASOBJBE 
SVEN 
NA 
ND 
VO svo 
DIal * 
DP2, DP3, DP4, DPSN 
*Same P (or DP) subclass as in corresponding active object for given verb. 
VI. Verb subclasses. 
A vcrb is in VBERICP if it occurs in 
the envir~nm~~lts 
SN tV - OBtT 
(OBJ -I NSEKT1, NSENT~ 
SN--0BJ 
It-- OBJ SN 
It tV OBJ SN 
-- ASENT1) 
Ihamples : 
~Ilhere 0135 is citl~cr an NS ENTl , an NS ENXi, 
That the earth might revolve around the sun 
or ASENTl (DOPT4, ultimate suhjcct routine 
seemed an unlikely hypothesis. 
used in SN rcstrjctions): 
It seemed an unlil<ely hypothesis that the 
That the cast11 might revolve around 
earth might rcvolve around the sun. 
the sun sccmcii an un1il;ely hyl~othesis. 
It seemed a11 unlikely hypothesis that That John ~vill arrive too soon appears a 
the earth might rcvolvtl around tile sun. pro blcm 
Fbr Jolm to solve that problem remains 
It appears a problem that John  ill arrive 
easy. 
too soon. 
It remains easy for John to solve that 
problem. 
To live here hecomes easier as time goes on. 
Most of these verbs also occur in other It becon~cs easier to live here as time goes on. 
environments of - be, ht the one defined here 
is the only one used in restrictions. 
WORD LIST: appear, become, remain, seem. 
VCOLLECT,IV E: FRA h1 E: 
a verb is in VCOLLECTIVE if it occur 
with a noun object which is PLURAL or con- 
NC OLL ECTTV E 
joined, but does not occur with a noun object 
N: PLURAL 
which is SINGULAR, unless the singular noun 
is NCOLLECTNE (e.g., dust) - or AGGREGATE 
- 
(e.g., group) (JVAGREER): 
NCOLL ECTIV E 
He collected his tools. N:PLURAL tV NULLOBJ 
He collected a pen, pencil and pad. N:AGGREGATE = 
The bookshelf collccts dust. INmn ] 
He collected a group around him. 
jf He collected a pen. 
&amp1 es : 
Also a vcrb is in VCOLLECTIVE if, 
when it occurs with a null object (see OBJ- 
LIST: NULLOBJ) , its subject is either 
PLURAL or con joined or, if SINGULAII, 
then AGGREGATE or NCOLLIXTIV E 
(WAGREE3) : 
Peolrle gatl~ercd at street corners. 
John, Mary and Bill gatl~cr in the 
Commons Room at noon. 
Dust gathered in the corners. 
These books \\rill only pther dust. 
jl A Imolc gatlrercd in the corner. 
The fortune accuanulated nrllile he was anray. 
IIe accumulated a fortune, 
A groug gathered around htm. 
Dust gathered in the corner. 
8 A book gathered in the corner. 
Blood collected in the sac. 
The sac collected bloocl. 
,2 A sponge collected in the sac. 
WORD LIST: accumulate, cluster, collect, diffuse, gather, mass, scatter. 
VEXP: 
a verb is in VEXP if it does not ordin- 
arily occur with a sentential SN subject, but 
in panticular expressions specific to each 
verb, may occur with such a subject (WSN1, 
DQPT4) e. g . : 
That Mary has left has come. 
That Mary has left has come to his 
attention. 
Note: verbs classed as VMOD are only 
those verbs which cannot be classed as VSENT2 
Fat he would tiiink of runni~~g confirms my 
suspicions) - or, VMOD (That Jolm was here 
presents a problem). 
WORD LIST: come, go, nler it. 
Frame : 
SN tv + expression 
$ SN E. 
Dtample's : 
That hary has left has come to his attert' a ion. 
him to do that goes against the grain. 
That he urould make such a claim merits 
attention: 
a verb is in VENDADJ if its past par- 
ticiple Ven occurs adjectivally with an im- 
D Ven N 
- 
- 
mediately preceding adveirbial left adjunct 
I3e \\.as a well-spbken man. 
other than very (WPOS12), e.g., well-spoken 
Cf. VVERYVING. 
j3 FIe was a spoken man. 
He is a high-strung fello~v. 
N he D Ven. 
- - 
That man .riras nlel 1 -spolrcn. 
That iello~v is hi@-strung. 
WORD LIST: argue, place, read, regard, spcgk, tell, h.y. 
VMOD: 
a verb is in VMOD if it can occur in at 
least one of the following environments : 
SN tV - 1: P N1 (Nx - NSENTS) 
Examples. 
where Ny is an NSENT3, e.g.: 
That John was here presents a problem ($Or us). 
That John was here presents a problem. For John to leave now would only compound 
That John was here will give trouble mr difficulties. 
for us. 
mr us to give UP now would make trouble for 
That John was here will give us trouble. 
those who,will follow us, 
VMOD can almost be defined extensionally 
'Illat he would propose such a solution when 
for the verbs occurring with both &PN and 
planning to leave has inherent difficulties. 
NN, (i.e. ,.make, present, give). The class 
- 
- 
also includes - have and such verbs as - corn- 
pound, accentuate, aument , etc. 
WORD LIST: give, have, make, present, augment, compound, complicate, increase, limit, modify, 
restrict. 
VMOTIO~: 
a verb is in VMOTION if it occurs with 
a right adjunct locative adverb (e.g. : out, 
down in uj, over) (WPOS2). 
-92 
The sequence VMOTION + locative &d- 
verb (John wallced up) may be distinguished 
from the sequence tV + DP (John measured 
uq) by the fact that the locative adverb per- 
mutes with the verb (Tn walked John) while 
the DP does not (8 Up measured John). 
Ekamples : 
John climbed down. 
The rock fell down. 
- 
John walked out. 
John sauntered in. 
WOEID LIST: come, drive, fall, flow, jump, run, shuttle, speed, swim, travel, walk. 
V:PLURAI,: Frame : 
a tensed verb tV is in the subclass 
PLURAL if in the defining environment for 
tV, N 7- OBJ, it occurs with a PLURAL noun 
- 
and not ~~itll a SINGULAR noun (WAGR EE1). 
Examples : 
The verb subclass PLURAL, then, includes The men disregard the rules. 
p~escnt tense verbs 1v11ich l.ac1; the suffix - -s 
(i .e., 3rd person plural present tense) and 
B The man disregard the i-ules. 
VS ENTl : Frames : 
a verb is in VSENTl if it occurs in 
SN tV OW 
- 
both of the environments 
It tV OBJ SN 
SN -- OBJ 
I - 
It -- OBJ SN 
Examples : 
where OBJ is N or PN (h'HUMAN), (PSN2, 
It concerned him that no one came. 
ultimate subject rautine used in SN restric- 
tions) : 
That PO one came concerned him. 
That! no one answered alarmed him, 
It contents her that she is accepted by the 
It alarmed him tlat no one answered. 
family. 
Also, if a Vingoccurs in the environ- 
That she is accepted by the family contents 
ments her. 
It be Ving to V N. 
It disturbs him that she didn't eome. 
N be Vjng to V. 
That she didn't come disturbs him. 
then the Ving is in VSENTl (DSNG) : 
It doesn't matter to him that he failed. 
It is ~urprisillg 
hear such allegations* 
mat he failed doesn ~t matter to hirn. 
Such allegations are surprising to hear. 
It has occ~rred to me that this is a non- 
Cf. ASENTI: (AFORTO: (OBJEXT)) . 
problem. 
That this is a non-problem 1.1~ occurred to me. 
WORD LIST: affect, antagonize, concern, confound, content, disturb, encourage, excite, interest, 
Mrigue , matter, move, occur, shock, suit, surprise, trouble. 
VS ENT2 : Frame : 
A verb is in VSENT2 if its tensed form 
occurs in the environment SN -- SN (DOPT4, 
SN tV - SN 
W SNI) : 
That he lied proves that he doesnlt care. 
That John left shows that he doesn't care. 
$ That he lied alarmed th& be doesn't 
care. For him to say that means that l~e under- 
stands the problem. 
How he did it explains why he did it. 
That he ran the mile in 4 minutes demonstrates 
that it can be done. 
WORD LIST: confirm, demonstrate, establish, explain, imply, indicate, mean, obscure, predict, 
prove, reveal, say, show. 
VS ENm.: Frame: 
a verb is in VSEm3 if its tensed form 
N tV SN where SN tV SN) 
occurs in the environment N -- SN and not in 
- - 
the environment SN 7- SN: 
He bows bhat we are ready. 
$ That time is running short lmows that 
He -knows that we are ready. 
we are ready. We asked for the mail to be sent here. 
The passive form of a VSENT3 can occur They claim that the experiment is invalid. 
in the environment It -- SN (WSN2, ultimate 
I still maintain that this is correct. 
subject routine used in SN restrictions) : 
It was known that she left 
and ih the environment SN -- (WSNl)): 
That she left was hown. 
Cf. VSENT1. 
WORD LIST: add, argue, ask, believe, care, claim, conclude, consider, deny, determine dis\cover , 
doubt, expect, find, know, learn, long, maintain, mention, note, notice. observe, propose, read, 
reason, report, require, rule, state, suggest, think, understand. 
VSENT4 : 
a verb is in VSENT4 if it occurs in the 
environment It -- ,SN buttdoes not occur in 
the environment SN -- (DSNT3) : 
L 
It seems that he left. 
3 That he left seems. 
It appears that they don't want to come. 
8 That they don't want to come appears. 
Cf. VSENT1. 
Note: The computational treatment of 
VSENT4 requires that the particular SN 
strings (i.e., THATS, ASSERTION, etc.) that 
occur with a given VSENT4 verb must be 
named on the OBJLIST of that verb. Cf. 
OBJLIST; ASSERTION, THATS , FORTOVO. 
TOVO) . 
It ttB SN (where 8 SN tVJ 
- - 
It seems that he left. 
$ That he left seems. 
It appears that they don't want to come. 
$ That they don't want r;o come appears. 
It happens that she believes in this. 
$ That she believes in this happens. 
It turned out that he was innocent. 
$That he was innocent turned out. 
It remains for us to find the cure. 
$ For us to fjnd the cure remains. 
WORD LIST: appear, happen, remain, seem, turn out. 
a tensed verb 
is in subclass 
SINGULAR if, in the environment N '- OBJ, 
N:SINGULAR - tV (OBJ) 
it occurs with a SINGULAR noun and not a 
Bamples : 
PLURAL noun (WAGR E El). The verb sub - 
class SINGULAR, then, includes tensed verbs 
The earth revolves on its axis. 
carrying the suffix - -s (3rd person singular 
The earth revolve on its axis.. 
present tense) and -- was, am 
VVERYVING: Frames and Examples: 
a verb is in WERYVING if either its 
Vipg: 
present participle Ving or its past participle 
Ven can occur in adjectival positions he., as 
- 
T (yery) Ving - N/ N be - (very) Ving. 
LN or as an ol5ject of beJ with a left adjunct 
verv (WPOS13) : 
a very surprising result 
a very becoming dress 
A very surprising result 
The result was very surprising. 
a vefy interesting speaker 
A very reserved man 
The man was very reserved. 
Verbs occurring in their Ving form in 
2 a very ~valking business 
The result was very surprising. 
predicate position which are not classed as 
That dress is very becoming. 
VVERYVING are analyzed only as part of the 
is Ving (progressive tense) verb sequence 
This speaker will be very interesting. 
(see QBJLIST: (OWECTBE)) . That business is very walldng. 
Verbs occurring in their - Ven foitm in 
predicate position.which are not classed as 
Ven: 
- 
VVERYVING (or VEND ADJ) are analyzed 
only as part of the passive construction See 
T (very) - Ven N/ N be - (very) - Ven. 
OBJLIST: (0BJ.ECTBE)). 
Note: if both the Ving and the Vs 
a very reserved man 
forms of mt: verb must be specified for the 
a very determined man 
subclass WERYVING, then the subclass is 
assigned to the main entry of the verb (the 
a very inhibited personality 
infinitive). If only one form of tlle verb must 
$a very killed person 
be specified for WERYVING, then the sub- 
class is assigned to the appr~priate form. 
That man is very reserved. 
That man is very determined. 
His personality is very inhibited. 
3 That person was very lulled. 
WORD LIST: Ving : becoming, conflicting, designing, fitting, incriminating, intriguing, lmowing , 
lasting, moving, stimulating, trying, understanding. Ven - : concerned, contented ,. determined, 
involved, isolated. Both Vina and Ven: affect, antagonize, disturb, excite, inhibit, interest. limit, 
relax, surprise, trouble. 

