Re: THEORY: unergative

[r\ej br\a_Un r\o_Ut]:
> But _out of context_ *no one* can be sure what the theme and rheme are in
> either sentence!
Indeed, as I understand it.  Maybe I can explain this, but
I'm a little shaky on themes and rhemes so someone correct
me if I'm wrong.

SCENARIO 1:
-Who shot the sheriff?
-I shot the sheriff!
In the second sentence the theme is "[someone] shot the sheriff" and the
rheme is "I" because no one knew who it was yet.

SCENARIO 2:
-Whom did you shoot?
-I shot the sheriff!
Here, in the second sentence, the theme is "I shot [someone]" because we
know that already and the rheme is "the sherrif" because know we know whom I
shot.

Does this make sense?  I hope I didn't get it wrong.

Jake