Re: Fishing for Complements?

In a message dated 8/3/1999 4:14:24 PM, fortytwo@UFL.EDU writes:

>Jim Grossmann wrote:
>> However, the subject can be an agent or a patient or a bunch of other
>> things, depending on the clause-initial particle.
>[snip]
>> QUESTION:    What do I call the argument that comes before the subject?
>
>I don't understand how "subject" even applies to what you're calling
>"subject".  If it can be patient or agent, it seems rather a stretch to
>call it subject.
Why? Subjects can be patients or agents in English too, right? Or am I
missing something?
"I felled him." Subject = "I" = agent; Object = "him" = patient
"I fell." Subject = "I" = patient

Josh Roth
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