Agent As A Semantic Role
Definition:
Agent is the semantic role of a person or thing who is the doer of an event.
Discussion:
An agent is usually the grammatical subject of the verb in an active clause. A prototypical agent is conscious, acts with volition (on purpose), and performs an action that has a physical, visible effect.
Examples:
(English)
- The boy ran down the street.
- He was chased by the dog.
Source:
199–203
156–157
This page is an extract from the LinguaLinks Library. Version 5.0 published on CD-ROM by SIL International, 2003.