In Chapter 5 we looked at the various ways that speakers of English refer to or mention participants that are “on stage” in the metaphorical play that constitutes any communicative act. In addition to mentioning participants, speakers also need to say what those participants do, what conditions they are in, and what happens to them. These communicative functions are usually associated with verbs, although, as we will see in this chapter, the frames or constructions within which verbs, nouns, and other elements are arranged also deeply affect the meanings expressed by particular verbs. Certainly verbs are crucial to expressing actions, states, and processes but, like all form–function composites, their functions are significantly affected by their contexts. Verbs are not strait jackets that dictate exactly what kind of scene a speaker may express. Rather, they are tools that speakers may use in any number of ways to create rich and nuanced discourse scenes.

Semantic roles

In order to understand how the verbs of any language work it is very helpful to understand the notion of semantic roles. Semantic roles are conceptual roles and relationships on the discourse stage. In any play, there are various actors with particular roles to play.