Sentences in semantics
One part of the task in presenting a semantics for a natural language is to show how the meanings of the constituents of a sentence are combined with one another to build up a meaning for the whole sentence.
1. Generic Sentences. Notionally, a generic sentence is one expressing a regularity, as opposed to an instance from which one infers a regularity. For example,the generalization "The sun rises in the east" expresses a regularity, while "The sunrose this morning in the east" expresses an instance from which, along with other such instances, one infers a regularity. Epistemologically, a generic sentence is one expressing a truth . (or falsehood) the truth value of which cannot, ingeneral, be ascertained solely with reference to any particular localized time.
Much of our common sense knowledge of the world is expressed by generic sentences
2. Equative sentence
An equative sentence is one which used to assert that two referring expression have the same referent. The following are equative sentences:
•Mrs. Laura is my lecturer.
•That man who walks fast is my brother.
1. Generic Sentences. Notionally, a generic sentence is one expressing a regularity, as opposed to an instance from which one infers a regularity. For example,the generalization "The sun rises in the east" expresses a regularity, while "The sunrose this morning in the east" expresses an instance from which, along with other such instances, one infers a regularity. Epistemologically, a generic sentence is one expressing a truth . (or falsehood) the truth value of which cannot, ingeneral, be ascertained solely with reference to any particular localized time.
Much of our common sense knowledge of the world is expressed by generic sentences
2. Equative sentence
An equative sentence is one which used to assert that two referring expression have the same referent. The following are equative sentences:
•Mrs. Laura is my lecturer.
•That man who walks fast is my brother.
The Parts of the Sentence
The parts of the sentence are a set of terms for describing how people construct sentences from smaller pieces. There is not a direct correspondence between the parts of the sentence and the parts of speech -- the subject of a sentence, for example, could be a noun, a pronoun, or even an entire phrase or clause. Like the parts of speech, however, the parts of the sentence form part of the basic vocabulary of grammar, and it is important that you take some time to learn and understand them.
WHAT IS A CONTEXT SENTENCE?
A context sentence is one that gives a word and its meaning in the same sentence.
One easy strategy is to use a compound sentence. A compound sentence is two little
sentences joined with a conjunction or a semi-colon. Here’s an example:
My mother didn’t think the movie was inane, but I could not figure out what it was
supposed to be about.
One easy strategy is to use a compound sentence. A compound sentence is two little
sentences joined with a conjunction or a semi-colon. Here’s an example:
My mother didn’t think the movie was inane, but I could not figure out what it was
supposed to be about.