semantic roles

Semantic roles describe the function of words in a sentence, explaining who is doing what to whom, where, or when. For example, in "Lisa gave a book to Sam," Lisa is the giver (agent), the book is the thing being given (theme), and Sam is the recipient (goal). These roles help us understand the relationships between different parts of a sentence, clarifying how actions connect to people or objects involved. They are essential for analyzing meaning and structure in language, making communication clearer and more precise.