Allow/deny possession "V n n" construction

Form

NP
Agent
Verb
NP
Protagonist
NP
Theme

Examples

Agent Nancy
Verb allowed
Protagonist herself
Theme [a moment of despair.]
Agent [The government]
will
Verb refuse
Protagonist Banton
Theme [a work permit.]

Meaning

An Agent has the authority to decide whether or not a Protagonist has a Theme, and they either allow the Protagonist to have the Theme, or keeps the Protagonist from having the Theme.

Roles

Agent
The person or cause that enables or prevents the transfer of the Theme.
Protagonist
The person who prospectively receives the Theme if enabled by the Agent, or does not if the Agent denies it.
Theme
The object or entity that the Protagonist wants to have, depending on the Agent's permission.

Frames

Prevent_or_allow_possession ( Agent, Protagonist, State_of_affairs )

Description

This "V n n" construction differs from Giving "V n n" in that the Agent is not a Donor: they merely decide whether or not someone can have something, but they are not directly responsible for the transfer itself. The Theme in this construction is commonly abstract, as opposed to a physical, e.g. "access to the building', "overtime pay", "the right to vote", etc.

Inherits from

Sub-constructions

Lexical items ( Verb slot)

Prevent_or_allow_possession allow Nancy allowed herself a moment of despair. concede The Allies conceded Germany the right to maintain an additional two battleships. deny Wright denied Lee Hughes a possible hat-trick with three superb saves. permit Owen's self-confidence did not permit him any recollections of pre-adolescent times. prescribe He prescribed her some medicine. refuse The Government will refuse Banton a work permit.

Phraseological constructions