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
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.