Thematic role

Thematic role is the semantic relationship between the verb and the Noun Phrases of a sentence. Thematic roles include:

• Agent: deliberately performes the action
• Theme/Patient: undergoes the action
• Location: where the action occurs
• Instrument: used to carry out the action
• Goal: what the action is directed towards
• Source: where the action originated

Thematic roles are the same in sentences that are paraphrases.
Thematic roles may remain the same in sentences that are not paraphrases.

Thematic roles is also known as Case theory, as in many languages thematic roles are reflected in the case which the noun assumes.

Theta-criterion: A particular thematic role may only occur once in a sentence. This is a proposed universal principle.