Semantics

Discuss the (literal, figurative-and/or intended) meaning of the

underlined expressions.
a. A: What is your opinion about this new government policy?
B: I’m not impressed. So far we’ve heard nothing but nice promises. I’ll wait
and see. Actions speak louder than words.
b. A: Do you think when you move to the U.S, you should start eating hot-dogs
and drinking beer?
B: When in Rome, do as the Romans.

c. A: Could you help me move this weekend?

B: Well, you helped repair my motorbike, and one good turn deserves
another.

d. A: I’m so sorry I broke your beautiful vase.

B: It wasn’t that valuable. Anyway, it’s no use crying over spilt milk.

e. A: Oh, my God, I’ve got tickets for the wrong day and they ruined my suit at
the cleaner’s and my wallet was stolen and I forgot my wife’s birthday.
B: It never rains but it pours.

f. A: I fancy her but I’m not sure if she likes me. What should I do?
B: Ask her out to dinner. Nothing venture, nothing gain.

g. A: I don’t understand why they didn’t win. The whole team consists of super
players.
B: It’s easy; too many cooks spoil the broth.

h. A: He had very good marks for the mid-term test. He should have passed the
final test without any problems. He must have bad luck.
B: Maybe he became too confident and didn’t study hard anymore. Pride
comes before a fall.
 Semantics
I. Select the correct answers among those provided. Sometimes
there might be more than one correct option in a sentence.
1. Literal meaning is the meaning (within context/ outside context).
2. “Sit down” (has/ does not have) truth value.
3. “A tall, handsome stranger entered the saloon” has (a predicator
/ two referring expressions).
4. “Father, uncle, bull and stallion” all express the property
(male/animate/human).
5. “Hen, cock, duck, goose” all express the property (inanimate/animate/
human).
6. Homophones of “wind” are (whined/wined/wild).
7. Parent and child are (synonyms/ antonyms/ hyponyms).
8. A referring expression may have (sense/referent/no referent (in the real world).
9. “Monaco is the smallest nation in the world” is a/an
(generic/equative/ambiguous) sentence.
10.Variable reference means (constant reference/one sense-one referent/ one
sense-different referents/ no sense-no referent).
II. Circle the answer of your choice.
1. If we believe erroneously that the Morning Star is not the planet
Venus, then we have
a. the same referent
b. two different referents
c. one referring expression
d. two referring expressions with the same sense
2. The sentence Roses are red has
a. one argument
b. two predicators
c. three predicates
d. no referring expressions
3. Show in Harris showed Morag his sporran is
a. a zero-place predicate
b. a one-place predicate
c. a two-place predicate
 d. a three-place predicate
4. Say which of the following predicates are one-place predicates.
a. under, sad, come
b. dream, similar, happy
c. go, bigger, sleep
d. cold, teacher, read
5. The phrase Mt Everest can be used as
a. a non-referring expression
b. a predicator
c. a referring expression
d. a predicate
III. Explain the difference in meaning for each of the following pairs.
1. a. They are looking for un-British people.
b. They are looking for non-British people.

2. a. That is an illegal act.

b. That is a non-legal act.

3. a. Some children are amoral.

b. Some children are immoral.

IV. Use an appropriate word to complete the following

sentences.
1. “Hanoi” and “the capital of Vietnam” have the
same……………………….
2. “Look, nice, go” have sense, but they have no…………………
3. Is he really that kind? is a/an ……………………….sentence.
4. “But, and, then, however” have …………………………………