There is often a connection between English prepositions and semantic roles.
1. Can you use an analysis based on semantic roles to explain the use of the prepositions by and with in the following examples? (2 points)
2. Why are examples (5)–(8) treated as ungrammatical? (2 points)
(1) The walls of her room were decorated with large posters.
(2) One of the roads was blocked by a fallen tree.
(3) The store was robbed by a masked man with a gun.
(4) A small band of rebels was defeated by a larger force with superior weapons. (5) * I was surprised with the sudden bang outside my window.
(6) * Most of his sketches were drawn by charcoal.
(7) * Some people are embarrassed with photos from their teenage years. (8) * The Christmas tree was covered by ornaments and lights.