We can pour water into a glass and we can fill a glass with water, but we can’t *fill water into a glass or *pour a glass with water. Why not?
1. By focusing on the meaning of the verbs and their themes (“the affected objects”), try to find a semantic reason why some of the following sentences are ungrammatical. (2 points)
(1)
a. We loaded furniture into the van.
b. We loaded the van with furniture.
(2)
a. They sprayed paint onto the wall.
b. They sprayed the wall with paint.
1 of 2

(3)
a. I poured coffee into the cup.
b. *I poured the cup with coffee.
(4)
a. *She filled tissues into her pocket.
b. She filled her pocket with tissues.
2. Which of the following verbs can be used in both of the (a) and (b) structures illustrated in examples (1)–(4): attach, cram, glue, ladle, pack, paste, splash, spread? (2 points)