Roleset explain.01 Verbnet Class: 1 "explain":

Roles:

Arg0:explainer


Arg1:thing explained


Arg2:explained to

Examples:

person: ns tense: ns aspect: progressive voice: active form: participle


explain an NP (-)
Chairman Thomas S. Murphy cited Capital Cities' nine daily newspapers in *trace* explaining most of the gain.
Arg0:	*trace* -> Chairman Thomas S. Murphy
REL:	explaining
Arg1:	most of the gain

person: third tense: present aspect: ns voice: active form: full


explain as verb of saying (-)
``When I made this investment, I made it on a lifetime basis,'' he explains *trace*.
Arg0:	he
REL:	explains
Arg1:	*trace* -> ``When I made this investment, I made it on a lifetime basis,''

person: ns tense: ns aspect: progressive voice: active form: gerund
Note that the complementizer is not included in the statement

explain an SBAR (-)
There are no plans to initiate a common stock dividend, Mr. Johnson said, *trace* explaining that the board continues to believe shareholders are best served by reinvesting excess cash.
Arg0:	*trace* -> Mr. Johnson
REL:	explaining
Arg1:	the board continues to believe shareholders are best served by reinvesting excess cash

person: ns tense: past aspect: ns voice: active form: full
Note that wh-complementizers ARE included in the arg.

explain a WH-clause (-)
He predicted the debt will be reduced by another A$3.8 billion this fiscal year ending June 30, 1990, but didn't explain how this will be achieved.
Arg0:	He
ArgM-NEG:	n't
REL:	explain
Arg1:	how this will be achieved

person: ns tense: past aspect: ns voice: active form: full


with hearer (-)
Mary explained to John for the hundredth time why she wouldn't have sex with him.
Arg0:	Mary
REL:	explained
Arg2-to:	John
Argm-TMP:	for the hundredth time
Arg1:	why she wouldn't have sex with him