Predicate: worsen

worsen: Frames file for 'worsen' based on sentences in financial subcorpus. Verbnet entry other_cos-45.4, many many other framed members, such as: alter, decrease, halt, narrow, shut, slow, sweeten, weaken, among others. Comparison with 'improve'.

Roleset id: worsen.01 , make or become worse, vncls: 45.4, framnet:

Roles:

        Arg0: agent (rarely occuring) (vnrole: 45.4-Agent)
        Arg1: thing getting worse (vnrole: 45.4-Patient)
        Arg2: instrument (preferable to agent) (vnrole: 45.4-Instrument)

Example: agentive but perhaps not grammatical

        John worsened his breath by chewing garlic-flavored gum.

        Arg0: John
        Rel: worsened
        Arg1: his breath
        Arg2: by chewing garlic-flavored gum

Example: agentive? Instrumental?

        The buy-out effort also worsened already-strained relations
        between United's pilot and machinist unions.

        Arg0: The buy-out effort
        ArgM-DIS: also
        Rel: worsened
        Arg1: already-strained relations between United's pilot and machinist unions

Example: definitely instrumental

        Yesterday, Armstrong reported [flat earnings for the third quarter
        and nine months]-1, worsened *trace*-1 by the stock dilution of an
        employee stock ownership plan adopted earlier this year.

        Rel: worsened
        Arg1: *trace*
        Arg2: by the stock dilution of an employee stock ownership plan adopted earlier this year

Example: ergative

        Gasoline margins may rebound this quarter, some industry officials
        say, but they believe chemical margins could worsen.

        Arg1: chemical margins
        ArgM-MOD: could
        Rel: worsen