Predicators and arguments

Sentences consist of a predicate and one or more arguments. The predicate expresses a property of an argument, or a relationship between arguments, and is realized by a predicator, often a finite verb but potentially also a preposition, adjective or noun.

The valency of a predicator is the number of arguments with which it is associated. An intransitive verb like exist, for example, realizes a one-place predicate, while the transitive verb eat realizes a two-place predicate in ‘John eats an apple’.