Third Person is a person property that refers to the non-participant (other than the speaker and the addressee) [Crystal 1997, 285].
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Examples
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| I doubt that he is learning. |
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| He was seen by her. |
References:
Klaiman (1991:244) FROM Ayres (1983:22)
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| Hasan bought the ox |
References:
Blake (2001:87, 119) FROM Comrie (1989:132-6, 175-6)
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| John sings. |
References:
Comrie (1976:33)
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| He saw me when he was a small child. |
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| I have bought some flowers for mother |
References:
Saltarelli (1988:156)
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| They asked for 5 bags and we brought 6. |
References:
Glinert (1989:80-81)
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| He played soccer (I have seen evidence that he played, but I did not see him play) |
References:
Palmer (2001:36) FROM Barnes (1984) FROM Malone (1988)
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| S/he ate some of the pastry. |
References:
Moravcsik (1978:261)
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| They will kill the pig as it runs out. |
References:
Palmer (2001:5) FROM Roberts (1990)
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| They will kill the pig as it runs out |
References:
Palmer (2001:5) FROM Roberts (1990)
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| They killed the pig as it ran out. |
References:
Palmer (2001:5) FROM Roberts (1990)
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| The man came to me |
References:
Klaiman (1991:17) FROM Allen, Gardiner and Frantz (1984:304-5)
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| The house was built in two months (by people)/They built the house in two months. |
References:
Siewierska (1988:259) FROM Spalatin (1973:121)
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| The tree was cut by José. |
References:
Klaiman (1991:229) FROM England (1985:201)
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| Who do you two want to spear? |
References:
Schultze-Berndt (2000:92)
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| The train stopped. |
References:
Siewierska (1988:267) in Shibatani (1988)
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| He died long ago. |
References:
Bybee, Perkins, and Pagliuca (1994:99) FROM Fortescue (1984:272-3)
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| He/she eats rice habitually |
References:
Payne (1997:242)
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| He/She repeatedly ate rice |
References:
Payne (1997:242)
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| He played soccer (I assume, but I have seen no evidence of this) |
References:
Palmer (2001:36) FROM Barnes (1984) FROM Malone (1988)
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| We saw it. |
References:
Siewierska (2003:142)
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| José grabbed the bird. |
References:
Klaiman (1991:229) FROM England (1985:212)
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| The money, I was the one who gave it to you. |
References:
Klaiman (1991:236) FROM Berinstein (1985:236)
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| The men picked coffee. |
References:
Klaiman (1991:232) FROM Berinstein (1985:219)
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| Hasan bought the ox. |
References:
Blake (2001:87, 119) FROM Comrie (1989:132-6, 175-6)
| Properties | Values | Definition |
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User Submitted Issues
The best evidence for a thirdPerson distinction is most likely to come from paradigmatic opposition, in particular in the singular. In the plural it becomes difficult to distinguish a group containing thirdPerson from the plural number. It is also a practice to discuss the semantics of person using combinations of the Arabic numerals '1','2' and '3'. It needs to be borne in mind that the semantics of the third person are based on the contrast with first and second person. Potentially, this means that the reading of '+3' is '-1 and -2'. This issue can create problems when one tries to interpret representations of the meaning of a person value with combinations such as '1+2+3', and the issue is further complicated by the interaction with number. This representation can be convenient as long as one is aware of its limitations.