The observation in mental spaces theory that ambiguities which arise in noun phrases (NPs) with definite reference are due to the NP possessing two possible readings: one relating to a role and one to a value. Consider the following example: Your car is always different. This could mean that every time I see your car, some aspect of the car has changed; it might have had a respray, acquired some new hubcaps and so on. Alternatively, this sentence could mean that you have a new car every time I see you. The first reading is the value reading: some aspect The English resultative construction subject argument has to be an animate agent Object argument has to be a patient (which thus can undergo a change of state) Verb has to encode direct causation resultative adjective has to designate the endpoint of a scale resultative adjective cannot be deverbal or ‘value’ associated with the same entity has changed.

The second reading is the role reading: the entity itself is different.