Since ‘\(x\)’ and ‘\(y\)’ are variables ranging over individuals, one can say that the function indicated by the transitive verb ‘likes’ yields the value T given the ordered pair \(\langle x,y \rangle\) as argument if and only if \(x\) likes \(y\). In this notational scheme, ‘\(y\)’ corresponds to the direct object (or internal argument), which combines with the verb to form a phrase; ‘\(x\)’ corresponds to the grammatical subject (or external argument) of the verb. If we think about ‘every boy