Transfer verbs: Linguistic stimuli

This excel document contains the condition labels and linguistic stimuli for both List A and List B used in Rosa & Arnold (2017, Journal of Memory and Language). These stimuli were used in other experiments as well, but in some cases we changed the names of Lady Mannerly and Sir Barnes to The Duchess and The Duke, in order to align these names with the labels for the other characters, which were all definite descriptions. We also changed the name of “the chef” to “the cook” in later experiments. This choice results from our discovery that some participants assumed that “the chef” was male, in experiments without the visual stimuli.

For both the stimulus sentence and expected response, see below.

This word document is a downloadable version of the stimuli listed below.
Written stimuli, List A:

The maid and the butler made their bed The maid opened the curtains
Sir Barnes received a painting of the two of them from Lady Mannerly Sir Barnes threw the painting in a closet
The chef and the chauffeur brought in some groceries. The chef unpacked the groceries
The maid accepted some coffee from the butler. The butler lit a fire
The chef and the chauffeur sharpened some knives. The chauffeur hid one in a drawer
The butler handed an apron to theĀ  maid. The butler tied the ribbon on it
Lady Mannerly saw the maid shine Sir Barnes’s shoes. Lady Mannerly saw Sir Barnes kiss the maid on the hand
The butler polished some silver. The butler put a candlestick in his pocket
Lady Mannerly gave a backrub to Sir Barnes. Sir Barnes stormed out.
Sir Barnes wrote a love letter to the maid. Sir Barnes put the letter in an envelope
Lady Mannerly borrowed a picnic basket from the chef. Lady Mannerly folded a picnic blanket.
The chauffeur drove Sir Barnes to town. Sir Barnes went into a jewelry store.
Lady Mannerly gave a basket of laundry to the maid. The maid poured bleach on the laundry
The chef and Lady Mannerly watered the plants in the kitchen. The chef patted Lady Mannerly on the back
Sir Barnes bought earrings from a sales clerk. The sales clerk wrapped the gift.
The maid held open the house door for Sir Barnes. Sir Barnes whispered in her ear
Lady Mannerly took some toast from the chef. Lady Mannerly pushed her plate away
The maid dusted pictures. The butler saw the maid kiss a picture of Sir Barnes
Lady Mannerly made some sandwiches. Lady Mannerly packed the sandwiches in the picnic basket
The maid accepted the earrings from Sir Barnes. The maid exclaimed in happiness.
Sir Barnes left the love letter on the table. The maid found the love letter on the table
The maid read her love letter. The maid put it in her apron pocket
Lady Mannerly handed the picnic basket to Sir Barnes. Sir Barnes threw the picnic basket in the corner.
The butler found the letter in the apron. The butler opened the letter
The chef handed a cookbook to the maid. The chef pointed to a cake recipe in the book.
Lady Mannerly handed the maid a dustpan and a broom. The maid threw them on the ground
The chauffeur took the letter from the butler. The butler pounded his hand into his fist
The maid gave Lady Mannerly a glass of champagne. Lady Mannerly threw it in her face
The rifle salesman sold a gun to the butler. The butler polished the gun
Sir Barnes and Lady Mannerly read the newspaper. Sir Barnes checked his watch
The butler purchased the bullets from the chauffeur. The butler loaded the bullets in the gun.
Sir Barnes and Lady Mannerly napped in their chairs. Sir Barnes snuck out of the library
The chef taught cake decorating to the maid. The maid drew a heart on the top of the cake
The butler and the chauffeur smoked cigars outside. They shook hands
The maid received a fur coat from Sir Barnes. Sir Barnes closed the curtains.
The chauffeur gave a silencer to the butler. The butler screwed it onto the end of the gun
The maid got a key from Sir Barnes. The maid locked the door
The butler took a flask out of his pocket. The butler took a drink
The maid handed a piece of cake to Sir Barnes. The maid pointed at the heart on top of the cake
The chef and Lady Mannerly planned the week’s menu. The chef turned the radio on
The chauffeur taught shooting techniques to the butler. The chauffeur wiped off the gun
Sir Barnes and the butler played some pool. The butler won the game
Sir Barnes threw his pool cue at the butler. Sir Barnes and the butler fought
Lady Mannerly took the ruined laundry from the maid. The maid laughed
Lady Mannerly dumped the laundry out onto the floor. Lady Mannerly sat down and cried
The maid handed the fur coat to the butler. The butler looked at the label
Sir Barnes kicked the pool table. Sir Barnes broke a pool cue
The butler got some ice from the chef. The chef wrung her hands
The chef and the chauffeur went to the orchard. The chauffeur checked his watch
Sir Barnes gave the check to the butler. Sir Barnes laughed at him
The butler ripped up the check. The butler reached for the gun
The chauffeur handed the baskets to the chef. The chauffeur opened the door to the house
The chef and the chauffeur saw Sir Barnes on the kitchen floor. The chef picked up the gun from the floor

 

Written stimuli, List B:

The maid and the butler made their bed. The maid opened the curtains
Lady Mannerly gave a painting of the two of them to Sir Barnes. Sir Barnes put the painting in a closet
The chef and the chauffeur brought in some groceries. The chef unpacked the groceries
The butler brought some coffee to the maid. He lit a fire
The chef and chauffeur sharpened some knives. The chauffeur hid one in a drawer
The maid took an apron from the butler. The butler tied the ribbon on it
Lady Mannerly saw the maid shine Sir Barnes’s shoes. Lady Mannerly saw Sir Barnes kiss the maid on the hand
The butler polished some silver. The butler put a candlestick in his pocket
Sir Barnes got a backrub from Lady Mannerly. Sir Barnes stormed out.
Sir Barnes wrote a love letter to the maid. Sir Barnes put the letter in an envelope
The chef loaned a picnic basket to Lady Mannerly. Lady Mannerly folded a picnic blanket.
The chauffeur drove Sir Barnes to town. Sir Barnes went into a jewelry store.
The maid took a basket of laundry from Lady Mannerly. The maid poured bleach on the laundry
The chef and Lady Mannerly watered the plants in the kitchen. The chef patted Lady Mannerly on the back
The sales clerk sold earrings to Sir Barnes. The sales clerk wrapped the gift.
The maid held open the house door for Sir Barnes. Sir Barnes whispered in her ear
The chef gave some toast to Lady Mannerly. Lady Mannerly pushed her plate away
The maid dusted pictures. The butler saw the maid kiss a picture of Sir Barnes
Lady Mannerly made some sandwiches. Lady Mannerly packed the sandwiches in the picnic basket
Sir Barnes gave the earrings to the maid. The maid exclaimed in happiness.
Sir Barnes left the love letter on the table. The maid found the love letter on the table
The maid read her love letter. The maid put it in her apron pocket
Sir Barnes took the picnic basket from Lady Mannerly. Sir Barnes threw the picnic basket in the corner.
The butler found the letter in the apron. The butler opened the letter
The maid took a cookbook from the chef. The chef pointed to a cake recipe in the book.
Lady Mannerly handed the maid a dustpan and a broom. The maid threw them on the ground
The butler handed the letter to the chauffeur. The butler pounded his hand into his fist
The maid gave Lady Mannerly a glass of champagne. Lady Mannerly threw it in her face
The butler bought a gun from the rifle salesman. The butler polished the gun
Sir Barnes and Lady Mannerly read the newspaper. Sir Barnes checked his watch
The chauffeur sold bullets to the butler. The butler loaded the bullets in the gun.
Sir Barnes and Lady Mannerly napped in their chairs. Sir Barnes snuck out of the library
The maid learned cake decorating from the chef The maid drew a heart on the top of the cake
The butler and the chauffeur smoked cigars outside. They shook hands
Sir Barnes gave a fur coat to the maid. Sir Barnes closed the curtains.
The chauffeur gave a silencer to the butler. The butler screwed it onto the end of the gun
Sir Barnes gave the key to the maid. The maid locked the door
The butler took a flask out of his pocket. The butler took a drink
Sir Barnes took a piece of cake from the maid. The maid pointed at the heart on top of the cake
The chef and Lady Mannerly planned the week’s menu. The chef turned the radio on
The butler learned shooting techniques from the chauffeur The chauffeur wiped off the gun
Sir Barnes and the butler played some pool. The butler won the game
Sir Barnes threw his pool cue at the butler. Sir Barnes and the butler fought
The maid gave the ruined laundry back to Lady Mannerly. The maid laughed
Lady Mannerly dumped the laundry out onto the floor. Lady Mannerly sat down and cried
The butler grabbed the fur coat from the maid. The butler looked at the label
Sir Barnes kicked the pool table. Sir Barnes broke a pool cue
The chef gave some ice to the butler. The chef wrung her hands
The chef and the chauffeur went to the orchard. The chauffeur checked his watch
The butler grabbed the check from Sir Barnes. Sir Barnes laughed at him
The butler ripped up the check. The butler reached for the gun
The chef got the baskets from the chauffeur. The chauffeur opened the door to the house
The chef and the chauffeur saw Sir Barnes on the kitchen floor. The chef picked up the gun from the floor