The Vietnamese verb cho ‘give’ may function as a trivalent main verb whose three actants are distinguished only by different positions in the clause ().

. BàBachoLanmộtcáiví.
VietMrs.BagiveLanoneclbag
Mrs. Ba gave Lan a bag.(Kuhn 1990:5)

This verb is also used in a serial verb construction, following the main verb and adjoining a beneficiary (). The benefactive relation becomes increasingly abstract. In #a, it may yet be associated with an act of giving an object. This notion becomes more abstract as it relates to the entire main situation, which the actor “gives” to the beneficiary in a metaphorical sense (#b).

.a.BàBamuamộtcáiáochocôLan.
Mrs.Babuyonecldress[ giveMissLan ]
Mrs. Ba bought a dress for Miss Lan.(Kuhn 1990:73)
 b.Tôisû'ấxe đạpchoanh ây̋.
Irepairbicycle[ givehe ]
I repaired his bicycle.(TA)

In the same way, a bivalent verb can be made trivalent.

. Đemaő quầncủataochotao.
bringgarmentpossI[ giveI ]
Bring me my garment.(TA)

In , cho is obligatory. It is thus only this formative which expands the valency of the verb by marking the recipient. This shows that even a central role may be marked by something that is, at least by origin, a predicate.

Reference

Kuhn, Wilfried 1992, "Serial verbs and serial verb constructions. On the linguistic reconstruction of situations." Leuvense Bijdragen 81: 231-285