 where ptrans(e, x, y) is a primitive predicate expressing that event e is a physical transport by agent x of object y, move expresses bodily motion by an agent, and by-means-of expresses the instrumental-action relation between the move event and the ptrans event. As discussed earlier, these multi-argument predicates might be further decomposed, with ptrans(e, x, y) rewritten as ptrans(e) ∧ agent(e, x) ∧ theme(e, y), and so on. As in the case of logical normalization, conceptual canonicalization is intended to simplify inference, and to minimize the need for the axioms on which inference is based.