diff --git a/elp/src/nlg.el b/elp/src/nlg.el
index 77c543c..b33546c 100644
--- a/elp/src/nlg.el
+++ b/elp/src/nlg.el
@@ -1,22 +1,29 @@
 // nlg.el - Public NLG API.
 //
-// Ties together vocabulary, morphology, grammar, and realizer into a single
-// entry point. Callers use `generate(semantic_form_json)` to produce English.
+// Ties together vocabulary, morphology, grammar, realizer, and semantics into a
+// single entry point.
 //
-// SemanticForm JSON fields (all strings):
-//   intent    - "assert" | "question" | "command"
-//   agent     - subject (pronoun or noun phrase, optional for commands)
-//   predicate - verb base form
-//   patient   - object noun phrase (optional)
-//   location  - prepositional phrase e.g. "in the park" (optional)
-//   tense     - "present" | "past" | "future"  (default: "present")
-//   aspect    - "simple" | "progressive" | "perfect"  (default: "simple")
+// Two entry points:
+//
+//   generate(semantic_form_json) -> String
+//     Low-level JSON-based API (existing).  SemanticForm JSON fields:
+//       intent    - "assert" | "question" | "command"
+//       agent     - subject (pronoun or noun phrase, optional for commands)
+//       predicate - verb base form
+//       patient   - object noun phrase (optional)
+//       location  - prepositional phrase e.g. "in the park" (optional)
+//       tense     - "present" | "past" | "future"  (default: "present")
+//       aspect    - "simple" | "progressive" | "perfect"  (default: "simple")
+//
+//   generate_frame(frame: SemFrame) -> String
+//     High-level semantics API (new).  frame is built with sem_frame() from
+//     semantics.el.  Intents: "assert" | "query" | "describe" | "greet".
 
 // ── Include all sub-modules (concatenated at build time via nlg.el) ────────────────────────────
 // In El, there is no import system for standalone programs, so the sub-modules
 // are inlined above this file in the build. When tests include nlg.el, they
 // first include vocabulary.el, morphology.el, grammar.el, realizer.el,
-// then this file.
+// semantics.el, then this file.
 
 // ── JSON helpers ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
@@ -25,7 +32,21 @@ fn sem_get(json: String, key: String) -> String {
     return val
 }
 
-// ── Public API ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+// ── Public API: SemFrame ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+// Generate an English sentence from a SemFrame (built with sem_frame()).
+// Uses the full semantics pipeline: sem_realize_full with the object field
+// as the patient and sem_object as the predicate verb when intent is
+// "assert" or "query", or the appropriate handler for "describe"/"greet".
+//
+// For assert/query, pass the verb separately via sem_realize_full directly
+// when you need SVO (subject-verb-object) structure.  This top-level entry
+// point handles the common case where sem_object holds the predicate verb.
+fn generate_frame(frame: [String]) -> String {
+    return sem_realize(frame)
+}
+
+// ── Public API: JSON ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
 // Generate an English sentence from a semantic form JSON string.
 fn generate(semantic_form_json: String) -> String {
diff --git a/elp/src/semantics.el b/elp/src/semantics.el
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a3c695d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/elp/src/semantics.el
@@ -0,0 +1,284 @@
+// semantics.el - Semantic layer: SemFrame -> GramSpec (slot map for realizer).
+//
+// Bridges from intent/meaning representation to the grammar layer.
+// A SemFrame is a slot map ([String] key-value list) with these keys:
+//
+//   "intent"    - "assert" | "query" | "describe" | "greet"
+//   "subject"   - subject referent (pronoun or noun phrase)
+//   "object"    - object referent (optional, "" if absent)
+//   "modifiers" - semicolon-separated modifier strings (e.g. "in the park;quickly")
+//
+// sem_to_spec converts a SemFrame into a realizer slot map ready for realize().
+// sem_realize is the end-to-end shortcut: frame -> realized English text.
+//
+// Depends on: grammar (slots_*), realizer (realize)
+
+// ── SemFrame constructors ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+// Build a SemFrame slot map with all four fields.
+fn sem_frame(intent: String, subject: String, obj: String, modifiers: String) -> [String] {
+    let r: [String] = native_list_empty()
+    let r = native_list_append(r, "intent")
+    let r = native_list_append(r, intent)
+    let r = native_list_append(r, "subject")
+    let r = native_list_append(r, subject)
+    let r = native_list_append(r, "object")
+    let r = native_list_append(r, obj)
+    let r = native_list_append(r, "modifiers")
+    let r = native_list_append(r, modifiers)
+    return r
+}
+
+// Convenience: frame with no object and no modifiers.
+fn sem_frame_simple(intent: String, subject: String) -> [String] {
+    return sem_frame(intent, subject, "", "")
+}
+
+// Convenience: frame with object but no modifiers.
+fn sem_frame_obj(intent: String, subject: String, obj: String) -> [String] {
+    return sem_frame(intent, subject, obj, "")
+}
+
+// ── SemFrame field accessors ──────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+fn sem_intent(frame: [String]) -> String {
+    return slots_get(frame, "intent")
+}
+
+fn sem_subject(frame: [String]) -> String {
+    return slots_get(frame, "subject")
+}
+
+fn sem_object(frame: [String]) -> String {
+    return slots_get(frame, "object")
+}
+
+fn sem_modifiers(frame: [String]) -> String {
+    return slots_get(frame, "modifiers")
+}
+
+// ── Modifier helpers ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+//
+// Modifiers are stored as a semicolon-delimited string.
+// e.g. "in the park;quickly"
+// sem_first_modifier extracts the first modifier (typically a location phrase).
+
+fn sem_first_modifier(mods: String) -> String {
+    let n: Int = str_len(mods)
+    if n == 0 {
+        return ""
+    }
+    // Scan to first ';'
+    let i: Int = 0
+    let running: Bool = true
+    while running {
+        if i >= n {
+            let running = false
+        } else {
+            let c: String = str_slice(mods, i, i + 1)
+            if str_eq(c, ";") {
+                let running = false
+            } else {
+                let i = i + 1
+            }
+        }
+    }
+    return str_slice(mods, 0, i)
+}
+
+// ── Intent mapping ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+//
+// Maps semantic intent names to the slot values expected by realize():
+//   "assert"   -> intent="assert"         declarative sentence
+//   "query"    -> intent="question"       yes/no question with do-support
+//   "describe" -> intent="assert"         declarative; object holds predicate phrase
+//   "greet"    -> handled specially       "Hello, {subject}."
+
+fn sem_intent_to_realize(intent: String) -> String {
+    if str_eq(intent, "assert")   { return "assert" }
+    if str_eq(intent, "query")    { return "question" }
+    if str_eq(intent, "describe") { return "assert" }
+    if str_eq(intent, "greet")    { return "greet" }
+    // Default: treat unknown as assertion
+    return "assert"
+}
+
+// ── sem_to_spec: SemFrame -> realizer slot map ────────────────────────────────
+//
+// Returns a [String] slot map suitable for passing directly to realize().
+// Default tense is "present", aspect is "simple".  Callers that need
+// a different tense/aspect should use slots_set on the returned map.
+
+fn sem_to_spec(frame: [String]) -> [String] {
+    let intent: String = sem_intent(frame)
+    let subject: String = sem_subject(frame)
+    let obj: String = sem_object(frame)
+    let mods: String = sem_modifiers(frame)
+
+    let location: String = sem_first_modifier(mods)
+
+    // ── Greet: no standard grammar slot, compose directly ─────────────────
+    // We still return a valid spec; sem_realize handles "greet" specially.
+    if str_eq(intent, "greet") {
+        let spec: [String] = native_list_empty()
+        let spec = native_list_append(spec, "intent")
+        let spec = native_list_append(spec, "greet")
+        let spec = native_list_append(spec, "agent")
+        let spec = native_list_append(spec, subject)
+        let spec = native_list_append(spec, "predicate")
+        let spec = native_list_append(spec, "")
+        let spec = native_list_append(spec, "patient")
+        let spec = native_list_append(spec, "")
+        let spec = native_list_append(spec, "location")
+        let spec = native_list_append(spec, "")
+        let spec = native_list_append(spec, "tense")
+        let spec = native_list_append(spec, "present")
+        let spec = native_list_append(spec, "aspect")
+        let spec = native_list_append(spec, "simple")
+        return spec
+    }
+
+    // ── Describe: subject is topic, object is predicate noun/adj phrase ───
+    // Realized as "Subject is Object." using the copula "be".
+    if str_eq(intent, "describe") {
+        let spec: [String] = native_list_empty()
+        let spec = native_list_append(spec, "intent")
+        let spec = native_list_append(spec, "assert")
+        let spec = native_list_append(spec, "agent")
+        let spec = native_list_append(spec, subject)
+        let spec = native_list_append(spec, "predicate")
+        let spec = native_list_append(spec, "be")
+        let spec = native_list_append(spec, "patient")
+        let spec = native_list_append(spec, obj)
+        let spec = native_list_append(spec, "location")
+        let spec = native_list_append(spec, location)
+        let spec = native_list_append(spec, "tense")
+        let spec = native_list_append(spec, "present")
+        let spec = native_list_append(spec, "aspect")
+        let spec = native_list_append(spec, "simple")
+        return spec
+    }
+
+    // ── Assert / Query: standard subject-verb-object ───────────────────────
+    let realize_intent: String = sem_intent_to_realize(intent)
+    let spec: [String] = native_list_empty()
+    let spec = native_list_append(spec, "intent")
+    let spec = native_list_append(spec, realize_intent)
+    let spec = native_list_append(spec, "agent")
+    let spec = native_list_append(spec, subject)
+    let spec = native_list_append(spec, "predicate")
+    let spec = native_list_append(spec, obj)
+    let spec = native_list_append(spec, "patient")
+    let spec = native_list_append(spec, "")
+    let spec = native_list_append(spec, "location")
+    let spec = native_list_append(spec, location)
+    let spec = native_list_append(spec, "tense")
+    let spec = native_list_append(spec, "present")
+    let spec = native_list_append(spec, "aspect")
+    let spec = native_list_append(spec, "simple")
+    return spec
+}
+
+// ── sem_to_spec_full: SemFrame -> realizer slot map with explicit verb ────────
+//
+// For "assert" and "query" frames the object field carries the *noun phrase*
+// patient, not the verb.  Callers that have a separate verb should use this
+// variant and supply it explicitly.
+//
+// verb      - base form of the predicate verb
+// tense     - "present" | "past" | "future"
+// aspect    - "simple" | "progressive" | "perfect"
+
+fn sem_to_spec_full(frame: [String], verb: String, tense: String, aspect: String) -> [String] {
+    let intent: String = sem_intent(frame)
+    let subject: String = sem_subject(frame)
+    let obj: String = sem_object(frame)
+    let mods: String = sem_modifiers(frame)
+
+    let location: String = sem_first_modifier(mods)
+
+    if str_eq(intent, "greet") {
+        return sem_to_spec(frame)
+    }
+
+    if str_eq(intent, "describe") {
+        let spec: [String] = native_list_empty()
+        let spec = native_list_append(spec, "intent")
+        let spec = native_list_append(spec, "assert")
+        let spec = native_list_append(spec, "agent")
+        let spec = native_list_append(spec, subject)
+        let spec = native_list_append(spec, "predicate")
+        let spec = native_list_append(spec, "be")
+        let spec = native_list_append(spec, "patient")
+        let spec = native_list_append(spec, obj)
+        let spec = native_list_append(spec, "location")
+        let spec = native_list_append(spec, location)
+        let spec = native_list_append(spec, "tense")
+        let spec = native_list_append(spec, tense)
+        let spec = native_list_append(spec, "aspect")
+        let spec = native_list_append(spec, aspect)
+        return spec
+    }
+
+    let realize_intent: String = sem_intent_to_realize(intent)
+    let spec: [String] = native_list_empty()
+    let spec = native_list_append(spec, "intent")
+    let spec = native_list_append(spec, realize_intent)
+    let spec = native_list_append(spec, "agent")
+    let spec = native_list_append(spec, subject)
+    let spec = native_list_append(spec, "predicate")
+    let spec = native_list_append(spec, verb)
+    let spec = native_list_append(spec, "patient")
+    let spec = native_list_append(spec, obj)
+    let spec = native_list_append(spec, "location")
+    let spec = native_list_append(spec, location)
+    let spec = native_list_append(spec, "tense")
+    let spec = native_list_append(spec, tense)
+    let spec = native_list_append(spec, "aspect")
+    let spec = native_list_append(spec, aspect)
+    return spec
+}
+
+// ── Greet realization helper ──────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+fn sem_realize_greet(subject: String) -> String {
+    if str_eq(subject, "") {
+        return "Hello."
+    }
+    return "Hello, " + subject + "."
+}
+
+// ── sem_realize: SemFrame -> English text ─────────────────────────────────────
+//
+// End-to-end convenience: converts a SemFrame to a realized English string.
+// For "assert" and "query" intents, the object field is treated as the
+// predicate verb base form (intransitive use).  For richer frames with both
+// a verb and an object, use sem_realize_full.
+
+fn sem_realize(frame: [String]) -> String {
+    let intent: String = sem_intent(frame)
+
+    if str_eq(intent, "greet") {
+        return sem_realize_greet(sem_subject(frame))
+    }
+
+    let spec: [String] = sem_to_spec(frame)
+    return realize(spec)
+}
+
+// ── sem_realize_full: SemFrame + explicit verb -> English text ────────────────
+//
+// Like sem_realize but accepts a separate verb, tense, and aspect.
+// Use this when the SemFrame object field carries a noun phrase patient
+// and you want to specify the predicate verb independently.
+
+fn sem_realize_full(frame: [String], verb: String, tense: String, aspect: String) -> String {
+    let intent: String = sem_intent(frame)
+
+    if str_eq(intent, "greet") {
+        return sem_realize_greet(sem_subject(frame))
+    }
+
+    let spec: [String] = sem_to_spec_full(frame, verb, tense, aspect)
+    return realize(spec)
+}
diff --git a/elp/tests/examples/sem-assert.el b/elp/tests/examples/sem-assert.el
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..81eed8a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/elp/tests/examples/sem-assert.el
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+// sem-assert.el - Realize "She sleeps." via the semantics layer.
+//
+// SemFrame: intent="assert", subject="she", object="sleep" (verb), modifiers=""
+
+fn run_test() -> String {
+    let frame: [String] = sem_frame("assert", "she", "sleep", "")
+    return sem_realize(frame)
+}
+
+println(run_test())
diff --git a/elp/tests/examples/sem-describe.el b/elp/tests/examples/sem-describe.el
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1874bb4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/elp/tests/examples/sem-describe.el
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+// sem-describe.el - Realize "The cat is big." via the semantics layer.
+//
+// SemFrame: intent="describe", subject="the cat", object="big", modifiers=""
+
+fn run_test() -> String {
+    let frame: [String] = sem_frame("describe", "the cat", "big", "")
+    return sem_realize(frame)
+}
+
+println(run_test())
diff --git a/elp/tests/examples/sem-greet.el b/elp/tests/examples/sem-greet.el
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..657be60
--- /dev/null
+++ b/elp/tests/examples/sem-greet.el
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+// sem-greet.el - Realize "Hello, Alice." via the semantics layer.
+//
+// SemFrame: intent="greet", subject="Alice", object="", modifiers=""
+
+fn run_test() -> String {
+    let frame: [String] = sem_frame("greet", "Alice", "", "")
+    return sem_realize(frame)
+}
+
+println(run_test())
diff --git a/elp/tests/examples/sem-query.el b/elp/tests/examples/sem-query.el
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f65cfc1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/elp/tests/examples/sem-query.el
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+// sem-query.el - Realize "Do you see?" via the semantics layer.
+//
+// SemFrame: intent="query", subject="you", object="see" (verb), modifiers=""
+
+fn run_test() -> String {
+    let frame: [String] = sem_frame("query", "you", "see", "")
+    return sem_realize(frame)
+}
+
+println(run_test())
diff --git a/elp/tests/run.sh b/elp/tests/run.sh
index 61ce4ca..a2f4d34 100755
--- a/elp/tests/run.sh
+++ b/elp/tests/run.sh
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ NLG_MODULES=(
     "${SRC_DIR}/vocabulary.el"
     "${SRC_DIR}/grammar.el"
     "${SRC_DIR}/realizer.el"
+    "${SRC_DIR}/semantics.el"
     "${SRC_DIR}/nlg.el"
 )
 
@@ -102,6 +103,10 @@ run_nlg_case "question"          examples/question.el          "Do you see the d
 run_nlg_case "command"           examples/command.el           "Go home."
 run_nlg_case "plural-noun"       examples/plural-noun.el       "cats|children|boxes|cities|fish|leaves"
 run_nlg_case "verb-conjugation"  examples/verb-conjugation.el  "ran|walked|is|am|sleeping"
+run_nlg_case "sem-assert"        examples/sem-assert.el        "She sleeps."
+run_nlg_case "sem-query"         examples/sem-query.el         "Do you see?"
+run_nlg_case "sem-describe"      examples/sem-describe.el      "The cat is big."
+run_nlg_case "sem-greet"         examples/sem-greet.el         "Hello, Alice."
 
 echo
 echo "${PASS} passed, ${FAIL} failed"