Chapter. 5 - Nouns & Noun phrases

Definitiness

- Definite: the is known as the definite article - known for the reader - Indefinite: a is known as the indefinite article - strange for the reader

Fused modifier-heads

- Determinatives - Superlatives and comparatives - Ordinal numeral - Certain semantic categories of adjective p. 100

Marking of the count vs non-count distinction

- Plurality favors the count interpretation - Singular common noun head with no determiner favors the non-count interpretation - Certain determinatives are generally restricted to one or other interpretation

Nouns with fixed number

- Singular-only nouns - Plural-only nouns

Fused determiner-heads

- The, a, very - What - No p. 98 & 99

Types of dependent - structure of NP, three main types

1- Determiners 2 - Complements 3 - Modifiers p. 83

Three kinds of fused head:

1- Simple: Kim has lots of friends, but Pat doesn't seem to have [any] 2- Partitive: [Some of his remarks] were quite flattering 3- Special: [Many] would disagree with you on that point •The simple subtype •The partitive subtype •The special subtype --> page 97 & 98.

The fused-head construction

A construction where the head is combined, or fused, with a dependent element, usually the determiner or an internal modifier. That is, a single word is at the same time a determiner or modifier and also the head.

Determinative phrases

A determinative with dependents functions as the head of a phrase, which we call determinative phrase (DP). In most cases the dependents are modifiers preceding the head of the DP. Example p. 93.

Noun

A grammatically distinct category of words which includes those denoting all kinds of physical objects, such as persons, animals and inanimate objects.

Count and non-count nouns

Closely related to the distinction between nouns of variable and invariable number is that between count nouns and non-count nouns. As the names imply, count nouns can take cardinal numerals (one, two, three etc.) as dependents while non-count nouns cannot. •Non-count nouns that are invariably singular p. 86 - Furniture & footwear •Non-count nouns that are invariably plural - Remains •Nouns with count and non-count uses •The meaning distinction between count and non-count

Collective nouns

Denotes a collection, or set, of individuals.

PP complements

Dependents with the form of PPs qualify as complements when they are licensed by the particular head noun: a) They correspond to object or subject NPs in clause structure. b) The choice of preposition is specified by the head noun. Many nouns take complements headed by a particular preposition. c) The PP is obligatory because the noun makes little sense without it.

Pronouns - compared to proper nouns and common nouns

Distinguish from proper nouns and common nouns - their inability to take determiners as dependent.

Distinctive properties of prototypical NOUN PHRASES:

Function - The main functions in which NPs occur are these four: -In clause structure 1. SUBJECT 2. OBJECT 3. PC -In PP structure 4. Complement Form: A typical NP consist of a noun serving as head word and (possibly) various accompanying dependents.

External modifiers

In an NP are located within the NP but outside the head nominal. There are various subtypes, all highly restricted with respect to the range of expressions admitted.

Indirect complements

Indirect complements are complements that follow the head noun even though is not the head noun that licenses them (example p. 95).

Distinctive properties of prototypical nouns

Inflection: Nouns typically inflect for number - singular or plural, and case - plain or genitive Function: Nouns can normally fill the head position in phrases with any of the four functions: subject, object, PC, complement Dependents: There are various kinds of dependent that can occur exclusively or almost exclusively with nouns as head.

Internal and external dependents

Internal - inside the head nominal External - outside the head nominal *Complements (with some exception) are always internal. *Determiners are always external.

Determinatives as modifiers

Many determinatives are found in other functions (not only determiners) - particularly modifiers. Example p. 93

Complements . Difference between nouns and verbs

Nouns DON'T take objects. >The complement of the noun that corresponds to the object of the verb has the form of a PP, example. p. 94.

Nouns and concrete objects

Nouns denote both all kinds of physical objects and substances, but also include abstract entities.

Subject verb-agreement

SINGULAR SUBJECT - PLURAL SUBJECT p. 88

Any, no, none, either, neither

Subjects with any, no, and none occur freely with either singular or plural greement. With neither, and even more with either, singular agreement is usual; plural agreement is informal, and condemned by prescriptivists.

Subordinate clause complements

Subordinate clauses may be finite or non-finite, and both types are found as complements of nouns.

Measure expressions

Ten days, twenty dollars, five miles, etc. are plural in form of the quantity or measure they denote can be conseptulised as a single abstract entity, and this singular conecptulalisastion can override the plural form in determining the form of the verb.

Determiners and determinatives

The determiner position in an NP is usually filled by one of two kinds of experssion. 1 - in all the examples so far it has been a determinative, and some of these can be accompanied by their own modifiers, making a determinative phrase, abreviated DP. 2 - In addition, the determiner may have the form fo a genitive NP.

Number

The name of the system contrasting singular and plural.

Nominals

The unit intermediate between the noun phrase and the noun.

Quantificational nouns

There are few nouns expressing quantification which can occur in the singular as head of an NP whose number for agreement purposes is determined by a smallaer NP embedded within it.

Combinations of modifiers

There is no grammatical limit to the number of modifiers that can occur within a single NP.

Subclasses of noun

Three major classes: 1- pronouns: I, me, my, mine, myself, you, he, she it, who what... 2- proper nouns: Kim, Jones, Beethoven, Boston, Canada, Nile, Easter... 3- common nouns: cat, day, furniture, window, fact, truth, perseverance...

Internal modifiers

When the modifier is inside the nominal they are called internal modifiers. Some precede the head of the NP, while others follow. a) Pre-head modifier: adjectives (most common), determinatives, modifiers are nominals consisting of nouns (alone or with their own internal dependents), VP modifiers. b) Post-head modifiers: PPs, AdjPs, Appositive NP, finite (relative clause), non-finite (infinitival, gerund-participle, or past-participle).

Compound forms

p. 100

Genitive case p. 108-110

• The genitive is marked in writing by 's. • Genitive NPs as subject-determiner: To mark a dependent in the structure of an NP • Dual function of the genitive NP • Genitive vs possessive • Other use of genitive

Pronouns p. 101-108

•Deictic and anaphoric use of pronouns •Personal pronouns - The category of person •Gender •Choice of a singular human pronoun without sex specification •Inflection •The nominative-accusative contrast of case •Case verbless constructions •Plain case •Case in coordinations •Genitive case •Reciprocal pronouns