Chapter published in:
Grammar of Spoken and Written EnglishDouglas Biber, Stig Johansson, Geoffrey N. Leech, Susan Conrad and Edward Finegan
[Not in series 232] 2021
► pp. 231–354
Chapter 4Nouns, pronouns, and the simple noun phrase
Article outline
-
4.1Overview of nominals in discourse
- 4.1.1Use of nominals in discourse
- 4.1.1.1Density and types of nominal elements
- 4.1.1.2The role of nominal elements in discourse
- 4.1.1.3Establishing reference
- 4.1.1.4Chains of reference
- 4.1.2Pronouns v. full noun phrases
- corpus findings ,
- Discussion of finding
- 4.1.3The forms of anaphoric expressions
- corpus findings ,
- discussion of findings
- 4.1.4Forms of anaphoric expression in relation to distance
- corpus findings ,
- discussion of findings
- 4.1.1Use of nominals in discourse
- 4.2The basic structure of noun-headed phrases
- 4.3Types of nouns
- 4.3.1Use of countable nouns in Text samples
- 4.3.2Use of uncountable nouns in Text samples
- 4.3.2.1Countable and uncountable uses of nouns
- 4.3.2.2Plural uncountables
- 4.3.3Proper nouns
- 4.3.3.1Initial capitals
- 4.3.3.2Proper nouns regularly occurring with the definite article
- 4.3.3.3Proper nouns functioning as common nouns
- 4.3.4Collective nouns
- 4.3.4.1Collocations of quantifying collectives
- corpus findings
- discussion of findings
- 4.3.4.1Collocations of quantifying collectives
- 4.3.5Unit nouns
- 4.3.5.1Collocations of unit nouns
- corpus findings
- discussion of findings
- 4.3.5.1Collocations of unit nouns
- 4.3.6Quantifying nouns
- 4.3.6.1Collocations of types of quantifying nouns
- A.Nouns denoting type of container
- B.Nouns denoting shape
- C.Standardized measure terms
- D.Plural numerals
- E.Nouns denoting large quantities
- F.Nouns ending in -ful
- 4.3.6.2
Pair v. couple
- corpus findings
- discussion of findings
- 4.3.6.1Collocations of types of quantifying nouns
- 4.3.7Species nouns
- 4.3.7.1Species nouns: Distribution
- corpus findings
- discussion of findings
- 4.3.7.1Species nouns: Distribution
- 4.3.8Noun v. determiner
- 4.4Determiners
- 4.4.1The articles
- 4.4.1.1The indefinite article
- 4.4.1.2The zero article
- A.Meals
- B.Institutions
- C.Predicatives with unique reference
- D.Means of transport and communication
- E.Times of the day
- F.Days, months, and seasons
- G.Parallel structures
- H.Block language
- I.Vocatives
- 4.4.1.3The definite article
- 4.4.1.4Generic reference
- 4.4.1.5Reference patterns of definite noun phrases
- corpus findings
- discussion of findings
- 4.4.1.6Definite and indefinite articles: Distribution
- corpus findings
- discussion of findings
- 4.4.1.7Definite and indefinite articles in relation to syntactic role
- corpus findings ,
- discussion of findings
- 4.4.1.8Definite determiners: Distribution
- corpus findings
- discussion of findings
- 4.4.2Possessive determiners
- 4.4.2.1Possessive determiners: Distribution
- corpus findings
- discussion of findings
- 4.4.2.1Possessive determiners: Distribution
- 4.4.3Demonstrative determiners
- A.Situational reference
- B.Time reference
- C.Anaphoric reference
- D.Cataphoric reference
- E.Introductory this/these
- 4.4.3.1Demonstrative determiners: Distribution
- corpus findings
- discussion of findings
- 4.4.4Quantifiers
- 4.4.4.1Quantifiers: Distribution
- corpus findings
- discussion of findings
- 4.4.4.1Quantifiers: Distribution
- 4.4.5Numerals
- 4.4.5.1Numerals across the registers
- corpus findings
- discussion of findings
- 4.4.5.1Numerals across the registers
- 4.4.6Semi-determiners
- 4.4.6.1Other uses of the semi-determiners
- 4.4.6.2Semi-determiners: Distribution
- corpus findings
- discussion of findings
- 4.4.7 Wh-determiners
- 4.4.8Determiner v. pronoun
- 4.4.1The articles
- 4.5Number
- 4.5.1Regular plurals
- 4.5.1.1Plurals of words ending in -o
- corpus findings
- discussion of findings
- 4.5.1.1Plurals of words ending in -o
- 4.5.2Irregular plurals
- 4.5.3Latin and Greek plurals
- 4.5.4Zero plurals
- 4.5.5Plural-only nouns and nouns in -s
- 4.5.6Singular v. plural nouns: Distribution
- corpus findings
- discussion of findings
- 4.5.1Regular plurals
- 4.6Case
- 4.6.1The form of the genitive
- 4.6.1.1Genitive v. common case
- 4.6.2The frequency of genitive case forms
- 4.6.3Specifying genitives
- 4.6.4Classifying genitives
- 4.6.4.1Classifying genitives: Use
- 4.6.5Genitives of time
- 4.6.6Genitives of measure
- 4.6.7Elliptic genitives
- 4.6.8Other independent genitives
- 4.6.8.1Independent genitives unsupported by the linguistic context
- 4.6.9Group genitives
- 4.6.10The double genitive
- 4.6.11Density of genitives
- corpus findings
- discussion of findings
- 4.6.12Choice between s-genitives and
of-phrases
- 4.6.12.1
S-genitives and of-phrases overall
- corpus findings
- discussion of findings
- 4.6.12.2
S-genitives and of-phrases and the dependent noun
- corpus findings
- discussion of findings
- 4.6.12.3Meanings of s-genitives and of-phrases
- 4.6.12.4
S-genitives and of-phrases and length
- corpus findings ,
- discussion of findings
- 4.6.12.5
S-genitives and of-phrases and information status
- corpus findings ,
- discussion of findings
- 4.6.12.6 S-genitives and of-phrases in collocations
- 4.6.12.7Summary of choice between s-genitives and of-phrases
- 4.6.12.1
S-genitives and of-phrases overall
- 4.6.13Choice between elliptic genitives and
of-constructions
- 4.6.13.1Elliptic genitives v. of-constructions: Distribution
- corpus findings
- discussion of findings
- 4.6.13.1Elliptic genitives v. of-constructions: Distribution
- 4.6.14Choice between the double genitive and related constructions
- 4.6.14.1The double genitive v. corresponding constructions with possessive
pronouns
- corpus findings
- discussion of findings
- 4.6.14.2The double genitive v. ordinary of-phrases
- corpus findings
- discussion of findings
- The double genitive v. partitive constructions
- 4.6.14.1The double genitive v. corresponding constructions with possessive
pronouns
- 4.6.1The form of the genitive
- 4.7Gender
- 4.7.1Lexical expression of gender
- 4.7.1.1Words for masculine/feminine gender
- corpus findings
- discussion of findings
- 4.7.1.2Lexical means of expressing dual gender reference
- corpus findings
- DISCUSSSION OF FINDING
- 4.7.1.1Words for masculine/feminine gender
- 4.7.2Gender-specific v. dual gender pronoun reference
- 4.7.2.1Grammatical means for dual gender reference
- corpus findings
- discussion of findings
- 4.7.2.1Grammatical means for dual gender reference
- 4.7.3Personal v. non-personal reference with pronouns
- 4.7.1Lexical expression of gender
- 4.8Noun formation
- 4.8.1Derived nouns
- 4.8.1.1Derivational prefixes used to form new nouns
- 4.8.1.2Some common derivational suffix patterns
- 4.8.1.3Frequency of common noun derivational suffixes
- corpus findings ,
- discussion of findings
- 4.8.1.4Productivity of common noun derivations
- corpus findings
- discussion of findings
- 4.8.2Formation of nouns through compounding
- 4.8.2.1Noun compounds in conversation and news in AmE
- corpus findings
- discussion of findings
- 4.8.2.1Noun compounds in conversation and news in AmE
- 4.8.1Derived nouns
- 4.9The role of pronouns in discourse
- 4.10Personal pronouns
- 4.10.1Specific reference
- 4.10.1.1Problems in the use of first person plural pronouns
- 4.10.1.2Problems in the use of second person pronouns
- 4.10.1.3Problems in the use of third person pronouns
- 4.10.2Referring to people in general
- 4.10.3Special problems with collective nouns
- 4.10.4Special uses of it
- 4.10.5Personal pronouns: Distribution
- corpus findings
- discussion of findings
- 4.10.6Nominative v. accusative forms of personal pronouns
- 4.10.6.1Pronoun choice after forms of be
- corpus findings ,
- discussion of findings
- 4.10.6.2Pronoun choice after as and than
- corpus findings ,
- discussion of findings
- 4.10.6.3Pronoun choice in coordinated noun phrases
- corpus findings ,
- discussion of findings
- 4.10.6.4Pronoun choice in peripheral and non-integrated noun phrases
- 4.10.6.5Summary of factors affecting pronoun case choice
- 4.10.6.1Pronoun choice after forms of be
- 4.10.1Specific reference
- 4.11Possessive pronouns
- 4.11.1The type a friend of mine
- 4.11.2Possessive pronouns: Distribution
- corpus findings
- discussion of findings
- 4.12Reflexive pronouns
- 4.12.1Reflexive pronouns: Distribution
- corpus findings
- discussion of findings
- 4.12.2Emphatic reflexive pronouns
- corpus findings ,
- discussion of findings
- 4.12.1Reflexive pronouns: Distribution
- 4.13Reciprocal pronouns
- 4.13.1Reciprocal pronouns: Distribution
- corpus findings
- discussion of findings
- 4.13.1Reciprocal pronouns: Distribution
- 4.14Demonstrative pronouns
- 4.14.1Demonstrative pronouns: Distribution
- corpus findings
- discussion of findings
- 4.14.2 This/these in academic prose
- 4.14.3 Those with postmodifying phrases or clauses
- 4.14.4The demonstrative pronoun that in conversation
- 4.14.5
That in general
- corpus findings
- discussion of findings
- 4.14.1Demonstrative pronouns: Distribution
- 4.15Indefinite pronouns
- 4.15.1Indefinite pronouns: Distribution
- corpus findings
- discussion of findings
- 4.15.2The pronoun one
- 4.15.2.1
The pronoun one:
Distribution
- corpus findings
- discussion of findings
- 4.15.2.1
The pronoun one:
Distribution
- 4.15.1Indefinite pronouns: Distribution
- 4.16Other pronouns