Chapter published in:
Grammar of Spoken and Written English
Douglas Biber, Stig Johansson, Geoffrey N. Leech, Susan Conrad and Edward Finegan
[Not in series 232] 2021
► pp. 231–354

Chapter 4
Nouns, 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
  • 4.2The 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
    • 4.3.5Unit nouns
      • 4.3.5.1Collocations of unit nouns
        • corpus findings
        • discussion of findings
    • 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
    • 4.3.7Species nouns
      • 4.3.7.1Species nouns: Distribution
        • corpus findings
        • discussion of findings
    • 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
    • 4.4.3Demonstrative 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
    • 4.4.5Numerals
      • 4.4.5.1Numerals across the registers
        • corpus findings
        • discussion of findings
    • 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
  • 4.5Number
    • 4.5.1Regular plurals
      • 4.5.1.1Plurals of words ending in -o
        • corpus findings
        • discussion of findings
    • 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
  • 4.6Case
    • 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
    • 4.6.13Choice between elliptic genitives and of-constructions
      • 4.6.13.1Elliptic genitives v. of-constructions: Distribution
        • corpus findings
        • discussion of findings
    • 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
  • 4.7Gender
    • 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
    • 4.7.2Gender-specific v. dual gender pronoun reference
      • 4.7.2.1Grammatical means for dual gender reference
        • corpus findings
        • discussion of findings
    • 4.7.3Personal v. non-personal reference with pronouns
  • 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
  • 4.9The 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
  • 4.11Possessive 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
  • 4.13Reciprocal pronouns
    • 4.13.1Reciprocal pronouns: Distribution
      • corpus findings
      • discussion of findings
  • 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
  • 4.15Indefinite 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
  • 4.16Other pronouns