Search results for 'tag:Noun phrases tag:Countable nouns' matching tags 'Noun phrases' and 'Countable nouns'

Re: what could come after a preposition?

CalifJim — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 19:27:38 GMT

The only thing that can come after a preposition to form a prepositional phrase is a noun phrase, usually a noun accompanied by its preceding determiner and perhaps an adjective. A relative clause may be added. The noun itself may be a gerund.

If the element after the candidate for a preposition looks like it's not a noun, then either of these holds:

a. The preposition candidate is not a preposition, but perhaps an adverb or conjunction.
b. The structure after the preposition candidate actually is a noun phrase.

Both of your examples are in the category labeled b.

In your first example bad should be viewed as an adjective used as a noun, 'promoted' to a noun because of the elision of situation or its equivalent, one.

The situation can be seen as a bad situation.
The situation can be seen as a bad one.

In your second example, bad and good are simply abstract uncountable nouns meaning that which is bad and that which is good, respectively.

CJ

Re: Correct term for singular possessive as stand-in for a group

Maripinky — Sat, 27 Jan 2007 23:21:32 GMT

I think the grammatical term could be generic noun phrases. When a noun is mentioned as a symbol, example, or representative of all members of a group (almost the same as all + plural or noncount nouns or any + a singular noun) we refer to it as having "generic" reference.

A few generic countable nouns look like definite nouns (they follow the), even though they do not refer to specific, unique things! (they are NOT definite)

The and a singular count noun can refer to a whole group (not just one specific member). This occurs often in formal writing, and with inventions, musical instruments, parts of the body.

The lion is endangered
The heart is like a pump
When was the radio invented?
She plays the piano.
The inexperienced student may need help.

(which lion? not just one lion, but all lions)
(which heart? all hearts)
(which radio? not the radio in my apartment, but the idea)
(which piano? She has this general ability.)
(which student? Any inexperienced student.)

The and a plural count noun can occasionally refer to all members of a human group in general .. not just particular people konwn to the speaker/writer and listener/reader. This is the least common kind of generic nouns, usually referring to a religiously, politically, or professionally-based group of people.
The Germans are known for their beer.
The Republicans will meet in Philadelphia (which Germans? all of them)
(which Republicans? representatives of all of them)
The can also be followed by an adjective (with no noun) to refer to a whole class (usually of people):
The blind leading the blind
The rich and the poor (which blind what? all blind people)
(which rich/poor what? all rich/poor people)

Countable Or Uncountable?

infinity — Sun, 24 Apr 2005 08:49:14 GMT

For instance,
"I don't have time to do this." Here, the noun "time" is uncountable.
"I had a great time." In this case, is the noun in the noun phrase "a great time" countable?
IS there any systematic way to explain the concept behind this? According to several grammar books I looked into, uncountable nouns can be preceded by an article "a" when modified or specified. But WHY?
Also, some nouns are more often used with "a" and others are rarely. For instance, "knowledge
" is almost always preceded by "a" when modified, as in "He has a great knowledge of English grammar." But "information" is rarely used with "a" even when modified. For example, it's usually just "valuable information", rather than "a valuable information." Please tell me why!

Thank you very much.

Re: Both

paco2004 — Fri, 04 Mar 2005 14:08:16 GMT

Hello Casi

Thank you again. 'They' and 'both' in "they both" are appositional just like 'we' and 'Japanese' in "we Japanese" are. So I though 'both' should come immediately after 'they'. But the result of googling is: 154,000 hits for "they both are ... " and 1460,000 for "they are both... ". So I have to admit the latter should sound more natural to native speakers. As for reasoning the need of 'the' in "both of the men", I feel it is because "both of the men" is of "partitive noun stuctures" shown as below. But I guess you might not agree with me.
partitive noun phrase
X of the Ys
X: quantitative noun (determiner)
all, any, each, few, half, many, none, part, some, two, a third, etc.
Y: countable noun
(EX) all of the apples, any of the apples, each of the apples, five of the apples, part of the apples...etc.

paco