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gf-core/lib/resource-1.0/abstract/Noun.gf
2006-01-13 14:48:53 +00:00

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--1 The construction of nouns, noun phrases, and determiners
abstract Noun = Cat ** {
--2 Noun phrases
-- The three main types of noun phrases are
-- - common nouns with determiners
-- - proper names
-- - pronouns
--
--
fun
DetCN : Det -> CN -> NP ; -- the man
UsePN : PN -> NP ; -- John
UsePron : Pron -> NP ; -- he
-- Pronouns are defined in the module [Structural Structural.html].
-- A noun phrase already formed can be modified by a Predeterminer.
PredetNP : Predet -> NP -> NP; -- only the man
--2 Determiners
-- The determiner has a fine-grained structure, in which a 'nucleus'
-- quantifier and two optional parts can be discerned.
-- The cardinal numeral is only available for plural determiners.
-- (This is modified from CLE by further dividing their $Num$ into
-- cardinal and ordinal.)
DetSg : QuantSg -> Ord -> Det ; -- this best man
DetPl : QuantPl -> Num -> Ord -> Det ; -- these five best men
-- Pronouns have possessive forms. Genitives of other kinds
-- of noun phrases are not given here, since they are not possible
-- in e.g. Romance languages.
PossSg : Pron -> QuantSg ; -- my (house)
PossPl : Pron -> QuantPl ; -- my (houses)
-- All parts of the determiner can be empty, except $Quant$, which is
-- the "kernel" of a determiner.
NoNum : Num ;
NoOrd : Ord ;
-- $Num$ consists of either digits or numeral words.
NumInt : Int -> Num ; -- 51
NumNumeral : Numeral -> Num ; -- fifty-one
-- The construction of numerals is defined in [Numeral Numeral.html].
-- $Num$ can be modified by certain adverbs.
AdNum : AdN -> Num -> Num ; -- almost 51
-- $Ord$ consists of either digits or numeral words.
OrdInt : Int -> Ord ; -- 51st
OrdNumeral : Numeral -> Ord ; -- fifty-first
-- Superlative forms of adjectives behave syntactically in the same way as
-- ordinals.
OrdSuperl : A -> Ord ; -- largest
-- Definite and indefinite constructions are sometimes realized as
-- neatly distinct words (Spanish "un, unos ; el, los") but also without
-- any particular word (Finnish; Swedish definites).
DefSg : QuantSg ; -- the (house)
DefPl : QuantPl ; -- the (houses)
IndefSg : QuantSg ; -- a (house)
IndefPl : QuantPl ; -- (houses)
-- Nouns can be used without an article as mass nouns. The resource does
-- not distinguish mass nouns from other common nouns, which can result
-- in semantically odd expressions.
MassDet : QuantSg ; -- (beer)
-- Other determiners are defined in [Structural Structural.html].
--2 Common nouns
-- Simple nouns can be used as nouns outright.
UseN : N -> CN ; -- house
-- Relational nouns take one or two arguments.
ComplN2 : N2 -> NP -> CN ; -- son of the king
ComplN3 : N3 -> NP -> N2 ; -- flight from Moscow (to Paris)
-- Relational nouns can also be used without their arguments.
-- The semantics is typically derivative of the relational meaning.
UseN2 : N2 -> CN ; -- son
UseN3 : N3 -> CN ; -- flight
-- Nouns can be modified by adjectives and relative clauses.
AdjCN : AP -> CN -> CN ; -- big house
RelCN : CN -> RS -> CN ; -- house that John owns
-- Nouns can also be modified by embedded sentences and questions.
-- For some nouns this makes little sense, but we leave this for applications
-- to decide. Sentential complements are defined in [Verb Verb.html].
SentCN : CN -> SC -> CN ; -- fact that John smokes, question if he does
} ;