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gf-core/lib/resource/abstract/Noun.gf

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--1 Noun: 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 $Predet$erminer.
PredetNP : Predet -> NP -> NP; -- only the man
-- A noun phrase can also be postmodified by the past participle of a
-- verb, by an adverb, or by a relative clause
PPartNP : NP -> V2 -> NP ; -- the man seen
AdvNP : NP -> Adv -> NP ; -- Paris today
RelNP : NP -> RS -> NP ; -- Paris, which is here
-- Determiners can form noun phrases directly.
DetNP : Det -> NP ; -- these five
--2 Determiners
-- The determiner has a fine-grained structure, in which a 'nucleus'
-- quantifier and two optional parts can be discerned: a cardinal and
-- an ordinal numeral.
DetQuantOrd : Quant -> Num -> Ord -> Det ; -- these five best
DetQuant : Quant -> Num -> Det ; -- these five
-- Whether the resulting determiner is singular or plural depends on the
-- cardinal.
-- All parts of the determiner can be empty, except $Quant$, which is
-- the "kernel" of a determiner. It is, however, the $Num$ that determines
-- the inherent number.
NumSg : Num ;
NumPl : Num ;
NumCard : Card -> Num ;
-- $Card$ consists of either digits or numeral words.
NumDigits : Digits -> Card ; -- 51
NumNumeral : Numeral -> Card ; -- fifty-one
-- The construction of numerals is defined in [Numeral Numeral.html].
-- A $Card$ can be modified by certain adverbs.
AdNum : AdN -> Card -> Card ; -- almost 51
-- An $Ord$ consists of either digits or numeral words.
-- Also superlative forms of adjectives behave syntactically like ordinals.
OrdDigits : Digits -> Ord ; -- 51st
OrdNumeral : Numeral -> Ord ; -- fifty-first
OrdSuperl : A -> Ord ; -- warmest
-- Definite and indefinite noun phrases are sometimes realized as
-- neatly distinct words (Spanish "un, unos ; el, los") but also without
-- any particular word (Finnish; Swedish definites).
DetArtOrd : Art -> Num -> Ord -> Det ; -- the (five) best
DetArtCard : Art -> Card -> Det ; -- the five
IndefArt : Art ;
DefArt : Art ;
-- Articles cannot alone form noun phrases, but need a noun.
DetArtSg : Art -> CN -> NP ; -- the man
DetArtPl : Art -> CN -> NP ; -- the men
-- 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.
MassNP : CN -> NP ; -- (beer)
-- 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. They can be found in $Extra$ modules.
PossPron : Pron -> Quant ; -- my (house)
-- 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 ; -- mother of the king
ComplN3 : N3 -> NP -> N2 ; -- distance from this city (to Paris)
-- Relational nouns can also be used without their arguments.
-- The semantics is typically derivative of the relational meaning.
UseN2 : N2 -> CN ; -- mother
Use2N3 : N3 -> N2 ; -- distance (from this city)
Use3N3 : N3 -> N2 ; -- distance (to Paris)
-- Nouns can be modified by adjectives, relative clauses, and adverbs
-- (the last rule will give rise to many 'PP attachment' ambiguities
-- when used in connection with verb phrases).
AdjCN : AP -> CN -> CN ; -- big house
RelCN : CN -> RS -> CN ; -- house that John bought
AdvCN : CN -> Adv -> CN ; -- house on the hill
-- 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 ; -- question where she sleeps
--2 Apposition
-- This is certainly overgenerating.
ApposCN : CN -> NP -> CN ; -- city Paris (, numbers x and y)
} ;