# The construction of nouns, noun phrases, and determiners

Last update: 2006-03-20 12:03:25 CET

- Noun phrases
- Determiners
- Common nouns
- Apposition

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        abstract Noun = Cat ** {

## 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. A noun phrase already formed can be modified by a Predeterminer.

            PredetNP : Predet -> NP -> NP; -- only the man

## 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

Quantifiers that have both forms can be used in both ways.

            SgQuant : Quant -> QuantSg ;            -- this
            PlQuant : Quant -> QuantPl ;            -- these

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.

            PossPron : Pron -> Quant ;    -- my (house)

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. `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).

            DefArt   : Quant ;            -- the (house), the (houses)
            IndefArt : Quant ;            -- a (house), (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.

## 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, relative clauses, and adverbs (the last rule will give rise to many 'PP attachement' ambiguities when used in connection with verb phrases).

            AdjCN   : AP -> CN  -> CN ;   -- big house
            RelCN   : CN -> RS  -> CN ;   -- house that John owns
            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.

            SentCN  : CN -> SC  -> CN ;   -- fact that John smokes, question if he does

## Apposition

This is certainly overgenerating.

            ApposCN : CN -> NP -> CN ;    -- number x, numbers x and y

        } ;