30 Questions
Which of the following is NOT one of the three main categories of English nouns?
Abstract nouns
What is a defining feature of English nouns?
Their ability to inflect for number
What is the primary function of English nouns in noun phrases?
As subjects, objects, and predicative complements
What is unique about the structure of noun phrases in English?
They include determinatives and predeterminatives
What types of things can English nouns denote?
Anything at all
Are English pronouns considered a subtype of English nouns?
Yes
What is the typical syntactic behavior of proper nouns in English?
They are always singular
Which of the following is a characteristic of proper nouns in English?
They occur within noun phrases that are proper names.
Which of the following is an example of a proper noun?
December
What is the difference between a proper noun and a common noun in terms of pluralization?
Some proper nouns may be plural and lack a singular form.
What is the difference between a proper noun and a common noun in terms of determinatives?
Proper nouns typically lack a determinative or determinative contrast.
Which of the following is an example of an anaphoric pronoun?
her
What distinguishes pronouns from common and proper nouns in English?
Pronouns show distinctions in case, person, and gender.
In what situations do the features that distinguish proper nouns from common nouns not necessarily apply in English?
When proper nouns lack unique denotation.
Which of the following is a defining property of English nouns?
Their ability to inflect for case
What is the difference between count and non-count nouns?
Count nouns can take a number as their determiner, while non-count nouns designate a continuum or an undifferentiated mass
What is the most common way to form the plural of common nouns in modern English writing?
/s/
What is the difference between common nouns and pronouns in their ability to take dependents?
Common nouns can often be preceded by a determinative, while pronouns cannot
What is the exception to the rule that pronouns typically do not take an inflectional ending to mark plurals?
The pronoun one
What is the difference between plural forms of English nouns inherited from Old English and those borrowed from other languages?
Plural forms from Old English resulted from vowel mutation, adding -en, or making no change at all, while borrowed plural forms come from other languages
In which type of English are pronouns a small minority of nouns?
News and academic English
Which of the following is a situation in which the plural morpheme may be absent in English nouns?
All of the above
Which varieties of English are mentioned as examples of plural marking occurring without the plural morpheme?
Gullah and Caribbean English
What is the difference between the independent and dependent genitive in English?
The independent genitive forms a noun phrase on its own, while the dependent genitive occurs with a head noun
Which types of pronouns are considered indisputable in English?
Personal, relative, interrogative, and reciprocal pronouns
In what context is the genitive case ending used in English?
For possession, belonging, sources, ancestry, etc.
What is the difference between the nominative and accusative cases in English?
Nominative case is used for subjects, accusative for objects
What is the function of reflexive pronouns in English?
To refer back to the subject of the sentence
What is the difference between the independent and dependent genitive in English?
The independent genitive forms a noun phrase on its own, while the dependent genitive occurs with a head noun
What is the difference between the independent and dependent genitive in English?
The independent genitive forms a noun phrase on its own, while the dependent genitive occurs with a head noun
Study Notes
Nouns in English
- English nouns can be categorized into three main types: common nouns, proper nouns, and pronouns.
- A defining feature of English nouns is that they can function as the head of a noun phrase.
Function of Nouns in Noun Phrases
- The primary function of English nouns in noun phrases is to provide the core meaning of the phrase.
Structure of Noun Phrases
- A unique feature of English noun phrases is that they can have a complex internal structure.
Denotation of Nouns
- English nouns can denote various types of things, including concrete objects, abstract concepts, and events.
Pronouns and Nouns
- English pronouns are considered a subtype of English nouns.
- Pronouns differ from common and proper nouns in their syntactic behavior.
Proper Nouns
- Proper nouns in English have a unique syntactic behavior, and they typically do not take an article.
- A characteristic of proper nouns is that they are always capitalized.
Example of a Proper Noun
- "London" is an example of a proper noun.
Pluralization of Proper and Common Nouns
- Proper nouns do not typically form plurals, whereas common nouns do.
Determinatives and Nouns
- Proper nouns do not take determinatives, whereas common nouns do.
Anaphoric Pronouns
- An anaphoric pronoun is a type of pronoun that refers back to a previous noun in the sentence.
Distinguishing Features of Pronouns
- Pronouns are distinguished from common and proper nouns by their ability to replace a noun in a sentence.
Exceptions to Proper Noun Rules
- In some contexts, such as in titles or headings, the features that distinguish proper nouns from common nouns do not necessarily apply.
Defining Property of English Nouns
- A defining property of English nouns is that they can function as the head of a noun phrase.
Count and Non-Count Nouns
- Count nouns can be counted and have a plural form, whereas non-count nouns cannot be counted and do not have a plural form.
Plural Formation
- The most common way to form the plural of common nouns in modern English writing is to add -s or -es to the singular form.
Dependents of Nouns and Pronouns
- Common nouns can take dependents, whereas pronouns typically do not.
Exception to Plural Inflection
- The pronoun "you" is an exception to the rule that pronouns typically do not take an inflectional ending to mark plurals.
Plural Forms of English Nouns
- Plural forms of English nouns inherited from Old English have a different structure than those borrowed from other languages.
Plural Marking
- In some varieties of English, such as in Scots and Northern English, plural marking can occur without the plural morpheme.
Genitive Case
- The genitive case is used in English to indicate possession or association.
- The independent genitive is used to indicate possession, whereas the dependent genitive is used to indicate association.
Types of Pronouns
- Indisputable pronouns in English include personal pronouns, possessive pronouns, and reflexive pronouns.
Context of Genitive Case
- The genitive case ending is used in English in certain context, such as in possessive constructions.
Nominative and Accusative Cases
- The nominative case is used in English to indicate the subject of a sentence, whereas the accusative case is used to indicate the direct object.
Reflexive Pronouns
- Reflexive pronouns in English are used to indicate that the action of the verb is being performed on the subject.
Independent and Dependent Genitive
- The independent genitive is used to indicate possession, whereas the dependent genitive is used to indicate association.
Test your knowledge on the differences between common nouns and pronouns in English, including their use of plurals and ability to take dependents.
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