Quantification in Mandarin Chinese

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Questions and Answers

What does the placement of quantifiers in a sentence impact?

The meaning of the sentence (correct)

The emotional tone of the sentence

The clarity of the subject

The grammatical correctness of the sentence

Why is '一隻貓有時候追一隻老鼠' considered unacceptable?

It lacks a subject.

It suggests that one specific cat is pursuing one specific mouse.

It uses an indefinite article incorrectly.

它 incorrectly pairs a quantity with an adverb of quantification. (correct)

In which scenario does '有' assert existence?

When describing eternal aspects

When stating a universal truth

When stating the existence of an entity (correct)

When discussing theoretical concepts

What is significant about the sentence '一隻獨角獸可以有四條腿,但獨角獸從不存在'?

It distinguishes potential characteristics from existence. Signup and view all the answers

What role does '有' serve in the phrase '有五個人吃了四碗飯'?

To assert the existence of multiple subjects Signup and view all the answers

Which statement about '一隻貓' in Chinese quantification is true?

'一' can denote an entity in addition to expressing quantity. Signup and view all the answers

What is a unique feature of thetic sentences in the context of quantification?

They can exist without explicit subject entities. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best explains existential quantification?

It assures the existence of at least one entity. Signup and view all the answers

Which sentence structure best illustrates the concept of marking existence in Chinese?

There are three birds on the fence. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of '有' in Mandarin when marking existential events or times?

To express temporal relations and events. Signup and view all the answers

In what context is '都' typically required in Mandarin?

With universal quantifiers in subject/topic positions. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements best reflects the incompatibility with '有'?

有每個學生都買了一本書. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following sentences demonstrates a thetic judgment in Mandarin?

有一個人在敲門. Signup and view all the answers

What does the Isomorphic Principle illustrate in the context of quantifier scope?

Scope relations correspond to their surface word order. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement describes the locality restrictions of '都' appropriately?

都 has the strictest locality requirements with universal quantifiers compared to plural NPs. Signup and view all the answers

What type of quantification is marked by expressions like '每' and '所有' in Mandarin?

Universal quantification. Signup and view all the answers

How does the interaction of '有' and '都' typically function in Mandarin sentences?

'有' can specify the existence while '都' quantifies over it. Signup and view all the answers

What is a common misconception regarding the use of '都有'?

'都有' should precede the quantifier it modifies. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Quantification in Mandarin Chinese

Quantifiers express quantities, amounts, and degrees. Their placement affects sentence meaning.
Existential Quantification: asserts the existence of an entity.
- Existential 'One' (一): A number-classifier phrase, acting as a numeral rather than an indefinite article like "a/an." Incompatible with some adverbs of quantification. Can express quantity or denote an entity—e.g., "One cat usually has four legs." Requires "you" (有) in subject/topic positions to mark existence, except in thetic sentences (statements of immediate perception).
- Existential 'Have' (有): Marks existence, differentiating definite/generic and existential readings. Removes quantity reading of number-classifier phrases (e.g., "There are 4 bowls of rice that 5 people can eat" is ungrammatical). Marks existence of events and times ("Zhang San came yesterday"). Needed when number-classifier phrases are in subject/topic positions. Not required when in object position or for observations.
Other existential quantifiers (many, few, etc.) do not require "you".
Universal Quantification: Applies to all members of a set, marked by quantifiers like "every", "all", often with "all" (都). Incompatible with "you". Modifiable by "almost" and can quantify over events, possibilities, and degrees.
- "All" (都): Usually precedes the quantified phrase. Required with universal quantifiers in subject/topic positions, although debated in embedded clauses. Has varying locality requirements.
Quantifier scope: Quantificational elements (scope-bearing) interact with each other; word order often corresponds to scope. In Mandarin Chinese this is generally strict; elements on the left scope over those on the right. English doesn't have strict word order.
Isomorphic Principle: Scope relations generally correspond to word order in Chinese, leading to surface scope readings.

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Description

This quiz explores the role of quantifiers in Mandarin Chinese, detailing their impact on sentence meaning and structure. It covers existential quantification, including the use of 'one' and 'have' to mark existence and express quantities. Test your knowledge of how these elements function in Mandarin syntax.