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Noun: Nouns, noun phrases, and determiners
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`` Structural.html].
A noun phrase already formed can be modified by a Predeterminer.
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
Determiners
The determiner has a fine-grained structure, in which a 'nucleus'
quantifier and an optional numeral can be discerned.
DetQuant : Quant -> Num -> Det ; -- these five
DetQuantOrd : Quant -> Num -> Ord -> Det ; -- these five best
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.
data
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.
fun
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).
IndefArt : Quant ;
DefArt : Quant ;
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].
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
Apposition
This is certainly overgenerating.
ApposCN : CN -> NP -> CN ; -- city Paris (, numbers x and y)
}