Determiners II and more Modern English Grammar 1

Determiners II and more Modern English Grammar 1 Session 4

3. 1 Overview (Revision) Determiners general specific definite article MEG-1 demonstratives possessive determiners indefinite article © FAM quantifying “identifying” determiners 2

Now let’s have a look at the home study task…

Let’s check Activity 4 on page 28 MEG-1 © FAM 4

3. 2. 3. Possessive Determiners a) • Possessive Determiners normally refer to someone/something owned by or belonging to someone/something: 18. Have you seen my glasses? – Yes, they are on your nose. • However they can also express that something is associated with someone/something: 1. After our arrival in Zurich we had to wait for two hours for our connecting flight. 10. They didn’t give me their full attention. • Sometimes they can refer to an action carried out by someone: 17. Your demand strikes me as outrageous and I will not give you the money! MEG-1 © FAM 5

3. 2. 3. Possessive Determiners b) • When the relationship between “possessor” and “possession” is clear we can also use the definite article: 6. I put our / the kids to bed before my wife and I watched “Nursery Crimes”. 9. The prime minister has shot himself in the foot. 14. Uncle Archibald has the annoying habit of patting me on the head. • You also use possessives to refer to relatives. I need to discuss this with my wife. “The girlfriend”, “The wife” etc. are not very polite. An exception can be “the children” instead of “our/my children”. I have to get the wife and the children. MEG-1 © FAM 6

Do Activity 5 on page 29 MEG-1 © FAM 7

3. 3. 1 Overview General Determiners (a) with singular nouns a/an x Ø another x other any x enough some few little x many much MEG-1 x with plural nouns with uncount. nouns x x x x © FAM with count. nouns finite set x x x x x 8

3. 3. 1 Overview General Determiners (b) with singular nouns with plural nouns with uncount. nouns with count. nouns more x x x most x x x several x all x both x finite set x x x x x either x every x x x each x x x no x x x neither x x x MEG-1 © FAM 9

Do Activity 6 on pages 29 -30 (a long activity, this one) MEG-1 © FAM 10

3. 3. 2 Usage of the Indefinite Article The Indefinite Article “a/an” is used F to refer to an unspecified entity. Janet went out to buy a new scarf. F to introduce an entity for the first time. After weeks of debating the pros and cons the governors finally made a decision. The decision was … F to introduce an entity with/after a linking verb. My mother was a very sensible woman. Most people regard me as a nice person. F to generalise an entity to stand for a group or category. A computer can make life easier for a writer. MEG-1 © FAM 11

3. 3. 2 Usage of the -Article The -Article is used F to refer to unspecified entities in the plural, sometimes as general groups or categories. Dogs and children must be kept off the grass There are jobs men can do just as well as women. F with uncountable nouns All you need is love. Unfortunately caviar could not be got for love or money. MEG-1 © FAM 12

3. 3. 2 Special Usages The Indefinite Article can be used with uncountable nouns F “a/an”with uncountable nouns when they are modified. Knowledge is very important but an inexact knowledge of certain things can be dangerous. She always loved life, but she despaired of a life in total isolation. Everything was done with an efficiency I would have never thought possible. MEG-1 © FAM 13

3. 3. 2 Special Usages The Indefinite Article can be used with “unique” nouns normally accompanied by “the” F when they are modified or a particular feature is emphasised Looking out over a choppy ocean, Algernon wondered whether he should have had that large meal. My love and I sat for hours under a silvery moon. MEG-1 © FAM 14

3. 3. 3. Some of the “others” “Some” and “Any” ______ some students displayed mild interest in what the lecturer was talking about. affirmative sentences We heard some interesting things but there any ground-breaking new material. wasn’t ____ negative sentences any cake? Is there ____ general questions some ice cream and _____ some bread. No, but there is ____ some ice cream then? Right. Could I have _____ “polite” questions MEG-1 © FAM 15

3. 3. 3. Some of the “others” Referring to sets and their members example sentence meaning all women should take up karate. members of a whole group in general any woman could take up karate. individuals of a group without focus on specific members every woman living in this part of town should take up karate. each MEG-1 woman in this group here must take up karate. © FAM individuals in a group referred to in general individuals in a group without exception 16

Genitives

4. 1 Formation Relation possessor and possession/possessed Formation • by postmodification of the Head Noun. the basket of the dog. • by determination of the Head Noun the dog’s basket Possessor ending in –s –z Franz’s worksheets / Franz’ worksheets The Jones’s new car / the Jones’ new car pronunciation [Iz] with or without the ’s being written MEG-1 © FAM 18

Let’s check Exploration 1 on page 32 MEG-1 © FAM 19

4. 2 Usage: of vs. ’s The wing of a fly was floating in the soup. Half of his comb’s teeth are broken. ? The buzz of the mosquito annoyed everyone. Mr Smith’s daughter is getting married next week The eye teeth of the dog were broken. The handle of the door began to turn slowly. Hollywood’s directors need to learn that a good story is the foundation for a good film. ? MEG-1 © FAM 20

4. 2 Usage: of vs. ’s (b) Martin Luther King spoke out in freedom’s name. The radio room of the ship was not staffed on the night of the accident. One of pollution’s main effects is respiratory problems. The university’s chancellor opened the conference. ? Everybody held him at arm’s length because he was an insurance agent. They weren’t very popular because they always make sure they get their money’s worth. The other campus is a stone’s throw from ours. MEG-1 © FAM 21

Do Exploration 2 on page 32 MEG-1 © FAM 22

Usage: Exploration 2 1. Thomas’ several sisters (“of” also possible) 2. Sophocles’s many plays (“of) 3. Cow’s milk the milk of the cow 4. the door of the car or “car door” 5. the captain’s serious error 6. somebody’s bike 7. the name of something 8. the history of the school 9. the world’s problems or the problems of the world 10. Europe’s art treasures the art treasures of Europe MEG-1 11. a week’s holiday 12. a year’s work the work of a (long) year 13. my brother-in-law’s house 14. the name of the man over there 15. the pages of the book 16. this evening’s paper (but “the evening paper”) 17. the room of the teacher of music (music teacher’s room) 18. the release of 4000 prisoners 19. the hat of the character who left just now © FAM 23

Do Activity 1 on page 33 MEG-1 © FAM 24

So when do we use which? Please be patient and we’ll see after the next slides towards the end of the podcast. MEG-1 © FAM 25

4. 2. 1 Rules possessive determiner a woman’s work the man’s decision children’s toys the size of the ship her work his decision its size its theme the knob of the livingroom door its knob MEG-1 masculine / feminine their toys theme of the play the smoke of cigarettes gender neuter their (n) smoke © FAM 26

Do Activity 2 on page 34 MEG-1 © FAM 27

4. 2. 2 Special “of+NP” forms one of my friends A friend of mine of several your son (no matter which one) any son of yours one of several that inheritance she got that inheritance of hers emphasis on possession Klee did this painting a painting of Klee’s one of many this motorbike belonging to them this motorbike of theirs emphasis on possession that house that belongs to the Hopkins family that house of the Hopkins’ emphasis on possession MEG-1 © FAM 28

4. 2. 2 Special meanings of ’s Genitive • Let’s go over to Joan’s later. ellipted but implied: Joan’s place/flat/house • I have to go to the baker’s, the butcher’s and the hairdresser’s this afternoon. ellipted but implied: the baker’s shop , etc. for many retailers and shops we use the genitive • Shall we have dinner at Suzy Wong’s. ellipted but implied: Suzy Wong’s restaurant can become “institutionalised” for bars and restaurants • They were taken to the cleaner’s. based on the second example, this is an idiomatic phrase meaning “to be robbed” (cleaned out) MEG-1 © FAM 29

Summary: Choice of genitive forms Issue 1: gender class • feminine / masculine ’s genitive • neuter of + NP Things may be different with – geographical names, places (cities) – time, cultural activities – parts of the body – pets – vehicles Issue 2: semantic classification: • “have” relation my son’s friend • “origin” relation the wines of France MEG-1 © FAM 30

Summary: Choice of genitive forms ISSUE 3: register difference: • formal the office of the Prime Minister • informal the Prime Minister’s office ISSUE 4: information focus: • they painted the ship’s funnel • they painted the funnel of the Orion ISSUE 5: “sayability”: • the hat of the character who left just now • the character’s hat ISSUE 6: idiomatic usage: • get your money's worth • they stood at the water's edge • going to the hairdresser’s MEG-1 © FAM 31

Home Study Complete the example sentences in Activity 1 on page 33 Exploration 1 on page 36 MEG-1 © FAM 32

And that’s all for today But it will only be a week before that next spellbinding episode of MEG-1 © FAM 33