Q-n2. Grammatical category of degrees of comparison.
Degrees of comparison – it serves to denote different intensity of quality.
Not all the adjectives possess it (e.g. relative), not all the qualitatives have it.
Qualitatives which are called ingradable ones. (absolute qualitatives). # blind, middle
Two degrees:
- comparative - superlative
Two ways of formation:
- synthetic - analytical
1 word – lexical meaning
Some linguistis view them as analytical formations; some – as phrases.
Analytical è arguments:
- these combinations don’t differ in meaning from adjectival forms built with the help of suffixes;
- the connection between the elements is very close as in analytical form we don’t place other words between the two parts.
Phrases è arguments:
- ‘more/ most’ are not formal elements they possess the lexical meaning of their own
# more time
- ‘more/ most’ can be substituted by other words which is impossible for an analytical form.
Taking a general view of these arguments one should admit that considerations of meaning tend to recognize such combinations as analytical forms, while grammatical consideration leads to a different point of view.
Sometimes adjectival forms of the superlative degree of comparison may acquire a special meaning.
Its basic meaning is that of a degree of a property surpassing all the other objects mentioned or implied.
However, this form may also convey the meaning of a very high degree of a quality or property.
e.g. this was the greatest disorder in his room.
This meaning is called ‘elative’.
Q-n 3. Substantivized adjectives.
Substantivized adjectives – behaving like nouns.
Different types in English – some of them possess all the peculiarities common to nouns:
+ both articles;
+ can take the plural and genitive case forms;
+ can take relevant determiners;
# a relative
Also adjectives regarded as the substantivized though not possessing all the characteristics of a nouns:
# the rich - only definite article; - no noun or case forms.
Thus, by some linguists they are not regarded as substantivized but are used without a noun which is understood. (e.g. Smirnitsky)
Adjective + ‘the’ though not regarded as a phrase with an omitted noun:
# the invisible (abstract idea)
A reverse process is said to take place in English.
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The process of adjectivization of nouns is observed in constructions “noun + noun”, usually takes place in case there is a corresponding construction “adjective + noun”.
E.g. an evening paper // a daily paper
Numeral.
Numerals differ from other parts of speech as they possess the only characteristic which is common to all of them – lexical meaning.
No grammatical characteristics.
They function in the sentence as other parts of speech. No stylistic function.
Lexical meaning – quantity or order of objects.
Word-building: - 3 suffixes: - th, -teen, -ty.
This group of words is stable which isn’t characteristic of other classes of words.
Two groups:
a) cardinal – close to nouns in their functioning; many of them have corresponding homonymous nouns: e.g. hundred = hundreds of people; two tens; usually denote quantity; can also denote order – e.g. chapter 8; take ending –s in fractions – e.g. two thirds.
b) Ordinal – close to adjectives (syntactical function); some linguists regard them as adjectives because of that; denote place of an object in some line/ row.
Basing on their functioning one should conclude that the numeral as a part of speech doesn’t exist in English but semantic and word-building criteria taken into consideration the numeral is traditionally regarded as a part of speech.
Pronoun.
- Semantic aspect.
Pronoun as a part of speech - point out objects, qualities, etc.
Dactic property of a word (words don’t denote anything).
- Formal characteristics
- personal pronoun – nominative & objective case
- defining, negative, indefinite (NB: not all of them) common and possessive case
- gender – personal, possessive, reflexive pronouns (3 person Sg)
- number – reflexive, possessive, personal, demonstrative
- person – personal, possessive, reflexive
These are characteristic of small groups of pronouns can’t be regarded for the whole class of pronouns as part of speech.
- Syntactical functions
- subject
- object
- attribute
- predicative
- the traditional classification of pronouns is based on semantic aspect.
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- Another classification divides pronouns into two groups: (based on functional principle)^
- 1st group – pronouns which possess the meaning close to nouns
e.g. personal, something, somebody, etc.
- 2nd group – adjectival pronouns
e.g. possessive, demonstrative, no, any, etc.
Pronoun – ‘instead of noun’
Verb.
Questions:
1. General characteristics of the verb as a part of speech.
2. The category of person and number
3. The category of tense
4. The category of voice
5. The category of aspect.
6. The category of mood.
7. Non-finite forms of the verb.
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