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Seagull Posted 11 years ago
Grammar
A pronoun or an adjective
All the participants had a wonderful time.
I think that the "All" in this sentence can be explained both as a pronoun and as an adjective. Which explanation do you think more appropriate?
I think that the "All" in this sentence can be explained both as a pronoun and as an adjective. Which explanation do you think more appropriate?
Top answer
I don't see how it can be a pronoun. I would have said determiner, but some sources call it a "predeterminer" as it precedes another determiner ("the"). Traditionally, determiners may be classed as adjectives.
- I don't see how it can be a pronoun.
- I would have said determiner, but some sources call it a "predeterminer" as it precedes another determiner ("the").
- Traditionally, determiners may be classed as adjectives.
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4 Answers
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I don't see how it can be a pronoun. I would have said determiner, but some sources call it a "predeterminer" as it precedes another determiner ("the"). Traditionally, determiners may be classed as adjectives.
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Thank you very much for your answer, GPY.
Actually, some of my dictionaries say the this usage of "all" can be explained as the omission of "of" from the construction "All of the participants had a wonderful time." What do you think about it?
Actually, some of my dictionaries say the this usage of "all" can be explained as the omission of "of" from the construction "All of the participants had a wonderful time." What do you think about it?
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OK, well I couldn't say that their analysis is wrong.
Sometimes these idiomatic patterns can be hard to explain or justify in rigid grammatical terms. For example, "of" can be omitted in "all (of) the participants" yet not in the apparently exactly analogous "many of the participants" or "some of the participants".
Sometimes these idiomatic patterns can be hard to explain or justify in rigid grammatical terms. For example, "of" can be omitted in "all (of) the participants" yet not in the apparently exactly analogous "many of the participants" or "some of the participants".
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Thank you so much for you comment, GPY.
Yeah, I see your point. I wonder why only "all" (and maybe "both" and "half") has this privilege.
Yeah, I see your point. I wonder why only "all" (and maybe "both" and "half") has this privilege.
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