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Ku1980rose Posted 13 years ago
Grammar
demonstrative pronouns and demonstrative adjectives
1. This is a long movie.
2. She wanted this, but I gave her that.
Are the demonstratives being used as pronouns in BOTH sentences?
Or, in sentence 2 are they still demonstrative adjectives because the noun is implied?
She wanted this (pencil), but I gave her that (pencil). (demonstrative adjective?)
Thanks!
2. She wanted this, but I gave her that.
Are the demonstratives being used as pronouns in BOTH sentences?
Or, in sentence 2 are they still demonstrative adjectives because the noun is implied?
She wanted this (pencil), but I gave her that (pencil). (demonstrative adjective?)
Thanks!
Top answer
ku1980rose Are the demonstratives being used as pronouns in BOTH sentences? Yes. ku1980rose Or, in sentence 2 are they still demonstrative adjectives because the noun is implied?
- ku1980rose Are the demonstratives being used as pronouns in BOTH sentences?
- Yes.
- ku1980rose Or, in sentence 2 are they still demonstrative adjectives because the noun is implied?
- No, The presence of the noun is mandatory: you can have no adjective without its noun.
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4 Answers
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ku1980roseAre the demonstratives being used as pronouns in BOTH sentences?Yes.
ku1980roseOr, in sentence 2 are they still demonstrative adjectives because the noun is implied?No, The presence of the noun is mandatory: you can have no adjective without its noun.
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Thank you!
So, you are saying if there is not a noun (even implied), then it cannot be an adjective??
I've seen many websites that say there are four ways you can place a demonstrative adjective:
1. before the noun (That car is mine.)
2. before the word "one" (That one is mine.)
3. before an adjective + noun (That blue car is mine.)
4. by itself if the noun i
So, you are saying if there is not a noun (even implied), then it cannot be an adjective??
I've seen many websites that say there are four ways you can place a demonstrative adjective:
1. before the noun (That car is mine.)
2. before the word "one" (That one is mine.)
3. before an adjective + noun (That blue car is mine.)
4. by itself if the noun i
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ku1980rose4. by itself if the noun is implied (That is mine.)This is one way of looking at it, and I believe that’s the approach modern grammar takes, calling that a fused-head determiner. But it’s just easier to call it a pronoun.
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ku1980roseIt frustrates me when I find so many differing rules from what are supposed to be "good" sources!As Gus says, different linguists sometimes look at constructions differently. Occupational hazard, I'm afraid.
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