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Timothyberg23 Posted 14 years ago
Grammar
Numbers as adjective modifiers
This is the third time I have written this post having lost the previous ones, so I will keep it short and sweet. If someone has addressed this point, I apologize for the redundancy.
'ON PAGE 21'
What is the object of the preposition?
What is the adjective?
What is the modifier?
Why?
I was not able to explain it to my ESL class. I told them that '21' is an adjective because it is a number and can change; and therefore, modifies the page being discussed.
Was I wrong?
If '21' is and adjective, why is it not following the rule of adjective noun placement?
'ON PAGE 21'
What is the object of the preposition?
What is the adjective?
What is the modifier?
Why?
I was not able to explain it to my ESL class. I told them that '21' is an adjective because it is a number and can change; and therefore, modifies the page being discussed.
Was I wrong?
If '21' is and adjective, why is it not following the rule of adjective noun placement?
Top answer
88 Strict restrictive apposition Postposed numerals and letters perhaps imply the ellipsis of the words number or letter : Line (number) 12; room (number) 10A; equation (number) 4; Ward (letter) C . g. number 10A = The number is 10A .
- 88 Strict restrictive apposition Postposed numerals and letters perhaps imply the ellipsis of the words number or letter : Line (number) 12; room (number) 10A; equation (number) 4; Ward (letter) C .
- g.
- number 10A = The number is 10A .
- There is no definite determiner possible in this use: Are you in Number 103 / Room 103?
- [NOT: *the number/room 103] " Does that help?
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1 Answers
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I quote (as perhaps I did for your earlier posting) from Quirk, at al:
"17.88 Strict restrictive apposition
Postposed numerals and letters perhaps imply the ellipsis of the words number or letter:
Line (number) 12; room (number) 10A; equation (number) 4; Ward (letter) C.
If that is so, the phrases contain appositional construct
"17.88 Strict restrictive apposition
Postposed numerals and letters perhaps imply the ellipsis of the words number or letter:
Line (number) 12; room (number) 10A; equation (number) 4; Ward (letter) C.
If that is so, the phrases contain appositional construct
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