pronoun

Question

It is said that a lot (derived from a lot of) can be used as a pronoun.
ex. A lot of packages were brought in --> A lot were
brought in.
If I replace a lot of with a great deal of / a good number of,
will this rule still hold for them?

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

cho7712If I replace a lot of with a great deal of / a good number of,will this rule still hold for them?

Yes, those would be correct, but I don't hear them used that way very much. I would estimate that the versions with the of-phrase are more common.

CJ

Cho7712 · Answer

Thank you for the answer. For pronominal use, it seems a lot makes the most safe form according to your answer.

CalifJim · Answer

cho7712For pronominal use, it seems a lot makes the most safe form according to your answer.

Yes. That's true.

CJ

Clive · Answer

I bought a lot of apples.
I bought a lot.
I don't see 'a lot' as a pronoun in either case. It's a noun.

I bought a box of apples.
I bought a box.
Would you then also argue that 'box' is a pronoun? I don't think you would.

Clive

Cho7712 · Answer

Thank you for the answer.
The argument that a lot can be a pronoun is not my own idea. It is represented in the grammar book.
So, I deemed it to be true. However, according to your idea, it seems you insist that a different point of view be employed. So revealing as the examples in your answer are, I've had to figure out why this is so.
I ,now, come up with this idea. I would like you to correct my thinking.

A lot of is a kind of quantifiers. So it mostly behaves the same as other quantifiers do.
It could be best represented if some is replaced with a lot of.
ex. I bought some apples.....and he bought some, too.
(Given that both of them refer to the same entity called apples, they are tied pronominally.
If any object but apples is referred to by 'some', it still should be a pronoun requiring some antecedent in context.)

A box of, however, is a type of partitives. And I would see it in such way.
ex. I bought a box of apples......and he bought a box, too. (I am not sure a box here can be used pronominally.)
I bought a box of apples......and he bought a box for his cat. (A box here is definitely a noun.)
Some other partitives even result in the total difference in meaning.
ex. I bought a school of fish.....and he bought a school (?)

Clive · Answer

Does your dictionary define the word as a pronoun? Mine has it as a noun.

Cho7712 · Answer

Ah! That is what you mean. Can I know what dictionary it is?

Clive · Answer

Can you find any dictionary that defines it as a pronoun?

Clive

Cho7712 · Answer

It is somewhat interesting to find that two of oxford on-line dictionaries treat a lot as a pronoun as well as a noun.
The addresses are; http://oaadonline.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/dictionary/lot
http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/lot?q=a+lot#lot__31 (and I can add macmillian's.)
However, the other dictionaries such as american heritage dictionary, cambridge dictionary, merriam webster dictionary say a lot is a noun.
So I think it is obvious that this is more of a matter of basic terminology, which is left to the linguists.

Clive · Answer

I'm surprised you found any.
It seems to me that if one considers 'a lot' a pronoun, one should also consider eg 'a handful 'the same way.
eg I have a lot of friends.
eg I have a lot.

eg I have a handful of friends.
eg I have a handful.

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