Lecture 7: Expanding Simple Sentences

7.1 What Is a Determiner?

7.1.1 Basic Concepts

What is a Determiner

• Determiners occur at the beginning of a noun phrase and help specify reference or quantity;
• Common determiners and related noun modifiers:
• Article: a、an 、the, etc.;
• Numerals: one, two, percentage, fraction (e.g., two-thirds), first, second, hundred, thousand;
• Possessive/genitive forms: Mary's, the company's;
• Note: Nouns can also modify other nouns;

Examples

• The roughly 20 million inhabitants of these nations looked hopefully to the future.
• The marks definiteness; roughly 20 million specifies quantity;
• More than two dozen companies sell DNA tests directly to the public, ranging in price from a few hundred dollars to more than \$2,500.
• Determiner:
• more than two dozen: quantifies companies;
• a few hundred: quantifies dollars;
• Merrill Lynch got legal protection for an asset allocation strategy.
• The noun phrase asset allocation modifies strategy;
• Paraphrase: a strategy for asset allocation;

7.2 Adjectives and Adverbs

7.2.1 What are adjectives and adverbs?

Example Introduction

• The angry boy shouted angrily.
• Angry boys shout angrily;
• The first is an adjective;
• The second is the adverb;

Concept

• Adjective
• Adjectives modify nouns or function as subject/object complements;
• Adverb
• Adverbs modify verbs, clauses, adjectives, and other adverbs;
• Both types add descriptive or limiting information;

7.2.2 How to Use Adjectives and Adverbs

Method

• 1. Their modifying functions;
• 2. Positive, comparative, and superlative degrees;

7.2.2.1 Adjective

Two Ways Adjectives Modify Nouns

• Two common positions:
• Method 1: Attributive use -> directly before, and occasionally after, the noun;
• Method 2: Predicative use -> after a linking verb, describing the subject;
• The linking verb connects the subject and its complement;

Examples

• The idea seems promising, and Rosenberg is a perceptive observer.
• These are two sentences
• promising is a subject complement describing the idea after the linking verb seems;
• perceptive modifies observer, i.e., placed directly next to a noun;
• Their thinking often had a traditional superstitious quality.
• Their ideas often have traditional, superstitious characteristics;
• Two adjectives to modify;

7.2.2.2 Adverbs

Adverbs modify verbs, sentences, adjectives, or other adverbs

(1) Adverbs modifying verbs

• Give an example
• Most scientists and experts sharply dispute Hardy's views.
• Most experts and scientists strongly question Hardy's views;
• and the right mental workouts can significantly improve our basic cognitive functions.
• In multiword verb phrases, an adverb may occur between an auxiliary or modal and the lexical verb;

7.3 Past-Paper Practice

Question:And where is the nearest water source?

• Where is the nearest water source?

Question: They'll get less meaningful, less targeted ads

• less forms the comparative of both adjectives;
• The ads will be less meaningful and less precisely targeted;

Question: For the first time in history more people live in towns than in the country.

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