Nouns and Noun Phrases - University of Macau Library

Determiners: articles and pronouns 703
I. Generic and non-generic readings
This section discusses the generic and non-generic uses of substance nouns, which
is followed by a discussion of non-deverbal and verbal abstract non-count nouns.
A. Substance nouns
When a definite article combines with a substance noun like wijn ‘wine’ or fruit
‘fruit’, in many cases a specific interpretation for the resulting noun phrase ensues;
the definite noun phrase refers to a contextually determined quantity of the
substance in question. It is not impossible, however, to find substance nouns with a
definite determiner that receive a generic interpretation; example (65) gives some
instances of both uses.
(65) a. De wijn/Het fruit is lekker. [specific]
the wine/the fruit is nice
a′. De wijn/Het fruit is duur dit jaar. [generic]
the wine/the fruit is expensive this year
b. [De smaak van [de wijn/het fruit]] is redelijk goed. [specific]
the taste of the wine/the fruit is reasonably good
b′. [De prijs van [de wijn/het fruit]] is hoog dit jaar. [generic]
the price of the wine/the fruit is high this year
The singular indefinite article een normally cannot be combined with non-count
nouns. The examples in (66) show, however, that the indefinite null article ∅ can be
used. When the resulting noun phrase functions as subject, its interpretation
depends on its position in the clause: when the noun phrase occupies the regular
subject position, as in (66a), it must be interpreted generically; when the noun
phrase enters the expletive construction, as in (66a′), it is always interpreted as a
non-generic, indefinite noun phrase. In other functions, the interpretation of the
noun phrase depends on the denotation of the verb phrase, as can be seen by
comparing the two (b)-examples.
(66) a. [∅ Wijn] is lekker. [generic]
∅ wine is nice
a′. Er ligt nog wijn in de kelder. [non-generic]
there lies still wine in the cellar
b. Jan houdt van wijn. [generic]
Jan likes wine
b′. Jan heeft wijn gekocht. [non-generic]
Jan has wine bought
When the indefinite noun phrase is embedded within a larger noun phrase, it is also
the context that determines whether a generic reading is available. The (a)-examples
in (67) show this for substance nouns embedded in a subject, and the (b)-examples
for substance nouns embedded in a direct object.