Nouns and Noun Phrases - University of Macau Library

870 Syntax of Dutch: nouns and noun phrases
Introduction
This chapter will discuss the use of numerals and quantifiers within the nominal
°projection. Generally speaking, these elements occur in prenominal position after
the determiners, as in (1a&b). This can be accounted for by assuming that the
structure of the noun phrase is as given in (1c), where D indicates the position of the
determiners and NUM/Q the position that can be occupied by a numeral or a
quantifier. We will see, however, that, especially in the case of quantifiers, there are
several deviant patterns that cannot be readily accounted for by means of the
structure in (1c).
(1) a. de drie boeken
the three books
b. de vele problemen die hij had
the many problems that he had
c. [DP D [NUMP NUM/Q [NP ... N ...]]]
We will start in Section 6.1 with a discussion of the numerals. Section 6.2 will be
concerned with the quantifiers. Section 6.3 conclude this chapter with a more
detailed discussion of so-called °quantitative er, given that this element may only
occur in association with indefinite noun phrases that contain a cardinal number or a
well-defined subset of quantifiers: Ik heb er [NP twee/veel [e]] ‘I have got two/a lot
of them’.
6.1. Numerals
Traditionally two types of numerals are distinguished: cardinal numerals like vijf
‘five’ and ordinal numerals like vijfde ‘fifth’. These two types of numerals will be
discussed in separate sections.
6.1.1. Cardinal numerals
This section starts in 6.1.1.1 with a discussion of the form of the cardinal numerals.
It will be shown that the rules for coining numerals are pretty complex and allow a
relatively large amount of variation. Section 6.1.1.2 focuses on the semantics of the
numerals, and will show that determiner-less noun phrases normally allow two
readings, which we will refer to as the indefinite and the partitive reading. Section
6.1.1.3 discusses the position of the numerals within the noun phrase. Finally,
Section 6.1.1.4, discusses modification of the numerals.
6.1.1.1. Simple and compound forms
The rules for the formation of complex cardinal numerals are themselves rather
complex and often leave room for several alternative options. Three processes may
be involved; see also Booij (2010:ch.8). The first is DERIVATION, that is, cases
where the complex form is derived by means of a bound morpheme. This is mainly
the case with the formation of those numerals from 20 to 90 that correspond to
multiples of 10; two examples are given in (2a). The second process seems to
involve COMPOUNDING, and forms complex cardinal numerals from simpler ones
that can occur independently. It must be noted, however, that at least some of these