Nouns and Noun Phrases - University of Macau Library

992 Syntax of Dutch: nouns and noun phrases
(138) • Discourse Topic: a number of research proposals
a. *Allemaal zijn gefiatteerd.
altogether are okayed
b. *Hij heeft allemaal gefiatteerd.
he has altogether okayed
c. *Hij heeft allemaal zijn fiat gegeven.
he has altogether his okay given
d. *Hij heeft zijn fiat aan allemaal gegeven.
he has his okay to altogether given
The animacy contrast between (137d) and (138d) is perhaps somewhat delicate, but
seems real; further illustration is offered by the minimal pair in (139). We are not
aware of specific proposals in the literature that seek to accommodate the restricted
behavior of allemaal in comparison with the al-quantifiers that can be used as
independent arguments.
(139) a. ?? Wat die mensen betreft, ik heb over allemaal gesproken.
what those people concerns I have about altogether spoken
b. *Wat die voorstellen betreft, ik heb over allemaal nagedacht.
what those proposals concerns I have about altogether thought
The form allemaal cannot be used as a predicate either, regardless of the properties
of the putative subject. The deviance of the examples in (140) bears this out.
(140) a. *Dat is allemaal. b. *Dat/Zij zijn allemaal.
that is altogether that/they are altogether
7.1.5.2.2. Distribution as modifier and floating quantifier
This section will show that allemaal can readily be used a floating quantifier, but
only marginally as a modifier. We will divide this section into three parts:
Subsection I starts with cases in which the modified phrase/associate is a subject or
an object, Subsection II with cases in which it is the complement of a PP, and
Subsection III with cases in which it is a predicate.
I. Subject and object
The ungrammatical examples in (137a-c) and (138a-c) become grammatical if an
associate for the quantifier is added in the form of a complex noun phrase or a
pronoun.
(141) a. Die mensen/Zij zijn gisteren allemaal uitgenodigd.
these people/they are yesterday altogether invited
b. Hij heeft die mensen/hen/ze gisteren allemaal uitgenodigd.
he has those people/them yesterday altogether invited
c. Hij heeft die mensen/hun/ze gisteren allemaal een uitnodiging gestuurd.
he has those people/them yesterday altogether an invitation sent