Nouns and Noun Phrases - University of Macau Library

Pre-determiners 1009
the other hand, require that main accent be placed on the quantifier: (190b) will be
realized as het HALve dorp.
B. The “quite” degree reading
In sentences of the type in (193), the semantics of inflectible heel is also one of
degree modification, which is best rendered by means of English quite. In contrast
to the metaphorical high degree cases in (191), inflectible heel in (193) does not
alternate with half, but with adjectival °intensifiers like behoorlijk, flink ‘quite’,
generally with little or no difference in meaning.
(193) a. Dat is een heel/behoorlijk gedoe.
that is a whole/quite hassle
‘That is quite a hassle.’
b. Dat is een hele/behoorlijke toer/toestand.
that is a whole/quite tour de force/situation
‘That is quite a tour de force.’
c. Ze maakten een hele/flinke scène.
they made a whole/quite scene
‘They made quite a scene.’
d. Dat was een hele/flinke opluchting.
that was a whole/quite relief
‘That was quite a relief.’
The “quite” degree reading is impossible to obtain in definite noun phrases;
examples like (194a) are only acceptable on the totality interpretation of heel. But
indefinite noun phrases with determiners other than the article een do not allow the
“quite” degree reading either, as shown by the unacceptability of (194b&c). We
therefore conclude that the “quite” degree reading of inflectible heel is contingent
on the presence of the indefinite article een.
(194) a. # Ik ben het/dat/dit (hele) gedoe moe.
I am the/that/this whole hassle weary
‘I am weary of the/that/this whole hassle.’
b. Dat is zo’n (*heel) gedoe.
that is so a whole hassle
c. Dat is van dat (*hele) gedoe.
that is such whole hassle
Finally, note that inflectible heel may also modify the pronoun wat in (195a).
Example (195b) shows that in this case heel also alternates with adjectival
intensifiers like behoorlijk and flink ‘quite’. However, as is indicated by the English
translations, one of the possible interpretations of heel wat is lacking in the
constructions with adjectival intensifiers.
(195) a. Dat is heel wat.
that is quite what
‘That is quite something/a lot.’
b. Dat is behoorlijk/flink wat.
that is quite what
‘That is quite a lot.’