Nouns and Noun Phrases - University of Macau Library

1096 Syntax of Dutch: nouns and noun phrases
most conspicuous feature is the “mock archaic” use of genitive case: the genitive
determiner des, which was originally the masculine or neuter article, is now also
used with feminine/plural noun phrases, as in (115b&c), and with proper nouns like
Ajax, as in (115d). For more discussion and representative examples, see
www.onzetaal.nl/taaladvies/advies/des-vrouws and, especially, Hoeksema (1998) .
(115) a. Dat is des kinds.
that is the childgen
‘That’s how children are.’
b. Ontrouw is des vrouw/des mensen(s).
infidelity is themasc,gen womangen/person
‘Infidelity is a typical female trait.’
c. IJdelheid is des vrouws/des mensen(s).
vanity is themasc,gen womangen/person
‘Vanity is a typical human trait.’
d. Verdedigen is niet des Ajax.
to defend is not themasc,gen Ajax
‘A defensive attitude is not typical for Ajax.’
IV. Differences between the three types of nominal predicates
There are a number of ways in which the three types of nominal predicates
discussed in the previous subsections exhibit different syntactic behaviors, which
are related to their semantic properties. Here we will discuss some without claiming
that we are discussing the differences exhaustively.
A. Modification of the predicate by means of the PP van beroep ‘by profession’
To bare dokter in (104a) can readily be added van beroep ‘by profession’, as seen in
(116a), whereas it is impossible to add van beroep to the nominal predicates in
(104b&c). This suggests that only (104a) inherently expresses an occupation.
(116) a. Jan is dokter van beroep.
Jan is physician by profession
b. *Jan is de dokter van beroep.
Jan is the physician by profession
c. *Jan is een dokter van beroep.
Jan is a physician by profession
B. The nominal predicate as SUBJECT of a nominal predicate headed by beroep
The (a)-examples in (117) show that a bare nominal predicate can also be used as
the logical SUBJECT of a °second order predicate headed by beroep ‘profession’. It is
impossible, however, to use nominal predicates preceded by a definite or indefinite
article as the SUBJECT of such a predicate; cf. examples (117b&c). Again, this
suggests that only bare nouns inherently express an occupation.
(117) a. Dokter is een mooi beroep.
physician is a nice profession
a′. Ik vind dokter een mooi beroep.
I consider physician a nice profession