A) Complete the following utterances using hints. Make use of proper pre- and central determiners, pre-modifiers and prepositional groups

ASSIGNMENTS

Table 3

Table 2

Table 1

There are two most important limitations on how to use determiners.

1. We use determiners according to the type of a noun that affects our choice. There are three of them: count nouns singular (like problem), count nouns plural (like problems) and non-count nouns (like likelihood). Table 1 below lists the most common determiners indicating which noun classes we use them with.

Determiners	Count singular	Count plural	Non-count	Examples
a/an; one	░			An acceptable solution now seems a long way off. Flynn is an English author. You cab get an MS after your first degree. Conferences are one way of meeting new people.
the	░	░	░	Could you tell me the way to the station? The news on the front pages of newspapers is usually important.
no article		░	░	Your colleague is pretty forthcoming, in his own way. It is good that you could see the error of your ways. (You realized that you had been behaving badly and decided to stop). Tell me your news.
all possessives like my, your, our etc.	░	░	░	There are different theories about how basic physical processes operate in the solar corona. In this chapter we will consider the definition of relevance.
this, that (demonstratives)	░		░	This book concentrates solely on grammar. Where will you be this time next year? I like this music. That text is certainly better. In that case we are going to refuse.
these, those (demonstratives)		░		Everyone is so busy these days. Today those achievements are recounted by science textbooks.
what, which, whose (refers back to people or things)	░	░	░	What journals do you read? What references or alternate texts can be used for a more traditional course on math? What good is it for me? Which way is the main campus? Which people have any influence in these circles? Whose idea is that? Whose names are mentioned? It’s an action whose purpose is rather dim.
some, any, no	░	░	░	There must be some reason for the refusal. Every time a non-standard speaker uses any non-standard grammar, they are, to whatever extent, downgraded. Did they show any interest in your research? – No, they showed no interest at all. .
every	░	░		They read every page of the contract carefully (thinking of the pages together in the contract, closer to all). The exam is given every year. Also: She seems to remember every single phone number. (Used to emphasize all). Also for time and distance: Elections are held every five years. (time intervals) The phone rang every few minutes. (time intervals) I had to stop at traffic lights every two hundred meters. (distance intervals)
each (of) (in positive sentences only, see none)	░			Each page of the contract is to be read carefully (thinking of the pages separately, one at a time). The exam is given each year. I remember that he had papers in each hand. They are each invited.
either, one or the other of two people or things	░			There are two courses on English offered – you can take either. Either (English) course lasts two months. We are most interested in either grammar or lexis. There are coffee machines at either end of the corridor. Accept or refuse it – you can act either way.
either of		░		Sandy does not like either of her math teachers. Either of her teachers is not / are not tolerant. I read both the books and didn’t like either of the stories very much. (in a negative statement)
neither, not one or the other of two people or things	░			Shall we arrange our meeting on Monday or Wednesday? – Sorry, neither day is acceptable. Neither of the two projects proposed is / are adequate to the ultimate goal.
neither of		░		My colleague and I work together but neither of us was /were in the lab yesterday.
none of (before a determiner)		░	░	None of my colleagues is interested. (formal) None of my colleagues are interested. (informal) None of the information is valid.
all (three or more persons or things) with nouns and pronouns	░	░	░	We are busy all day. (determiner) All (of) our students are busy. (predeterminer) We are busy all the time. (predeterminer) All scientists debate. (determiner)
both		░		Both large classrooms are occupied. For both these reasons we are to accept. You can’t have both ways.
half (of)	░	░	░	Half (of) the deposit on the house may get lost in line with inflation before you pay the rest. Only half (of) the money is properly deposited. Half (of) the participants arrive a few days before the conference starts.
half (measurement and quantity)	░	░		Let’s meet in half an hour. The place is not far from here. Half a mile, perhaps. It will take us half a day to get there. Half measures never work. She waited a full half-second and then spoke.
few (shows the smallness of a number, not many, not enough)		░		There were surprisingly few questions asked after the lecture. The rule is very strict. There few exceptions to it if any. We must make the best of the few facts available. Few people understand those complicated theories. Responsible people are few and far between, you know.*
fewer		░		We have fewer classes on Friday than we do on other days. It was a big conference with no fewer than one thousand participants attending. (no fewer that = at least)
the fewest		░		The report with the fewest discrepancies in it is the best, isn’t it? Who made the fewest remarks during the discussion?
a few (a small number, but at least some)		░		Although the rule is generally observed there are a few exceptions to it. George left the company and went freelance a few years ago.
more		░	░	I have no more questions. There are a few more things to discuss now. We need two more days to complete the report.
little (shows the smallness of the amount, not much, not enough)			░	There is little double in my mind that the grant will be terminated. We have little hope of our ideas being supported. Sorry, I’ve got little time and can’t talk now.
a little (a small amount, but at least some)			░	I’ve got a little time to think the matter over. A little more assurance at the meeting will do you good.
less (a smaller amount, not too much) See Note.			░	Less money is to be spent on unhealthy food. Less noise in the room is makes you less tired at the end of the day. During the term students normally have less time for fun.
least			░	This is the least support we can give for the project. Do the least work at least!
such	░	░	░	This is such a good idea. Scientists often debate the choice between successive theories. The parties to such debates see certain situations differently. I’ve never heard such nonsense!
double	░	░	░	How could they get married! He is double her age. The alternative plan will cost double this amount. Everybody will want double their salaries.
another	░	░ numbers, a few		There will be another train in a few minutes. This is another point on which my opponent and I do not see eye to eye. We need to wait another two days for the result. They are going to stay here for another few days. There’s still another 50 dollars to pay.
other	░	░		There are a few other determiners that do not fit into any specific group. The opinion of other people never interested him in the slightest degree. The other people in the room did not take notice of what was happening. You can use my other computer – I’ve got two of them. Russia is bigger that any other country in the world. I’m sure he will slip from class on some pretext or other.*

Notes.

1) In informal English many people now use less and least with plurals:

* Now that the university computer system is improved there will be less documentation problems than before.

This is still considered to be incorrect. “ Fewer problems ” are the accepted forms.

2.1.3. Determiners have different positions relative to one another. That is, we do not use them in random order. Here are some examples:

e.g. 1) All (of) our actions affect other people.

All these six pages have many mistakes.

All people need stability.

All the people you want to talk to are here.

2) Both thinking and doing are important to the solution of a problem.

Both (of) these approaches are valid.

3) What evidence is necessary to support your theory?

What kind of evidence is necessary?

Which approach would you take up?

4) Each issue is to be discussed.

Each of the issues is to be discussed.

Each individual has a chance to implement their ideas.

5) None of the information is to be lost.

None of the attempts was / were successful. (a singular verb in to be used in formalwriting)

6) Such weather is most depressing for me!

Such a nice day!

We know what we must do in such a situation.

7) I’ve been waiting for a while, another ten minutes won’t kill me.

Two more minutes, please!

Pre-determiner (when present)	Central determiner + pre-modifier (when present) + noun modified
All (of)	our thoughtless actions	affect other people.
All	these six pages	have many mistakes.
All	people	need stability.
All	the people	… are here.
Both (of)	these approaches	are valid.
	Which approach	would you take up?
	What evidence	is necessary …?
	What kind of evidence	is necessary …?
	Which approach	would you take up?
Each	issue	is to be discussed.
Each of	the issues	is to be discussed.
None of	their claims	are /is adequate.
None of	the information	is to be lost.
Such	a nice day.

2.1.4. Normally, discourse implies two coherent procedures – substitution and omission. Substitution and omission are very useful and important as they let us avoid repeating the same words (nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs or clauses) in our speech. We will study these mechanisms consistently in parallel with other things. Most common substitutes of nouns are certainly pronouns:

No errors are errors by themselves. They are only errors in relation to specific objectives. (They stands for errors).

Omission (another name for it is ellipsis) is leaving out words when the meaning can be understood without them:

Which color looks best here? The red or the green? (the red color or the green color)

‘I went freelance – what, fifteen years ago. Got my own consultancy now.’

‘Doing all right?’

‘I guess so.’

cf.

– I’ve / have got my own consultancy now. (omission)

– Are you doing all right? (omission)

– I guess I’m doing all right. (substitution, so being the substitute)

Substitution and omission often come together and complement each other. That is because they both take part in the process of predication. Substitution is replacing names or predicates by other words with the same reference or meaning. Omission implies leaving out words of sentence with the meaning of it staying clear. Actually, omission is concerned with incomplete, or rather implicit predications in which either the noun (argument) or the predicate (information word) is left out. Omission can also be treated as “no-substitute” substitution in which blanks stand for the meaning formed earlier in speech. There can be found lots of examples of substitution- omission interaction. Here is one of them.

Harry can do something about the matter, he really can. (He substitutes for Harry; he … can is an incomplete predication (omission) that means Harry can really do something about the matter.)

2.1.5. It is interesting to know that some of determiners (pre-determiners) can also function as substitutes for a noun or a noun phrase. Study the examples.

You, you and me are going to do the cleaning. A little bit each.

Obviously he tried to say something to me but I couldn’t understand what.

The car is definitely not John’s. It is somebody else’s but I don’t know whose.

Which of the two sets would you like to get? – I don’t like either.

Would you like to get one of these things? – Perhaps yes, but I am not sure which.

It’s so hard to choose. Both of them are good. I like both.

Research is a long-term process and should be treated as such.

There are many things you can do after you graduate. - Such as? (used to ask someone to give an example)

Hurry up. I haven’t got all day.

You still can’t put all things on the ever-growing list of priorities.

In the exam he forgot all he knew.

Email them all.

2.1. 6. Determiners, pre-determiners and pre-modifiers: definitions and specifications.

A pre-modifier is usually a word (words) which stands (stand) between a determiner and the central noun of a phrase. Pre-modifiers involve adjectives, participles, other nouns, compounds and adverbs.

(1) adjectives

a new theory, some basic physical processes, these remaining problems, low probability,

political aspiration, a strong feeling, a natural ability, (it is both) a social and political problem,

a firm request, (in) a mathematical way, in a certain way, unfailing interest, analytical techniques

(2) participles

breaking news, their reiterated criticism, the galloping inflation, a calculated risk, the surface cleaning machine,

(3) other nouns

(3.1) noun + ‘s + noun structure

Normally, the genitive (the ‘s structure) is used for human nouns and to a lesser extent for animal nouns.

the scientist’s paper the government’s policy the student’s achievements

the students’ success people’s needs children’s activities (irregular plural)

the boss’s / the boss’ idea Socrates’ method of teaching

an hour’s discussion

In general, the genitive (the ‘s structure) is preferred for the subject–verb relation:

Barton’ s discovery = Barton discovered something.

BUT: the discovery of Barton = Somebody discovered Barton.

The of -phrase is commonly used to show the verb-object relation. Consider another example:

John’s disappearance = The speaker implies that John disappeared of his own free will.

the disappearance of John = The opposite meaning. (Also see Post-modifiers)

The opposition of the ‘ s structure and of-phrase is not strict and does not always hold. The ‘ s structure can identify both subjective and objective relationship. In particular, Brian’s appointment or the newmanager’s introduction to the team imply a subjective relationship.

Sometimes ambiguity can arise.

(3.2.) nouns in sequence: nouns modifying other nouns

a number field, a key operation, the subject matter, a noun phrase, human group nouns (e.g. the government, the board), vacuum level, device quality, point defects, electron density, molecular structures, a reference point, the killer instinct, the reception desk, the career service staff (people whose duty is to serve students seeking information on employment, study and careers).

As seen from the examples above the modifying noun(s) is (are) usually singular. Also: a 10-year study (not ‘years’), the book business (not ‘books’), a six-minute unit (not ‘minutes’). But the pattern seems to changing now. For instance, the library has a periodical s room, and the engineering college has a material s testing laboratory. Study more examples:

But: an expens es chit (It was impossible, in the circumstances, to take a taxi and put in a pink expenses chit to get the money back off the firm; which meant that either she’d have to pay for a taxi out of her own money, or take the slow but cheaper Tube.)

the career s bloke (The careers bloke at school said that Collin needed all sorts of A levels and stuff to train to be a lawyer.)

(4) compounds

the through-and-through relativistic view, the defect-free interface, well-established classical methods, palladium-catalyzed reactions, a different-colored box, a single-spaced typescript,

a two-way analysis

(5) adverbs

a much discussed issue, the most commonly used ingredients, the further improved algorithm,

BUT merely a matter of taste

2.1.7. If you get to use more than one pre-modifier you have to put them in a particular order. The rules for pre-modifier order are very complicated, different grammars disagree about the details; that is why it is hardly possible to give exact instructions. Nevertheless, some of the most important rules are presented in Table 3. You will note that you have to deal with the string of pre-modifiers in a right-to-left order starting from the noun modified. Study the procedure given in Table 3. Mind that normally we do not use all these types of pre-modifiers at a time.

Modifiers showing judgments and attitudes with the middle position of little, old, young [7]	Modifiers before pre-modifiers [6]	Modifiers of size, length, height [5]	Participles, color-adjectives, adjectives denoting age [4]	The adjective derived from a proper noun [3]	The noun / adjective modifier is next closest specify-ing the name already identified by (I) [2]	The item meaning consisting of, involving, relating to [ I ]
		.				This is not a legal issue, this is a social problem. The algorithm works in any number field.
This is a world social problem. A method for factoring polynomials in an algebraic number field is presented. We refer to the Einsteinian spacio-temporal universe.
This is the Russian autumn medical symposium.
These are released Russian oil trade official decisions. These are new Russian science cosmic achievements. This is a matrioshka – variegated painted Russian wooden doll.
This is a very big variegated painted Russian wooden matrioshka.
An absolutely perfect design of the device is impressive.
This is a common little problem. This is a fine old picture. He is a promising young scientist. Also when modifiers are all judgments or attitudes: The trouble was that she’d done a strange, uncharacteristic and bloody stupid thing.

2.2.1. Complete the sentences using all proper pre-determiners and determiners defined by the context (including “no articles”).

e.g. A name really has … definition in terms of … words, concepts, or pictures.

A name really has no definition in terms of other words, concepts, or pictures.

1) I am not going to get involved in the conflict … of this concerns me.

2) I don’t know those people. … of the names are familiar to me.

3) What is … central focus of your presentation?

4) What the researcher really achieves is more important that the rate of … work.

5) … teacher is a key ingredient in student learning but he or she must work with … learner in … equal partnership.

6)… experiments can take us in … number of directions. To simplify matters, we can split them into … main types: test experiments and thought experiments. … … types are valid.

7) … team leader is to challenge … … team-members to put … expertise into practice.

8) When … new knowledge is firmly embedded through … series of … experiments you can draw … conclusions about it.

9) … problem is to be viewed within … wider context.

10) In … research it isn’t easy to predict … next step or consequence.

11) … of … colleagues has some useful experience.

12) … student assembles … or … project with … help of … teacher.

13) … individual has … opportunity to implement … newly acquired skills.

14) … … … applicants is going to win the grant./ … … … applicants are going to win the grant

15) …,,, us are (is) to join the project. Not interested.

16) Responsibility? There is … … that here, or little.

17) We always make do on … low budget of 1 million. What you want means … … amount.

18) My colleague does many things better than … people.

19) Let … … people in the room see the poster.

20) Ten … minutes of that sort of conversation was good in a sense because it meant that Katie could score …two six-minute units on her time sheet, which in turn meant a proportionate increase in Mr. Holing’s bill.

2.2.2. Recall all, each, either, both, what, which, whose, none (of, neither (of), one, (the) other (others) and such as pre-modifiers and substitutes. Complete the sentences making proper use of them.

1. A couple went by, their young daughter holding one hand ….

2. McClymonts, senior and junior, were not pleasant men to deal with. Tony could not say that he took much to … of them.

3. – You’re building a six storey block here?

– That’s right. Three flats … on the first four, two big apartments spread over the top two floors.

4. It seems a bit presumptuous starting work when you don’t actually own the site. … is it going to be?

5. … side are you on?

6. It’s not easy getting the language right. … those words to learn, … the peculiar pronunciations to master.

7. ‘We’ve been playing nice so far, … with this being your home and …. But there’s only so much slack we can cut you.’ Interesting choice of words. Ben didn’t really need the hassle … this was going to create.

8. Grill the fish for 5 minutes on … side.

9. I would prefer to get something more up-to-date, but … to his (their) own. (каждому свое, кому как)

10. There are a few facts to consider. Let’s analyze … in turn.

11. I think this man is someone completely new who … us has ever heard of.

12. There are two basic approaches to solving this kind of problems … which are a hundred percent effective.

13. There are two quite distinct grounds, of which … is much more explicit than the …. We are equally interested in ….

14. The essential characteristic of introspective data is concerned with localization: 1) it is not localized at all; 2) its localization is physically inconsistent with something the place is already occupied with. In … case, introspective data has to be regarded as not obeying the laws of physics.

15. The meanings of some words are ultimately circular, … defined in terms of …. For instance, possibility means chance, chance means opportunity, opportunity implies possibility.

2.2.3. Analyze a set of synonyms given in [ ] after each sentence (or just one word making a set phrase or the only option). Modify the underlined noun choosing one of them as a pre-modifiers; mind proper determiners.

1. What to do next is … problem [big, serious, major].

2. … issue is whether the funding is stable. [important, key, major, big]

3. Getting papers published is now … … issue for a scholar. [thorny, vexed, difficult]

4. Food prices are … issue. [ sensitive, political]

5. … issues should get more attention. [political, social, academic, environmental]

6. There is … chance that we will win. [every, good, fair; some, little, no; slight, slim, outside; fifty-fifty]

7. We never get … chance to relax these days. [any, slight, slim, outside]

8. Taxes are … necessity. [economic, practical, regrettable]

9. Our getting those premises now looks like … possibility. [strong, real, distinct]

10. A discovery like that is … possibility. [remote, faint]

11. The study raises … possibility that the theory is wrong or at least incomplete. [the, - ]

12. The project has … probability of making profits. [high, strong]

13. In … probability we will make mistakes. [all]

14. This is … procedure for grant application. [normal, standard, proper, correct]

15. It takes hard work and … ability to make it as a researcher. [ natural, great]

16. He is a scientist of … ability. [great, exceptional, remarkable].

17. It’s no easy matter to teach students in … classes. [mixed ability]

18. The country’s … capability is really limited. [manufacturing, military, nuclear]

19. There can be … powers: powers …, …, …, … powers. [various, powers of speech, powers of observation, ~ of concentration, ~ of persuasion; mental ~, magical ~ etc.]

20. There is … demand for fuel. [huge, great, strong].

21. Mr. D. is … lecturer, much in demand. [successful, popular]

22. That was quite … attempt. [successful]

23. What … attempt at humor! [feeble]

24. In … attempt to obtain some info, we contacted the department. [ in an attempt]

25. The author offers … reasons for rejecting this theory. [compelling]

26. You must have … reason to do that. [good, compelling, personal].

27. For … reasons, we changed the names. [obvious, simple, personal, sentimental]

28. Some people have … desire to visit this country. [ strong, overwhelming, burning]

29. The boss is full of … intentions. [ good, best ]

30. A high level of … aspiration is typical of every …leader. [political, academic ]

31. If one is careless with their expenses they are sure to face … financialcollapse. (inevitable, unavoidable, inescapable)

Дата добавления: 2017-01-13