Understanding Quantifiers in English Grammar

Lecture Notes on Advanced Grammar: Use of Quantifiers

Summary

In this lecture, Zeynep Harlot from the Department of English Language and Literature at the University of Paris discusses quantifiers, focusing on "all", "both", "half", and "whole". Quantifiers are used to talk about quantities and can be applied before nouns or in place of nouns with “of”. Key distinctions are made between general and specific uses, and examples are provided for each case.

Detailed Points

Quantifiers Overview

• Definition: Quantifiers are words or phrases used to discuss quantities.
• Application: Used before countable and uncountable nouns.
• Construction: Often used in constructs either directly before nouns or in the phrase "of the".

Usage of "All" and "All of"

• General Statements:

  • Use "all" before plural and uncountable nouns.
  • Examples:
    • "He denied all knowledge of it."
    • "All students were prepared early."

• Specific Statements:

  • Use "all of" before determiners plus nouns.
  • Examples:
    • "He spent all of that afternoon polishing the silver."
    • "All of the time."

• With Pronouns:

  • Use "all of", not "all", before pronouns.
  • Examples:
    • "All of my life."
    • "All 15 boys were yelling and hollering."

• Alternative Usage:

  • Use "everyone" or "everything" instead of "all" alone.
  • Examples:
    • "Everyone needs time to unwind."
    • "Everything he could to teach and inspire us."

Usage of "Both" and "Both of"

• Referring to Two Entities:

  • Use "both" to refer to two items or people.
  • Examples:
    • "Cars parked on both sides of the road."
    • "Both relaxing and exciting."

• Phrase Construction:

  • "Both of" is used similar to "all of" for more specificity.
  • Example:
    • "A picture of both of us together."

Usage of "Half" and "Half of"

• Proportional Reference:

  • "Half" is used to express a fractional part of a whole.
  • Examples:
    • "Half the audience were babbling away."
    • "Half of the lectures are delivered by him."

• Phrasing Variations:

  • "Half" can be used both before determiners and between determiners and nouns.
  • Example:
    • "Don’t you spend a half hour selecting what you need?"

Usage of "Whole" and "Whole of"

• Emphasis on Completeness:
  • Used to emphasize full or complete amounts.
  • Simple use: "whole" between a determiner and a singular noun.
  • Examples:
    • "The nicest person in the whole world."
  • Use "the whole of" before determiners, pronouns, and proper nouns for places.
  • Example:
    • "The effects will last for the whole of his life."

Conclusion

The lecture concluded with a thank you to Dr. Linear Eclogue and the audience, highlighting the importance of understanding the appropriate usage of quantifiers in both general and specific contexts.

These notes encapsulate the key points and examples discussed during the lecture, providing a foundation for further exploration of quantifiers in English grammar.