Difference between revisions of "The Noun Phrase - Norwegian"
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| − | [[ | + | This page relates to the application '''A Norwegian Grammar Sparrer''', see [[A Norwegian Grammar Sparrer]]. |
| + | On clicking on the icon below, you will come to the Sparrer: | ||
| − | + | [[File:Troll1.jpeg|100px|link=http://regdili.hf.ntnu.no:8081/studentAce/parse]], | |
| + | Instructions for its use are found at [[Classroom:Norwegian Grammar Checking]] | ||
| − | + | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==The Noun== | ||
Norwegian common nouns undergo two types of inflection: for number, and for definiteness. The inflection for number reflects a distinction singular vs. plural, and resides in a suffix for plural vs. no marking for singular. The inflection for definiteness reflects a distinction ‘definite’ vs. ‘indefinite’, and resides in a suffix marking definiteness vs. no marking in the case of indefiniteness. When a noun is both definite and in plural, this is marked by a single suffix expressing the two values in combination. There are thus four possible forms of a common noun in Norwegian: | Norwegian common nouns undergo two types of inflection: for number, and for definiteness. The inflection for number reflects a distinction singular vs. plural, and resides in a suffix for plural vs. no marking for singular. The inflection for definiteness reflects a distinction ‘definite’ vs. ‘indefinite’, and resides in a suffix marking definiteness vs. no marking in the case of indefiniteness. When a noun is both definite and in plural, this is marked by a single suffix expressing the two values in combination. There are thus four possible forms of a common noun in Norwegian: | ||
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(A note on terminology: when characterizing something in quotes in the above list, like saying ‘indefinite plural’, we refer to grammatical ''concepts'', or grammatical ''features'', independently of how the grammar ''expresses'' these features. Thus, ‘indefinite' and 'plural’ are features, and also the general parameters ‘number’ and ‘definiteness’. The smallest units of expression are generally called ''morphs'', dividing into segmental and suprasegmental morphs, the latter residing in tone, stress, and length, the former in words and ''affixes''. Of affixes there are in general four types: prefix, suffix, infix and circumfix. Of these types, in Norwegian, the noun features under consideration materialize only as ''suffixes'' when expressed in the noun.) | (A note on terminology: when characterizing something in quotes in the above list, like saying ‘indefinite plural’, we refer to grammatical ''concepts'', or grammatical ''features'', independently of how the grammar ''expresses'' these features. Thus, ‘indefinite' and 'plural’ are features, and also the general parameters ‘number’ and ‘definiteness’. The smallest units of expression are generally called ''morphs'', dividing into segmental and suprasegmental morphs, the latter residing in tone, stress, and length, the former in words and ''affixes''. Of affixes there are in general four types: prefix, suffix, infix and circumfix. Of these types, in Norwegian, the noun features under consideration materialize only as ''suffixes'' when expressed in the noun.) | ||
| + | ==Gender== | ||
| + | |||
| + | See also [[Gender in Norwegian nouns]]. | ||
Inherently, common nouns in Norwegian belong to a ''gender''. There are three genders for nouns in Norwegian, ‘masculine’, ‘feminine’ and ‘neuter’, and a noun generally belongs to one of them. (In some versions of Norwegian there are only two genders, the marking of feminine having disappeared or nearly disappeared. In these versions, one sometimes refers to the remaining non-neuter gender as ‘common gender’. Here we will assume the three-gender system.) The gender of a noun reveals itself in the form of the inflections for number and definiteness; typical forms of the suffixes are as indicated below: | Inherently, common nouns in Norwegian belong to a ''gender''. There are three genders for nouns in Norwegian, ‘masculine’, ‘feminine’ and ‘neuter’, and a noun generally belongs to one of them. (In some versions of Norwegian there are only two genders, the marking of feminine having disappeared or nearly disappeared. In these versions, one sometimes refers to the remaining non-neuter gender as ‘common gender’. Here we will assume the three-gender system.) The gender of a noun reveals itself in the form of the inflections for number and definiteness; typical forms of the suffixes are as indicated below: | ||
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| + | ==Agreement== | ||
| + | See also [[Agreement in Norwegian noun phrases]] | ||
| − | |||
The morphological shape of the noun sets its stamp on its environment, inside of the noun phrase (henceforth: NP) but also on adjectives connected to the NP via a copula. This ‘stamp-setting’ is standardly referred to as ''agreement'', or ''concord''. We first describe the NP internal patterns of agreement. | The morphological shape of the noun sets its stamp on its environment, inside of the noun phrase (henceforth: NP) but also on adjectives connected to the NP via a copula. This ‘stamp-setting’ is standardly referred to as ''agreement'', or ''concord''. We first describe the NP internal patterns of agreement. | ||
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| − | IIa Det [Definite] | + | IIa Det [Definite] Adj [Definite] N [Definite] |
IIb Det [Indefinite] Adj [Indefinite] N [Indefinite] | IIb Det [Indefinite] Adj [Indefinite] N [Indefinite] | ||
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| − | + | ==Determiners== | |
Determiners as a category comprise articles, demonstrative pronouns and quantifiers. Some of these items are listed below, in the required forms relative to the specification of the noun: | Determiners as a category comprise articles, demonstrative pronouns and quantifiers. Some of these items are listed below, in the required forms relative to the specification of the noun: | ||
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| − | + | ==Adjectives== | |
When an adjective occurs in the ‘definite’ pattern, it has a so-called ''weak'' form, ending in '''''–e'''''. | When an adjective occurs in the ‘definite’ pattern, it has a so-called ''weak'' form, ending in '''''–e'''''. | ||
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| − | + | ==Syntactic patterns== | |
| − | Nouns can normally be omitted (given a context where they may be inferred), so that a Det or Det + Adj can constitute the nominal constituent. | + | Nouns can normally be omitted (given a context where they may be inferred), so that a Det or Det + Adj can constitute the nominal constituent. |
Noun, or Adj + Noun, without a determiner are also normally allowed, but with two restrictions, one very sharp, and one less sharp. | Noun, or Adj + Noun, without a determiner are also normally allowed, but with two restrictions, one very sharp, and one less sharp. | ||
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The sharp restriction is: | The sharp restriction is: | ||
| − | III A definite (i.e., weak) adjective has to be preceded by | + | III A definite (i.e., weak) adjective has to be preceded by a definite article or a demonstrative. |
| − | + | ||
This means that strings like the following are ungrammatical: | This means that strings like the following are ungrammatical: | ||
| − | * svarte katten | + | * svarte katten |
(correct: ''den svarte katten'') | (correct: ''den svarte katten'') | ||
| − | * gale avgjørelsene | + | * gale avgjørelsene |
(correct: ''de gale avgjørelsene'') | (correct: ''de gale avgjørelsene'') | ||
| − | |||
(Note that since plural strong adjective and weak adjective are of the same form, a lone-occurring form like ''svarte'' or ''gale'', although ungrammatical as a weak form, can in principle have a plural interpretation.) | (Note that since plural strong adjective and weak adjective are of the same form, a lone-occurring form like ''svarte'' or ''gale'', although ungrammatical as a weak form, can in principle have a plural interpretation.) | ||
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The less sharp restriction is: | The less sharp restriction is: | ||
| − | IV | + | IV A singular indefinite noun with countable interpretation (with or without an adjective preceding it) |
| − | + | is often not felicitous without a determiner preceding it. | |
| − | + | ||
The exact conditions for when felicity obtains are not easy to pin down, and the topic is much discussed, under the heading ‘Bare Singulars’. | The exact conditions for when felicity obtains are not easy to pin down, and the topic is much discussed, under the heading ‘Bare Singulars’. | ||
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| − | + | ==The Determiner system== | |
| − | We have so far talked as if there is just one determiner per NP. However, the determiner system constitutes a whole field of items, strictly ordered and with some restructions on | + | We have so far talked as if there is just one determiner per NP. However, the determiner system constitutes a whole field of items, strictly ordered and with some restructions on cooccurrence. |
| − | + | ===Numerals=== | |
Numerals are non-inflected items, occurring generally before adjectives but after any of the other items standardly counted as definite determiners. Numerals themselves are neutral with regard to definiteness. Possible sequences are thus | Numerals are non-inflected items, occurring generally before adjectives but after any of the other items standardly counted as definite determiners. Numerals themselves are neutral with regard to definiteness. Possible sequences are thus | ||
| − | tre små griser | + | tre små griser |
| − | + | de tre små grisene | |
| − | de tre små grisene | + | disse tre små grisene |
| − | + | alle de tre små grisene | |
| − | disse tre små grisene | + | alle disse tre små grisene |
| − | + | ||
| − | alle de tre små grisene | + | |
| − | + | ||
| − | alle disse tre små grisene | + | |
Possible are also de ''tre små griser'', ''disse tre små griser'', ''alle de tre små griser'', ''alle disse tre små griser''. | Possible are also de ''tre små griser'', ''disse tre små griser'', ''alle de tre små griser'', ''alle disse tre små griser''. | ||
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The illformedness of | The illformedness of | ||
| − | * tre (små) grisene | + | * tre (små) grisene |
shows the existence of a restriction analogous to the one above: | shows the existence of a restriction analogous to the one above: | ||
| − | V A numeral preceding a definite noun has to be preceded | + | V A numeral preceding a definite noun has to be preceded by a definite determiner. |
| − | + | ||
| + | ===Genitives - possessive NPs and possessive pronouns=== | ||
| − | + | See also [[Possessive constructions in Norwegian]]. | |
The term 'genitive' here subsumes possessive pronouns and NPs with an '''''-s''''' attached at the end (without apostrophe). Possessive pronouns come in three patterns, one comprising ''min'' ('my'), ''din'' ('your'), ''sin'' (reflexive 'his', 'her'), another comprising ''hans'' ('his'), ''hennes'' ('her'), ''dens'' ('its', masc and fem.), ''dets'' ('its', neut.), ''dennes'' ('this one's', masc and fem.), ''dettes'' ('that one's', neuter), ''deres'' (your', plur., and 'their', plur.), and the third comprising ''vår'' ('our'). The words in the second group do not inflect (being essensially the personal pronoun plus ''-s''), while the first group inflects much like adjectives, exemplifying with ''min'': | The term 'genitive' here subsumes possessive pronouns and NPs with an '''''-s''''' attached at the end (without apostrophe). Possessive pronouns come in three patterns, one comprising ''min'' ('my'), ''din'' ('your'), ''sin'' (reflexive 'his', 'her'), another comprising ''hans'' ('his'), ''hennes'' ('her'), ''dens'' ('its', masc and fem.), ''dets'' ('its', neut.), ''dennes'' ('this one's', masc and fem.), ''dettes'' ('that one's', neuter), ''deres'' (your', plur., and 'their', plur.), and the third comprising ''vår'' ('our'). The words in the second group do not inflect (being essensially the personal pronoun plus ''-s''), while the first group inflects much like adjectives, exemplifying with ''min'': | ||
| − | + | with a masculine singular noun: ''min'' | |
| − | with a masculine singular noun: ''min'' | + | with a feminine singular noun: ''mi'' |
| − | + | with a neuter singular noun: ''mitt'' | |
| − | with a feminine singular noun: ''mi'' | + | with a plural noun, any gender: ''mine'' |
| − | + | ||
| − | with a neuter singular noun: ''mitt'' | + | |
| − | + | ||
| − | with a plural noun, any gender: ''mine'' | + | |
| − | + | ||
''Vår'' has the pattern | ''Vår'' has the pattern | ||
| − | + | with a masculine singular noun: ''vår'' | |
| − | with a masculine singular noun: ''vår'' | + | with a feminine singular noun: ''vår'' |
| − | + | with a neuter singular noun: ''vårt'' | |
| − | with a feminine singular noun: ''vår'' | + | with a plural noun, any gender: ''våre'' |
| − | + | ||
| − | with a neuter singular noun: ''vårt'' | + | |
| − | + | ||
| − | with a plural noun, any gender: ''våre'' | + | |
| − | + | ||
Genitives occupy the position otherwise held by the definite article, and they may be said to induce a definiteness effect in that they require the ''weak'' form of the adjective. Contrary to the definite article, however, the ensuing noun has to be in ''indefinite'' form (parenthesis indicating that the well- or illformedness indicated for the example prevails in the presence of either of the parenthesized words): | Genitives occupy the position otherwise held by the definite article, and they may be said to induce a definiteness effect in that they require the ''weak'' form of the adjective. Contrary to the definite article, however, the ensuing noun has to be in ''indefinite'' form (parenthesis indicating that the well- or illformedness indicated for the example prevails in the presence of either of the parenthesized words): | ||
| − | mine (tre) (små) griser | + | mine (tre) (små) griser |
| − | + | min (lille) gris | |
| − | min (lille) gris | + | *min (lille) grisen |
| − | + | *mine (tre) (små) grisene | |
| − | *min (lille) grisen | + | den rike bondens (tre) (små) griser |
| − | + | den rike bondens (lille) gris | |
| − | *mine (tre) (små) grisene | + | *den rike bondens (tre) (små) grisene |
| − | + | ||
| − | den rike bondens (tre) (små) griser | + | |
| − | + | ||
| − | den rike bondens (lille) gris | + | |
| − | + | ||
| − | *den rike bondens (tre) (små) grisene | + | |
| − | + | ||
For possessive pronouns, another position of occurrence is immediately ''after'' the noun, which then has to be in definite form: | For possessive pronouns, another position of occurrence is immediately ''after'' the noun, which then has to be in definite form: | ||
| − | grisen min | + | grisen min |
| − | + | *gris min | |
| − | *gris min | + | den lille grisen min |
| − | + | de tre grisene mine | |
| − | den lille grisen min | + | *den lille gris min |
| − | + | *lille grisen min | |
| − | de tre grisene mine | + | *tre grisene mine |
| − | + | ||
| − | *den lille gris min | + | |
| − | + | ||
| − | *lille grisen min | + | |
| − | + | ||
| − | *tre grisene mine | + | |
| − | + | ||
The last two examples show that also for this use of definite nouns, the requirements III and V above imposed by preceding weak adjectives and numerals hold. | The last two examples show that also for this use of definite nouns, the requirements III and V above imposed by preceding weak adjectives and numerals hold. | ||
| − | + | ===Quantifiers=== | |
Quantifiers can be grouped according to two criteria: whether they cooccur with definite determiners and/or nouns or not, and whether they express universal or existential quantification. Inside of this four-ways classification, further contrasts obtain according to whether what is quantified over is countable or a mass, and if countable indicated by a plural or singular noun, and if singular, by a masc/fem vs. neuter noun: | Quantifiers can be grouped according to two criteria: whether they cooccur with definite determiners and/or nouns or not, and whether they express universal or existential quantification. Inside of this four-ways classification, further contrasts obtain according to whether what is quantified over is countable or a mass, and if countable indicated by a plural or singular noun, and if singular, by a masc/fem vs. neuter noun: | ||
| − | |||
'''''alle''''' univ unrestr def/ind count pl | '''''alle''''' univ unrestr def/ind count pl | ||
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'''''litt''''' exist neg indef mass sg | '''''litt''''' exist neg indef mass sg | ||
'''''lite''''' exist neg indef mass sg | '''''lite''''' exist neg indef mass sg | ||
| − | |||
The quantifiers marked as 'def' can precede all of the items occurring in the definite patterns: | The quantifiers marked as 'def' can precede all of the items occurring in the definite patterns: | ||
| − | alle (mine) (tre) (små) griser | + | alle (mine) (tre) (små) griser |
| − | + | alle den rike bondens (tre) (små) griser | |
| − | alle den rike bondens (tre) (små) griser | + | |
In such sequences, even a demonstrative can occur between the quantifier and the genitive, as in | In such sequences, even a demonstrative can occur between the quantifier and the genitive, as in | ||
| − | alle disse mine atten små griser | + | alle disse mine atten små griser |
| − | + | ||
In contrast, quantifiers listed as 'indefinite' can normally just precede an adjective and the noun in a direct sequence (but may take partitive phrases containing definite NPs, as in | In contrast, quantifiers listed as 'indefinite' can normally just precede an adjective and the noun in a direct sequence (but may take partitive phrases containing definite NPs, as in | ||
| − | hver av mine tre griser | + | hver av mine tre griser |
| − | + | ||
Summarizing, the maximal patterns that can occur with the 'definite' quantifiers are as indicated below: | Summarizing, the maximal patterns that can occur with the 'definite' quantifiers are as indicated below: | ||
| − | |||
VI Maximal definite patterns: | VI Maximal definite patterns: | ||
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| + | ===Personal pronouns, articles and demonstratives=== | ||
| − | + | See also [[Personal pronouns in Norwegian]]. | |
Personal pronouns divide by person, some by number, some by inherent gender, and some by '''''case''''', as the only instances where a case distinction - nominative vs. accusative - plays a role in Norwegian. Reflexive use of a personal pronoun is restricted to accusative forms, obligatory for one form, namely '''''seg''''' in 3rd person, optional for the accusative forms in 1st and 2nd person, and impossible for the other forms in 3rd person (see further in [[Reflexives - Norwegian]]). | Personal pronouns divide by person, some by number, some by inherent gender, and some by '''''case''''', as the only instances where a case distinction - nominative vs. accusative - plays a role in Norwegian. Reflexive use of a personal pronoun is restricted to accusative forms, obligatory for one form, namely '''''seg''''' in 3rd person, optional for the accusative forms in 1st and 2nd person, and impossible for the other forms in 3rd person (see further in [[Reflexives - Norwegian]]). | ||
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'''''disse''''' 3p pl proximate | '''''disse''''' 3p pl proximate | ||
| + | |||
| + | |||
| + | |||
| + | ==Related pages== | ||
| + | [[Agreement in Norwegian noun phrases]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[Definite determiners in Norwegian]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[Possessive constructions in Norwegian]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[Gender in Norwegian nouns]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[Coordination marking in Norwegian]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[Sentence syntax - Norwegian]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[Subject-Verb Inversion in Norwegian]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[Sentence adverbials in Norwegian]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[Verb Complementation - Norwegian]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[Infinitives in Norwegian]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[Past and Perfective patterns in Norwegian]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[Personal pronouns in Norwegian]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[Reflexives - Norwegian]] | ||
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| − | |||
| − | --[[User:Lars Hellan|Lars Hellan]] | + | --[[User:Lars Hellan|Lars Hellan]] ([[User talk:Lars Hellan|talk]]) 20:17, 27 December 2015 (CET) |
| − | + | [[Category:Norwegian Grammar]] | |
Latest revision as of 20:37, 28 January 2016
This page relates to the application A Norwegian Grammar Sparrer, see A Norwegian Grammar Sparrer.
On clicking on the icon below, you will come to the Sparrer:
,
Instructions for its use are found at Classroom:Norwegian Grammar Checking
Contents
The Noun
Norwegian common nouns undergo two types of inflection: for number, and for definiteness. The inflection for number reflects a distinction singular vs. plural, and resides in a suffix for plural vs. no marking for singular. The inflection for definiteness reflects a distinction ‘definite’ vs. ‘indefinite’, and resides in a suffix marking definiteness vs. no marking in the case of indefiniteness. When a noun is both definite and in plural, this is marked by a single suffix expressing the two values in combination. There are thus four possible forms of a common noun in Norwegian:
| No inflection | signifying | 'indefinite singular’ |
| Single suffix | signifying | ‘indefinite plural’ |
| Single suffix | signifying | ‘definite singular’ |
| Single suffix | signifying | ‘definite plural’. |
(A note on terminology: when characterizing something in quotes in the above list, like saying ‘indefinite plural’, we refer to grammatical concepts, or grammatical features, independently of how the grammar expresses these features. Thus, ‘indefinite' and 'plural’ are features, and also the general parameters ‘number’ and ‘definiteness’. The smallest units of expression are generally called morphs, dividing into segmental and suprasegmental morphs, the latter residing in tone, stress, and length, the former in words and affixes. Of affixes there are in general four types: prefix, suffix, infix and circumfix. Of these types, in Norwegian, the noun features under consideration materialize only as suffixes when expressed in the noun.)
Gender
See also Gender in Norwegian nouns.
Inherently, common nouns in Norwegian belong to a gender. There are three genders for nouns in Norwegian, ‘masculine’, ‘feminine’ and ‘neuter’, and a noun generally belongs to one of them. (In some versions of Norwegian there are only two genders, the marking of feminine having disappeared or nearly disappeared. In these versions, one sometimes refers to the remaining non-neuter gender as ‘common gender’. Here we will assume the three-gender system.) The gender of a noun reveals itself in the form of the inflections for number and definiteness; typical forms of the suffixes are as indicated below:
| feature | masculine | feminine | neuter |
| indefinite plural | er | er | Ø (zero) |
| definite singular | en | a | et |
| definite plural | ene | ene | ene or a |
Agreement
See also Agreement in Norwegian noun phrases
The morphological shape of the noun sets its stamp on its environment, inside of the noun phrase (henceforth: NP) but also on adjectives connected to the NP via a copula. This ‘stamp-setting’ is standardly referred to as agreement, or concord. We first describe the NP internal patterns of agreement.
In an NP in Norwegian, the ordering of determiner, adjectives and nouns is strictly as follows:
I Det Adj N
Both the determiner and the adjective agree partly with the noun with respect to the factors mentioned above, thus reflecting the gender of the noun, its number and its definiteness. While number and gender agreement occur in many languages, definiteness agreement is rarer, in Norwegian choosing one or the other of these patterns:
IIa Det [Definite] Adj [Definite] N [Definite]
IIb Det [Indefinite] Adj [Indefinite] N [Indefinite]
Determiners
Determiners as a category comprise articles, demonstrative pronouns and quantifiers. Some of these items are listed below, in the required forms relative to the specification of the noun:
Occurring with a masculine noun
when ‘indefinite singular’: en (article), noen (quantifier, countable), noe (quantifier, non-countable), hver (univ. quantifier), all (quantifier, non-countable)
when ‘indefinite plural’: noen (quantifier), alle (univ.quantifier), ), begge (univ. quantifier for two), disse (demonstrative)
when ‘definite singular’ : den (article or demonstrative), all (quantifier, non-countable), denne (demonstrative)
when ‘definite plural’.: de (article or demonstrative), alle (univ.quantifier), begge (univ. quantifier for two), disse (demonstrative)
Occurring with a feminine noun
– same as for masculine, except for using indefinite singular ei rather then en.
Occurring with a neuter noun
when ‘indefinite singular’: et (article), noe (quantifier, countable), noe (quantifier, non-countable), hvert (univ. quantifier), alt (quantifier, non-countable)
when ‘indefinite plural’: noen (quantifier), alle (univ.quantifier), ), begge (univ. quantifier for two), disse (demonstrative)
when ‘definite singular’ : det (article or demonstrative), alt (quantifier, non-countable), dette (demonstrative)
when ‘definite plural’.: de (article or demonstrative), alle (univ.quantifier), begge (univ. quantifier for two), disse (demonstrative)
The constellations where a (definite) article or demonstrative occurs together with a definite form of the noun (singular or plural) is generally referred to as ‘double definiteness’. Since these manifestations of 'definiteness' can in principle occur independently of each other, we need to distinguish between noun-definiteness and det-definiteness, the former residing in the definite noun suffix, the latter in a definite article, a demonstrative or - to be seen below - a genitive.
Adjectives
When an adjective occurs in the ‘definite’ pattern, it has a so-called weak form, ending in –e.
In the strong form, i.e., when occurring in the indefinite pattern, the adjective has the following inflections:
with a masculine singular noun: -Ø
with a feminine singular noun: -Ø or –a
with a neuter singular noun: -t
with a plural noun, any gender: -e
(As may be be noted, weak form and strong plural form are identical.)
Syntactic patterns
Nouns can normally be omitted (given a context where they may be inferred), so that a Det or Det + Adj can constitute the nominal constituent.
Noun, or Adj + Noun, without a determiner are also normally allowed, but with two restrictions, one very sharp, and one less sharp.
The sharp restriction is:
III A definite (i.e., weak) adjective has to be preceded by a definite article or a demonstrative.
This means that strings like the following are ungrammatical:
* svarte katten
(correct: den svarte katten)
* gale avgjørelsene
(correct: de gale avgjørelsene)
(Note that since plural strong adjective and weak adjective are of the same form, a lone-occurring form like svarte or gale, although ungrammatical as a weak form, can in principle have a plural interpretation.)
The less sharp restriction is:
IV A singular indefinite noun with countable interpretation (with or without an adjective preceding it)
is often not felicitous without a determiner preceding it.
The exact conditions for when felicity obtains are not easy to pin down, and the topic is much discussed, under the heading ‘Bare Singulars’.
Another tendency to be aware of is that the pattern of a demonstrative preceding an indefinite form is best used with abstract reference or referring to types, whereas in a discourse context where referents are known and concrete, a definite form of the noun is preferred together with the demonstrative (i.e., a pattern of 'double definiteness').
The Determiner system
We have so far talked as if there is just one determiner per NP. However, the determiner system constitutes a whole field of items, strictly ordered and with some restructions on cooccurrence.
Numerals
Numerals are non-inflected items, occurring generally before adjectives but after any of the other items standardly counted as definite determiners. Numerals themselves are neutral with regard to definiteness. Possible sequences are thus
tre små griser de tre små grisene disse tre små grisene alle de tre små grisene alle disse tre små grisene
Possible are also de tre små griser, disse tre små griser, alle de tre små griser, alle disse tre små griser.
The illformedness of
* tre (små) grisene
shows the existence of a restriction analogous to the one above:
V A numeral preceding a definite noun has to be preceded by a definite determiner.
Genitives - possessive NPs and possessive pronouns
See also Possessive constructions in Norwegian.
The term 'genitive' here subsumes possessive pronouns and NPs with an -s attached at the end (without apostrophe). Possessive pronouns come in three patterns, one comprising min ('my'), din ('your'), sin (reflexive 'his', 'her'), another comprising hans ('his'), hennes ('her'), dens ('its', masc and fem.), dets ('its', neut.), dennes ('this one's', masc and fem.), dettes ('that one's', neuter), deres (your', plur., and 'their', plur.), and the third comprising vår ('our'). The words in the second group do not inflect (being essensially the personal pronoun plus -s), while the first group inflects much like adjectives, exemplifying with min:
with a masculine singular noun: min with a feminine singular noun: mi with a neuter singular noun: mitt with a plural noun, any gender: mine
Vår has the pattern
with a masculine singular noun: vår with a feminine singular noun: vår with a neuter singular noun: vårt with a plural noun, any gender: våre
Genitives occupy the position otherwise held by the definite article, and they may be said to induce a definiteness effect in that they require the weak form of the adjective. Contrary to the definite article, however, the ensuing noun has to be in indefinite form (parenthesis indicating that the well- or illformedness indicated for the example prevails in the presence of either of the parenthesized words):
mine (tre) (små) griser min (lille) gris *min (lille) grisen *mine (tre) (små) grisene den rike bondens (tre) (små) griser den rike bondens (lille) gris *den rike bondens (tre) (små) grisene
For possessive pronouns, another position of occurrence is immediately after the noun, which then has to be in definite form:
grisen min *gris min den lille grisen min de tre grisene mine *den lille gris min *lille grisen min *tre grisene mine
The last two examples show that also for this use of definite nouns, the requirements III and V above imposed by preceding weak adjectives and numerals hold.
Quantifiers
Quantifiers can be grouped according to two criteria: whether they cooccur with definite determiners and/or nouns or not, and whether they express universal or existential quantification. Inside of this four-ways classification, further contrasts obtain according to whether what is quantified over is countable or a mass, and if countable indicated by a plural or singular noun, and if singular, by a masc/fem vs. neuter noun:
alle univ unrestr def/ind count pl all univ unrestr def/ind mass masc/fem alt univ unrestr def/ind mass neut begge univ two def/ind count pl samtlige univ unrestr def/ind count pl hele univ unrestr def mass sg hver univ unrestr indef count masc/fem hvert univ unrestr indef count neut noen exist unrestr indef count pl noe exist unrestr indef mass sg mange exist pos indef count pl få exist neg indef count pl mye exist pos indef mass sg litt exist neg indef mass sg lite exist neg indef mass sg
The quantifiers marked as 'def' can precede all of the items occurring in the definite patterns:
alle (mine) (tre) (små) griser alle den rike bondens (tre) (små) griser
In such sequences, even a demonstrative can occur between the quantifier and the genitive, as in
alle disse mine atten små griser
In contrast, quantifiers listed as 'indefinite' can normally just precede an adjective and the noun in a direct sequence (but may take partitive phrases containing definite NPs, as in
hver av mine tre griser
Summarizing, the maximal patterns that can occur with the 'definite' quantifiers are as indicated below:
VI Maximal definite patterns:
UnivQuant DefArt Num Adj N
UnivQuant Dem Gen Num Adj N
Personal pronouns, articles and demonstratives
See also Personal pronouns in Norwegian.
Personal pronouns divide by person, some by number, some by inherent gender, and some by case, as the only instances where a case distinction - nominative vs. accusative - plays a role in Norwegian. Reflexive use of a personal pronoun is restricted to accusative forms, obligatory for one form, namely seg in 3rd person, optional for the accusative forms in 1st and 2nd person, and impossible for the other forms in 3rd person (see further in Reflexives - Norwegian).
jeg 1p sg nominative meg 1p sg accusative reflexive_or_non-reflexive du 2p sg nominative deg 2p sg accusative reflexive_or_non-reflexive han 3p sg masc nominative ham 3p sg masc accusative non-reflexive hun 3p sg fem nominative henne 3p sg fem accusative non-reflexive den 3p sg masc/fem det 3p sg neut seg 3p accusative reflexive_only vi 1p pl nominative oss 1p pl accusative reflexive_or_non-reflexive dere 2p pl reflexive_or_non-reflexive de 3p pl nominative dem 3p pl accusative non-reflexive
The forms den, det and de are homophonous to the definite articles.
The forms den, det, de and dem also have uses where they may be called demonstratives, here in a group with denne, dette and disse distinguished along a dimension of proximity (in space, discourse or attention):
den 3p sg masc/fem non-proximate det 3p sg neut non-proximate denne 3p sg masc/fem proximate dette 3p sg neut proximate de 3p pl nominative non-proximate dem 3p pl accusative non-proximate disse 3p pl proximate
Related pages
Agreement in Norwegian noun phrases
Definite determiners in Norwegian
Possessive constructions in Norwegian
Coordination marking in Norwegian
Subject-Verb Inversion in Norwegian
Sentence adverbials in Norwegian
Verb Complementation - Norwegian
Past and Perfective patterns in Norwegian
Personal pronouns in Norwegian
--Lars Hellan (talk) 20:17, 27 December 2015 (CET)