We can't remove article from a singular countable noun. So is that a noun modifier or complement?
We generally call it a modifier though it's mandatory...But why?🤔
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1No: we don't normally call articles 'modifiers'. The function of articles as dependents in NP structure is determiner.– BillJCommented Aug 30, 2023 at 11:05
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So, Adjective is a modifier. According to this, Can't we make determiner as a part of adjectives? Cause , a lot of people say that determiners are a part of adjectives...– Salim UddinCommented Aug 31, 2023 at 7:01
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See my answer below.– BillJCommented Aug 31, 2023 at 9:07
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2 Answers
It depends on your preferred set of terminology. Huddleston & Pullum (2002) say that determiners are neither complements nor modifiers (p. 24); instead, they're a special type of dependent occurring only in noun phrases.
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I have seen the NP in a DP called a complement of the determiner. ling.upenn.edu/~beatrice/syntax-textbook/ch5.html– TimRCommented Aug 30, 2023 at 12:54
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2People throw terminology around a lot. Part of it is confusion and part of it is group marking, and one should always ask for definitions and tests. Commented Aug 30, 2023 at 14:30
Determinative and adjective are distinct word categories.
Determinatives most often function as determiner in NP structure, but some can also function as modifier in AdjP structure.
Compare:
[1] That film was great.
[2] The film wasn't that great.
In both examples "that" is a determinative.
In [1] it's functioning as determiner of the noun "film", while in [2] it's functioning as modifier of the adjective "great".
Note that 'determinative' is the word class (POS) while determiner is the corresponding function. Notice the slightly different spellings.
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Now I am more confused about determinatives and determiners. And isn't "that" modifying the noun "film? Commented Sep 1, 2023 at 6:49
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No: as I said before, in [1] "that" is functioning as a determiner, and in [2] it's functioning as a ''modifier'. 'Determinative' is a part of speech (like noun, adjective etc.) and 'determiner' is a function (like subject, object etc.).– BillJCommented Sep 1, 2023 at 7:55
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So, functions are subject, object, determiner, verb, complement, modifiers Commented Sep 1, 2023 at 9:08
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@SalimUddin Yes, except that "verb" is a part of speech. not a function. Its usual function is 'predicator'.– BillJCommented Sep 1, 2023 at 9:24
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1One should also note that while these terms are increasingly common, they are a recent innovation by (or popularised by) Huddleston and Pullman. The use of "determinative" instead of "determiner" makes logical sense, but not all books on grammar use the words like this.– James KCommented Oct 1, 2023 at 6:26