Mass nouns and plurals
| Abstract | Mass and plural expressions show some interesting similarities, suggesting they should be analyzed in a similar way. For example, both exhibit cumulative reference, as noted by Quine (1960: 91); that is, they license inferences like those in (1): (1) a. A is water and B is water; therefore A and B together are water. b. A are apples and B are apples; therefore A and B together are apples. Singular count nouns do not license the same kind of inference; (2) is invalid: (2) A is an apple and B is an apple; therefore A and B together are an apple. | |||||||||
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Similar books and articlesH. W. Noonan (1978). Count Nouns and Mass Nouns. Analysis 38 (4):167 - 172.
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