21.1 Indefinite Noun Phrases II
In Grammar and Vocabulary 6.1, we learned that we can use indefinite noun phrases to refer to a type of people or things in general.
We also use indefinite noun phrases to introduce new people or things that we mention for the first time in a conversation. To form an indefinite noun phrase, we add the number 一 jat1 (‘one’) and a classifier before a noun. This is similar to noun phrases with the indefinite article a or an in English (e.g., a restaurant).
旺角有一間餐廳。
wong6 gok3 jau5 jat1 gaan1 caan1 teng1.
There is a restaurant in Mong Kok [a district in Hong Kong].
We can omit the number 一 jat1 if the indefinite noun phrase appears after a verb (as an object or a subject complement).
旺角有一間餐廳。
wong6 gok3 jau5 jat1 gaan1 caan1 teng1.
There is a restaurant in Mong Kok.
In Grammar and Vocabulary 2.2, we learned that 啲 di1 is the classifier for plural or uncountable nouns. We can add the number 一 jat1 (‘one’) and the classifier 啲 di1 before a noun to mean ‘some …’.
旺角有一啲餐廳。
wong6 gok3 jau5 jat1 di1 caan1 teng1.
There are some restaurants in Mong Kok.
When the classifier is 啲 di1, we usually omit the number 一 jat1 if the indefinite noun phrase appears after a verb (as an object or a subject complement).
旺角有一啲餐廳。
wong6 gok3 jau5 jat1 di1 caan1 teng1.
There are some restaurants in Mong Kok.