31.3 Definite and Indefinite Noun Phrases I
Let’s review definite and indefinite noun phrases together.
In Grammar and Vocabulary 31.2, we learned to form a definite noun phrase by adding a classifier before a noun.
我收一收隻碟呀吓。
ngo5 sau1 jat1 sau1 zek3 dip2 aa3 haa2.
I will collect the plate.
啲甜品仲未嚟呀 。
di1 tim4 ban2 zung6 mei6 lai4 aa3.
The desserts still haven’t come yet.
In Grammar and Vocabulary 27.1, we learned to form an indefinite noun phrase by adding the number 一 jat1 (‘one’) and a classifier before a noun.
不如叫一隻雞吖。
bat1 jyu4 giu3 jat1 zek3 gai1 aa1.
Why don’t we order a chicken?
我想叫一啲甜品呀。
ngo5 soeng2 giu3 jat1 di1 tim4 ban2 aa3.
I want to order some desserts.
We learned that we can omit the number 一 jat1 if the indefinite noun phrase appears after a verb (as an object or a subject complement).
不如叫隻雞吖。
bat1 jyu4 giu3 zek3 gai1 aa1.
Why don’t we order a chicken?
我想叫啲甜品呀。
ngo5 soeng2 giu3 di1 tim4 ban2 aa3.
I want to order some desserts.
We also learned that we don’t omit the number 一 jat1 if the indefinite noun phrase appears before a verb (as a subject or a topic). Otherwise, the noun phrase will become definite.
一個套餐有兩個餸。
jat1 go3 tou3 caan1 jau5 loeng5 go3 sung3.
A set meal has two dishes.
個套餐有兩個餸。
go3 tou3 caan1 jau5 loeng5 go3 sung3.
The set meal has two dishes.
As you may have noticed, when a noun phrase appears after a verb (as an object or a subject complement) and only has the classifier and the noun, it can be a definite noun phrase or an indefinite noun phrase. We can usually decide whether it is definite or indefinite based on the meaning of the sentence.
不如叫隻雞吖。
bat1 jyu4 giu3 zek3 gai1 aa1.
Why don’t we order a chicken?
The noun phrase 隻雞 zek3 gai1 appears after the verb 叫 giu3. It has only the classifier 隻 zek3 and the noun 雞 gai1. Based on the meaning of the sentence, it should be an indefinite noun phrase that doesn’t refer to a specific chicken.
我收一收隻碟呀吓。
ngo5 sau1 jat1 sau1 zek3 dip2 aa3 haa2.
I will collect the plate.
The noun phrase 隻碟 zek3 dip2 appears after the verb 收 sau1. It has only the classifier 隻 zek3 and the noun 碟 dip2. Based on the meaning of the sentence, it should be a definite noun phrase that refers to a specific plate on the table.
We will see some tricker examples in the next lesson.
The table below summarizes what we have learned:
Note that this also applies to sentences without verbs (e.g., sentences with predicative adjectives). We will see some examples in later lessons.