32.6 Definite and Indefinite Noun Phrases II
In Grammar and Vocabulary 31.3, we learned that 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 a noun phrase is definite or indefinite based on the meaning of the sentence. However, there are instances where a noun phrase can be interpreted as both definite and indefinite if we consider the meaning of the sentence alone. In such cases, we will need other information in the context to decide whether the noun phrase is definite or indefinite.
你俾隻碗我吖。
nei5 bei2 zek3 wun2 ngo5 aa1.
Give me the bowl. / Give me a bowl.
This sentence has two possible interpretations because the noun phrase 隻碗 zek3 wun2 can be understood as definite (‘the bowl’) and indefinite (‘a bowl’). Other information in the context is needed to decide the correct interpretation. For example, if the speaker is pointing to a specific bowl on the table, the definite interpretation (‘the bowl’) is more likely. If the speaker is getting a new bowl from the server, the indefinite interpretation (‘a bowl’) is more likely.