1 Word – lexical meaning

Some linguistis view them as analytical formations; some – as phrases.

Analytical  arguments:

• these combinations don’t differ in meaning from adjectival forms built with the help of suffixes;

• the connection between the elements is very close as in analytical form we don’t place other words between the two parts.

Phrases  arguments:

• ‘more/ most’ are not formal elements they possess the lexical meaning of their own

# more time

• ‘more/ most’ can be substituted by other words which is impossible for an analytical form.

Taking a general view of these arguments one should admit that considerations of meaning tend to recognize such combinations as analytical forms, while grammatical consideration leads to a different point of view.

Sometimes adjectival forms of the superlative degree of comparison may acquire a special meaning.

Its basic meaning is that of a degree of a property surpassing all the other objects mentioned or implied.

However, this form may also convey the meaning of a very high degree of a quality or property.

e.g. this was the greatest disorder in his room.

This meaning is called ‘elative’.

Q-n 3. Substantivized adjectives.

Substantivized adjectives – behaving like nouns.

Different types in English – some of them possess all the peculiarities common to nouns:

+ both articles;

+ can take the plural and genitive case forms;

+ can take relevant determiners;

# a relative

Also adjectives regarded as the substantivized though not possessing all the characteristics of a nouns:

# the rich - only definite article; - no noun or case forms.

Thus, by some linguists they are not regarded as substantivized but are used without a noun which is understood. (e.g. Smirnitsky)

Adjective + ‘the’ though not regarded as a phrase with an omitted noun:

# the invisible (abstract idea)

A reverse process is said to take place in English.

The process of adjectivization of nouns is observed in constructions “noun + noun”, usually takes place in case there is a corresponding construction “adjective + noun”.

E.g. an evening paper // a daily paper

Numeral.

Numerals differ from other parts of speech as they possess the only characteristic which is common to all of them – lexical meaning.

No grammatical characteristics.

They function in the sentence as other parts of speech. No stylistic function.

Lexical meaning – quantity or order of objects.

Word-building: - 3 suffixes: - th, -teen, -ty.

This group of words is stable which isn’t characteristic of other classes of words.

Two groups:

1. cardinal – close to nouns in their functioning; many of them have corresponding homonymous nouns: e.g. hundred = hundreds of people; two tens; usually denote quantity; can also denote order – e.g. chapter 8; take ending –s in fractions – e.g. two thirds.

2. Ordinal – close to adjectives (syntactical function); some linguists regard them as adjectives because of that; denote place of an object in some line/ row.

Basing on their functioning one should conclude that the numeral as a part of speech doesn’t exist in English but semantic and word-building criteria taken into consideration the numeral is traditionally regarded as a part of speech.