[B-Greek] Qualitative Predicate Nominatives

Rolf Furuli furuli at online.no
Fri Oct 6 12:12:20 EDT 2006


> "A general rule about the construction can now be stated: An
> anarthrous pre-verbal PN is normally qualitative, sometimes definite,
> and only rarely indefinite."

I would like to rephrase Brian´s question somewhat: What does "qualitative" 
include and what does it exclude? As the rule is stated it seems to list 
three mutually exclusive categories. We all understand that a word cannot be 
definite and indefinite at the same time, but can it be "qualitative and 
definite" or "qualitative and indefinite"? In other words: when a 
substantive is classified as "qualitative" because of its position in the 
clause, has it lost all its substantival qualities? Or is it still a 
substantive whose substantival qualities the writer wants to stress rather 
than its mere existence as a substantive?


Best regards,

Rolf Furuli
University of Oslo







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