1. The numeral and its properties.

2. General. The numeral denotes an abstract number or the order of thing in succession. They may be cardinal(how many) and ordinal(which one in sequence or return).

3. Morphological composition. Among the cardinals there are simple(1-12), derived(nineteen. fifty), and compound (twenty-one, forty-four)words.

4. Morphological characteristics. Numerals do not have morphological categories. Thus the numerals ten (десять), hundred (сто), thousand (тысяча) do not have plural forms.

The Numerals represent an unchangeable part of speech.

The numerals by their meaning are divided into the following parts - Cardinal - how many? etc - Ordinal - which? (ая, ое, ые) - первый, первая, первое, первые, десятый etc - Fractional - 1/2 (одна вторая), 3/4 (три четвертых), 0,1 (ноль целых две десятых). - Collective - двое, трое, четверо.

The numerals can be: - Simple - два, тысяча, миллион - Compound - одиннадцать, двадцать - Composite - двести пятьдесят три, двести пятьдесят третья

Controversial problems of part of speech classification: numerals.

A part of speech (PS) is a lexical gram word class which is characterized by a general abstract gram meaning expressed in certain gram markers. This definition stresses the fact that within a part of speech similar gram features are common to all words belonging to this class. All PS fall into 2 classes: notional (noun, verb, adj, adv, pronoun, numeral – cover 93% of the English vocabulary, they fill all positions in the sentence, they possess an independent notional meaning of their own) and functional (prep, conj – express relations, they never indicate objects or notions, their use is obligatory). The treatment of numerals presents some difficulties. The so-called cardinal numerals (one, two) are somewhat different from the so-called ordinal numerals (first. Second). Numerals denote either number or place in a series, numerals are invariable, as far as phrases go, numerals combine with a following noun (three rooms, third room), occasionally a numeral follows a noun (Peter the First). In a sentence a numeral most usually is an attribute, but it can also be subject – three of them came in time, predicative – we are seven, object – I found only four.

The numeral as a part of speech is characterized by:

1. its lexico-gram. mean-g of ‘number’

2. the category of numerical qualification represented in opposemes like seven-seventh, nine-ninth,

3. its unilateral combinability with nouns (three children, the third child)

4. such typical stem-building suffixes as –teen, -ty

5. its functioning as an attribute, less frequently as some other part of the sent.

3.The ing-form (the gerund and participle I)

Blokh: The GERUND is the non-finite form of the verb which combines the properties of the verb with those of the noun. The GERUND serves as the verbal name of a process, but its substantive quality is more strongly pronounced than that of the infinitive а the GERUND can be modified by a noun in the possessive case or its pronominal equivalents and it can be used with prepositions.

The GERUND cannot perform the function of the paradigmatic verbal head-form for a number of reasons:

1. It is more detached from the finite verb than the INFINITIVE semantically, tending to be a far more substantival unit categorially.

2. As different from the INFINITIVE, it does not join in the conjugation of the finite verb.

3. It is a suffixial form, which makes it less generalized than the infinitive in terms of properties of the verbal lexeme.

4. It is less definite than the INFINITIVE form the lexico-grammatical point of view, being subject to easy neutralization in its opposition with the verbal noun in -ing, as well as with the present participle. -> The GERUND is not rival of the INFINITIVE in the paradigmatic head-form function.

The general combinability of the GERUND is dual, sharing some features with the verb, and some features with the noun:

1. The VERB-type combinability of the GERUND is displayed in its combining: a. with nouns expressing the object of the action b. with modifying adverbs c. with certain semi-functional predicator verbs (non-modal)

2. The NOUN-type combinability of the GERUND: a. with finite notional verbs as the object of the action b. with finite notional verbs as the prepositional adjunct (приложение, дополнение, определение) of various functions c. with finite notional verbs as the subject of the action d. with nouns as the prepositional adjunct of various functions.

The GERUND performs the functions of all the types of notional sentence-parts: the subject, the object, the predicative, the attribute, the adverbial modifier.One of the specific GERUND patterns is its combination with the noun in the possessive case or its possessive pronominal equivalent expressing the subject of the action. The gerundial construction is used in cases when the subject of the gerundial process differs from the subject of the governing sentence-situation, i.e. when the gerundial sentence-part has its own, separate subject (e.g. Powell’s being rude like that was disgusting).

The possessive with the GERUND displays one of the distinctive categorial properties of the GERUND as such, establishing it in the English lexemic system as the form of the verb with nounal characteristics. From the point of view of the inner semantic relations, this combination is of a verbal type, while form the point of view of the formal categorial features, this combination is of nounal type.

Reconstruction: I can’t stand his criticizing artistic works that are beyond his competence -> verbal – He is criticizing artistic works.а nounal – His criticism of artistic works.

 

The PARTICIPLE I is the non-finite form of the verb which combines the properties of the verb with those of the adjective and adverb, serving as the qualifying-processual name. In its form the PARTICIPLE I is wholly homonymous with the GERUND, ending in the suffix –ing and distinguishing the same grammatical categories of retrospective coordination and voice.

Like all the verbids, the PRESENT PARTICIPLE has no categorial time distinctions, and the attribute “present” in its conventional name is not immediately explanatory.

Since the PARTICIPLE I possesses some traits of adjective and adverb, the present participle is not only dual, but triple by its lexico-grammatical properties, which is displayed in its combinability, as well as in its syntactic functions.

1. 1.The VERB-type combinability: a. with nouns expressing the object of the action b. with nouns expressing the subject of the action (in semi-predicative complexes) c. with modifying adverbs d. with auxiliary finite verbs (word-morphemes) in the analytical forms of the verb

2. The ADJECTIVE-type combinability: with the modified nouns, some modifying adverbs (adverbs of degree).

3. The ADVERB-type combinability: with the modified verbs.

The self-positional PARTICIPLE I, in the proper syntactic arrangements, performs the functions of the predicative, the attribute, the adverbial modifier of various types.

The PARTICIPLE I, similar to the INFINITIVE, can build up semi-predicative complexes of objective and subjective types. The 2 groups of complexes may exist in parallel.

A peculiar use of the PARTICIPLE I is seen in the absolute participial constructions of various types, forming complexes of detached semi-predication:

 

Ilyish: The ing-forms There is no external difference between the Gerund and the Participle I, they are complete homonyms.

The difference: The Gerund has substantival qualities besides the verbal ones; The Participle I has adjectival qualities besides the verbal ones и The Gerund may be the subject and the object of the action, rarely attribute, The Participle is an attribute first and foremost.

The opposition between them is neutralized in: Do you mind my smoking? (gerund)