A Typology of Word Categoriessame as the other categories, this is a positive aspect of this proposal. Adjectives can
therefore be categorised as:
(27) adjectives = [–F, +N, +V]
Having demonstrated that we can capture similarities and differences between
word categories using binary features, let us turn to the issue of what categories there
are. We will start this discussion by considering the two binary features [±N] and
[±V]. So far we have shown how combinations of these features can be used to define
nouns, verbs and adjectives. The two binary features can be combined in four possible
ways, however, and hence there is one possible combination that we have yet to
associate with a category. This is demonstrated by the following table:
(28) N
- –
- adjective verb
V
- noun?
This is fortunate as there is one more thematic category left to be included into the
system: the prepositions. Thus we can claim that prepositions fill this slot:
(29) prepositions = [–F, –N, –V]
However, this cannot be put down to good fortune. After all, categorising elements in
terms of these features has consequences concerning what other categories are related
to or different from these elements. Note that the feature combination in (29) predicts
that while prepositions differ from nouns in that they are [–N], they are similar to
nouns in that they are [–V]. Similarly, prepositions differ from verbs in being [–V], but
they share the [–N] feature with them. Thus prepositions are predicted to be similar to
nouns and verbs, but in a different way to how adjectives are similar to these
categories. Indeed, while prepositions do not have similar distribution patterns as
verbs, as do adjectives, they share another property with verbs. Consider the following
observations:
(30) a see him
b to him
c portrait him (portrait of him)
d mindful him (mindful of him)
In (30), we see that both verbs (see) and prepositions (to) can be followed by a word
such as him, which is a pronoun. Nouns (portrait) and adjectives (mindful) cannot. We
might claim therefore that the ability to be followed by a pronoun is restricted to the [–
N] categories. Now consider the following:
(31) a it was Sally that Sam saw
b it was underneath that I found the treasure
c it was stupid that Steve seemed
d it was fishing that Fred went
As shown in (31), a noun like Sally and a preposition such as underneath can sit in the
position between the words was and that in this English construction, known as a cleft