Study On The "Numeral+Adjective+Quantifier" Pattern

The "Numeral+ Adjective + Quantifier"is a common pattern in modern Chinese. However, previous studies have not yet been sufficient; the semantic features have not been researched analytically, and the grammatical and pragmatic functions have not been elaborated in depth.Based upon previous researching, this paper is focused upon a comprehensive study of the adjectives and quantifiers in the pattern by exploring the semantic features of the adjectives and quantifiers, the syntactic and pragmatic functions of the pattern, as well as the relevant restricting factors in its constitution. This papers aims to provide some objective evidences for the study of modern Chinese grammatical study and an assistance to the teaching of Chinese as a foreign language.Through the research upon the adjective part of the pattern, we find that the adjectives which are proper for entering the pattern are mainly of shaping and measuring, with a common characteristic of being quantitative and fuzzy. In the aspect of connected adjectives, we further explored the connectivity of adjectives, in addition to the proved usage of "da chang(big and long)," "da hou(Big and thick)," "da man(big and full)" and "xiao bo(small and thin)", the connections of "xiao xi(small and slender)" "xi chang ( slender and long)", "da zheng(great and whole)," "da man(great and full) " may also be acceptable. At the same time, an explanation.from a cognitive point of view is also provided for the connectivity of adjectives.By researching the quantifier's role in the pattern, we reach at the conclusion that most quantifiers suitable for being incorporated into the pattern possess the semantic feature of [+exaggeratibility]. The quantifiers is related to the choice of adjectives and their own semantic features of [+ shape ], [+ quantitative ].On investigation of the grammatical functions of the pattern, we find that the pattern may serve as the attributive, complement and object in a sentence. In the pragmatic sense, the "Numeral + Adjective + Quantifier" pattern embodies the various functions of rough amount, shape copying, highlighting, and subjective interpretation.The final part the paper discusses the restricting factors of the "Numeral + Adjective + Quantifier" pattern. Such factors are found to be connected not only to the restraining relationship between the inner elements of the pattern, but to the collocating relationship with the nouns following the pattern.