Measure noun phrases (MP), canonically realized in the form of X of Y, display such grammatical complexities that they challenge both theoretical linguists as well as even advanced EFL learners. MPs individuate and give classificatory information about Y, but induces grammatical indeterminacy with respect to number concord, selectional restriction, and modification patterns. This paper investigates the uses of MPs in the English corpus COCA and secondary-level English textbooks in Korea to shed light on the direction of better understanding of their properties both in theoretical and EFL contexts.
1. Introduction
2. Measure Noun Phrase and Partitive Constructions
3. Types of Measure Noun Phrases
4. Corpus Findings
5. Usages in Secondary School Textbooks
6. Discussion and Conclusion