Glossary:Quantifiers: Difference between revisions
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=Quantifier= | |||
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BE /ˈkwɒntɪfaɪə/, AE /ˈkwɑntɪˌfaɪər/ | BE /ˈkwɒntɪfaɪə/, AE /ˈkwɑntɪˌfaɪər/ | ||
=Definition= | ==Definition== | ||
A quantifier is an expression (e.g. all, some) that indicates the scope of a term to which it is attached. | A quantifier is an expression (e.g. all, some) that indicates the scope of a term to which it is attached. | ||
It is used to make general statements about whole classes of entities rather than statements which are only true of a particular entity. | It is used to make general statements about whole classes of entities rather than statements which are only true of a particular entity. | ||
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There are different types of quantifiers: logical quantifiers (universal quantifier, existential quantifier), restricted quantifiers | There are different types of quantifiers: logical quantifiers (universal quantifier, existential quantifier), restricted quantifiers | ||
=Examples= | ==Examples== | ||
*Ramon signs '''every''' sculpture he makes | *Ramon signs '''every''' sculpture he makes | ||
*'''Several''' cars crashed. | *'''Several''' cars crashed. | ||
*‘'''All''' cities are dirty’ (or for that matter ‘'''no''' cities are dirty’) involve quantifiers, whereas ‘'''London''' is dirty’ only conveys information about a particular entity. | *‘'''All''' cities are dirty’ (or for that matter ‘'''no''' cities are dirty’) involve quantifiers, whereas ‘'''London''' is dirty’ only conveys information about a particular entity. | ||
=References= | ==References== | ||
* Gregory, Howard. 2000. ''Semantics. Language Workbook.'' London/New York: Rutledge. | * Gregory, Howard. 2000. ''Semantics. Language Workbook.'' London/New York: Rutledge. | ||
* http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/quantifier?q=quantifier | * http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/quantifier?q=quantifier | ||
=Related Terms= | ==Related Terms== | ||
*Existential Quantifier | *Existential Quantifier | ||
*Logical Form | *Logical Form | ||
*Logical | *[[Glossary:Logical Quantifier | Logical Quantifier]] | ||
*Predicate Logic (First-order Predicate Logic) | *Predicate Logic (First-order Predicate Logic) | ||
*Restricted Quantifier | *Restricted Quantifier | ||
*Universal Quantifier | *Universal Quantifier | ||
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Back to the [[Basic_Glossary|Basic Glossary]] | |||
Revision as of 00:24, 24 June 2016
Quantifier
BE /ˈkwɒntɪfaɪə/, AE /ˈkwɑntɪˌfaɪər/
Definition
A quantifier is an expression (e.g. all, some) that indicates the scope of a term to which it is attached. It is used to make general statements about whole classes of entities rather than statements which are only true of a particular entity.
There are different types of quantifiers: logical quantifiers (universal quantifier, existential quantifier), restricted quantifiers
Examples
- Ramon signs every sculpture he makes
- Several cars crashed.
- ‘All cities are dirty’ (or for that matter ‘no cities are dirty’) involve quantifiers, whereas ‘London is dirty’ only conveys information about a particular entity.
References
- Gregory, Howard. 2000. Semantics. Language Workbook. London/New York: Rutledge.
- http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/quantifier?q=quantifier
Related Terms
- Existential Quantifier
- Logical Form
- Logical Quantifier
- Predicate Logic (First-order Predicate Logic)
- Restricted Quantifier
- Universal Quantifier
Back to the Basic Glossary