Referring expressions - Verwijswoorden

Introduction

Click here for self-correcting exercises on referring expressions.

It is boring to repeat the same name, noun or noun phrase too many times. Most native language users employ the >>cohesive device of referring without thinking about it. If you are learning a foreign language, it is important to know how to use this 'tool'.

When talking about referring it is important to know the word antecedent. This word is used to denote the word or group of words that the writer refers back to. We tend to refer to things that have already been said or written:

Monique Witteman uit Utrecht houdt van katten. Ze heeft een bijzondere hobby.
Monique Witteman from Utrecht loves cats. She has a special hobby.

In this sentence ze refers back to Monique Witteman. Therefore, Monique Witteman is the antecedent.

It is also possible to refer forward:

In zijn boekje presenteert Steven de Foer geen sociologische vondsten, maar zet hij wel mooie eigentijdse zedenschetsen neer.
In his book Steven de Foer does not present sociological findings, but he does draw beautiful sketches of current morality.

In this sentence zijn refers forward to Steven de Foer. Therefore, Steven de Foer is the antecedent.

It is important that there is not too much >distance between a referring expression and its antecedent.

This grammar discusses three categories of referring expressions:
- pronouns
- adverbs of time, manner and place
- pronominal adverbs

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