Introduction
Two weeks ago we explained the differences between gen (which is a quantity accompanying a verb or uncountable noun) and nothing (which is a pronoun equivalent to nothing). We were left, however, with the two other existential indefinite quantifiers of negative polarity, which are the pronoun nobody and the specifier none.
Cap i Gens
The specifier no usually accompanies nouns, and although it indicates negative polarity, it does not have the same meaning as gender. While none refers to a non-existent quantity, none is equivalent to neither one nor one and is used in negative contexts with the adverb no. However, in Catalan, there are some exceptions, since uncountable nouns can be preceded by both genders and heads. For example, some things are not funny to us, but we can also say that we are not funny at all.
no one
The pronoun nobody is used to indicate no people and, like nothing, does not accompany any noun. It can appear in sentences with the adverb no, as in the sentence ‘No one was missing from the demonstration’, or in conditional and interrogative sentences with the value of someone.
Alternative Forms
In Valencian and Ibizan, the quantifier no appears in the singular as an equivalent of no in negative contexts, but is only admissible in colloquial registers. In formal records and in the rest of speaking, this use must be avoided.
Double Negation
A question that remains pending for the next articles is the double negation: what happens when we put all these quantifiers and pronouns at the beginning of the sentence? This topic will be covered in a future article.
conclusion
Indefinite quantifiers of negative polarity in Catalan, such as gens, res, cap and nigo, have specific uses and are used in different linguistic contexts. It is important to understand the nuances of these terms in order to use them accurately in written and spoken communication.