Summary of the Types of Referents

Generic Referents

indiscriminate generic referents: An adult can lose half a liter of blood without ill effect.

plural generic referents: Adults can lose half a liter of blood without ill effect.

discriminate generic referents: The adult can lose half a liter of blood without ill effect.

Indeterminate Referents

first-mention indeterminate referents: The absorption of iron is an active process. The process occurs in…

contextual indeterminate referents: It was too far to walk, so we took a taxi

Determinate Referents

special referents: the 1980s, the liver

predeterminate referents: the biggest difference

postdeterminate referents: The construction of the Eiffel Tower was difficult.

previous-mention determinate referents: The absorption of iron is an active process. The process occurs in...

contextual determinate referents: Close the door, please.

Study Example

Using the summary above, determine the type of referent of each noun in the exercise. The answers are listed below.

For a student, regular study is important. The most difficult study is during high school. The study I did in university was easy. One day I bought a book. The book was a cheap one, but it was the wrong one, so I took it back to the shop and exchanged it for the right one. The lady in the shop said “The student’s life is difficult; I’ll give you a discount.” But the discount was only 1% - the smallest discount I have ever received. I was tired, so I went home and watched the television.

For a student (indiscriminate generic), regular study is important. The most difficult study (predeterminate) is during high school. The study I did in university (postdeterminate) was easy. One day I bought a book (indiscriminate generic). The book (previous mention determinate) was a cheap one (indiscriminate generic), but it was the wrong one (predeterminate), so I took it back to the shop (contextual determinate) and exchanged it for the right one (predeterminate). The lady in the shop (postdeterminate) said “The student’s life (discriminate generic) is difficult; I’ll give you a discount (first-mention indeterminate).” But the discount (previous mention determinate) was only 1% - the smallest discount I have ever received (prederminate and postdeterminate). I was tired, so I went home and watched the television (contextual determinate reference).