• Dutch
  • Frisian
  • Saterfrisian
  • Afrikaans
Show all
Elk each
quickinfo

This quantifier elk each is able to support noun ellipsis, although in that case it must refer to humans.

readmore

This quantifier elk each, which is inherently singular, may itself bear attributive agreement, like adjectives. Unlike adjectives, it does not bear the markers of noun ellipsis, -e and -en, compare (1) with (2):

1
a. *En de feinten? Elk-e wie tefreden
and the boys each.NE was content
And the boys? They all were content
b. *En de feinten? Elk-en wie tefreden
and the boys each.NE was content
And the boys? They all were content

If the quantifier is to be used without a following noun, it must occur in its uninflected form:

2
En de feinten? Elk wie tefreden
and the boys each was content
And the boys? They all were content

When used attributively, it can occur with persons and things, but if it is used without a following noun, it cannot refer to things:

3
*En de stuollen? Elk is ferve
and the chairs each is painted
And the chairs? They are all painted

Although the quantifier cannot occur with the marker of noun ellipsis -en, it can occur with the marker -enien, in the word elkenien everybody. This word can only refer to persons:

4
a. *En de stuollen? Elkenien is ferve
and the chairs each is painted
And the chairs? They are all painted
b. En de feinten? Elk-enien wie tefreden
and the boys each.NE was content
And the boys? They all were content

The quantifier behaves differently from adjectives in this respect, because adjectives allow the endings -en and -enien to be substituted for one another without any difference in grammaticality.

References
    printreport errorcite