Tagging guidelines for English

"this"

The word "this" (along with its plural "these") can be either a determiner, modifying a noun phrase, or a pronoun, replacing a noun phrase.

• det.dem
  • I don't like this cat.
  • I don't like these cats.
• prn
  • This is the reason.
  • These are the ones.

"that"

The word "that" can be either a determiner, which modifies a noun phrase, a demonstrative pronoun which substitutes a noun phrase, a subordinating conjunction or a relative pronoun.

• det.dem
  • I don't like that cat.
  • I don't like those cats.
• prn
  • That is the reason.
  • Those are the ones.
• rel
  • These are the ones that I like.
• cnjsub
  • I think that you like cats.

Tip for distinguishing rel and cnjsub

Try substituting the word "which" and see how it sounds:

• These are the ones which I like
• I think which you like cats.

If it sounds ok, then your "that" is probably a relative pronoun, if it sounds bad, it's probably a conjunction.

"no"

The word "no" in English can be a determiner, modifying a noun phrase or an adverb (or interjection).

• det.ind
  • There are no cats in my attic.
• adv
  • No! Don't do that!

Verbs with "-ing"

The ending -ing in English can be a gerund (adverbial), a substantive (like a noun) or a present participle (like an adjective).

• vblex.subs:
  • Roughly, when you can substitute it with a noun: "Flying is hard" → "Flight is hard"
• vblex.pprs:
  • Roughly, when you can substitute it with a relative clause: "The flying circus" → "The circus that flies"
• vblex.ger
  • When it follows to be in continuous tenses, or when it can be replaced by a prepositional phrase or a different verbal phrase:
    • "He came singing" → "He came with a song"
    • "He is singing → "He sings"

Adverb or adjective

A word like "first" can be either an adverb, or an ordinal adjective. An adverb modifies a verb phrase, an ordinal adjective modifies a noun phrase.

• adj
  • This is my first computer.
• adv
  • First I'm going to buy a computer.