preface acknowledgments chapter 1 preliminaries 1.1 introduction 1.2 defining bnps in chinese 1.3 the extensive use of bnps in chinese 1.4 problems chapter 2 the semantics of bnps 2.1 bnp interpretations in chinese 2.2 the classification of predicates in english 2. 2. 1 the stage/individual distinction 2. 2. 2 modifications of the stage/individual distinction 2. 3 predicate types and the interpretation of bnps in chinese 2.3.1 li(1997) 2.3.2 bnps in lexical generic sentences and habitual sentences 2.3.3 bnps in episodic non—stative sentences 2.3.3.1 bnps in intransitive episodic non-stative sentences 2.3.3.2 bnps in transitive episodic non-stative sentences 2.3.4 bnps in episodic stative sentences 2.3.5 the interpretation of bnp—objects in chinese 2.3.6 the“definiteness”tendency 2.4 the count/mass distinction chapter 3 a discourse analysis of bnps 3.1 pronominals and bnps 3.2 demnps and bnps 3.2.1 the use of bnp anaphors and demnp anaphors 3.2.1.1 bnp anaphors,demnp anaphors and syntactic positions 3.2.1.2 anaphoric encapsulation 3.2.1.3 distance and the intervention of other topics 3.2.2 bnps and demnps on the accessibility scale 3.3 possnps and bnps chapter 4 bnps and numerically quantified noun phrases 4.1 the interpretation of nqnps in chinese 4.2 the“conditioned”optionality in the use of numeral classifiers 4.3 bnps vs.indefinite nps in chinese progressive predicates 4.3.1 liu(1994)'s account 4.3.2 my analysis 4.3.3 difference between chinese and english 4.3.4 further clarifications 4.4 indefinite nps vs.bnps as generic subjects 4.4.1 defining generic—np subjects 4.4.2 the use of indefinite nps as generic subjects 4.4.3 an operator variable account for indefinit nps in english 4.4.4 a semantic—pragmatic account 4.5 other bnp.a(chǎn)nd non.bnp constructions 4.5.1 zhang(2000) 4.5.2 reconsider zhang’s bnp—and non-bnp constructions 4.6 weak bnps and the aspectual marker le chapter 5 conclusion bibliography appendix:chinese examples in chinese characters