Quantificative pronouns are determinative phrases representing the amount of an entity or a feature.
a. Syntax
Persian quantificative pronouns are determinativized quantificative adverbials:
- For the close-up range:
- The determiner phrase /ʧænd-in/ چندین (= [NP[NP/ʧænd/ چند] [DetPenclitical demonstrative pronoun /-in/ این]]) with the meaning “this amount”.
- The determiner phrase /in hæmæ/ این همه (= [NP[DetPdemonstrative pronoun /in/ این] [NPassociative pronoun /hæmæ/ همه]]) with the meanings “so much”, “so many” and “this richness”.
- For the far range:
- The determiner phrase /ʧænd-ɒn/ چندان (= [NP[NP/ʧænd/ چند] [DetPenclitical demonstrative pronoun /-ɒn/ آن]]) with the meaning “that amount”.
- The determiner phrase /in hæmæ/ آن همه (= [NP[DetPdemonstrative pronoun /ɒn/ آن] [NPassociative pronoun /hæmæ/ همه]]) with the meaning “that richness”.
b. Nominal Quantificative Phrases
Persian nominal determiner phrases with quantificative pronouns have the following features:
- They are always definite (other than nominal determiner phrases with qualificative pronouns).
- They are always in the 3rd person.
- Their number corresponds with the number of their determinative focuses.
For example:
بوستانبانا! حـال و خبرِ بستان چیست؟
و اندر این بستان چندین طربِ مستان چیست؟
Manuchehri (10th and 11th Century AD)
که دانست کهاز تو مرا دید باید
به چندان وفا این همه بیوفایی؟!
Farrukhi Sistani (10th and 11th Century AD)
قاضی اسراف میکند در جور
این همه مسرفی نمیشاید
Khaqani (12th Century AD)
آن همه باد و بارنامه و لاف
داشتم من بر آن کل ارزانی
Suzani Samarqandi (12th Century AD)
c. Adjectival Quantificative Phrases
In Persian, quantificative pronouns can also be used as determinative phrases for the gradation of adjectival phrases:
با قیمتِ بلندِ تو این خاکدانِ پست
چندین شگفت نیست که چندان پدید نیست
Kamaloddin Esmail (12th and 13th Century AD)
بدین خواسته نیست ما را نیاز
سخن چند گوییم چندین دراز؟!
Ferdowsi (10th and 11th Century AD)
چرخ چون چرخزنان نالانست
دل زِ چرخ این همه نالان چه کنم؟!
Khaqani (12th Century AD)