Monday, October 23, 2017

grammar - What principle guides word combinations with "almost"?

I am trying to explain to non-native speakers how to use "almost." I can't formulate (a) rule(s) to follow with regard to nouns/pronouns. So far, my only ideas are that almost can be collocated only with words (or in situations) that describe measurement or comparison. However, even this seems to fail.




For example:



almost they = incorrect (no concept of measurement or comparison)



almost everyone = correct (measurement of individuals)



A platypus is almost a duck. = correct (comparison)
They are almost the same. = correct (comparison)
It is almost midnight. = correct (measurement of time vs. temporal adverbial)
We are almost there. = correct (but spatial adverbial)




However:



He wrote almost a book. = incorrect, although in this case "book" would be a comparison or perhaps a measurement of the written material






I am pretty much at a loss. Thanks.

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