A
a) Frequency
‘A
lot of’ was the most frequent three-word cluster in the BEC and the second most
frequent in the BNC.
|
N in BEC |
Word |
bec freq. |
bec.lst % |
N in BNC |
bnc freq. |
bnc.lst % |
|
1 |
A
|
451 |
0.04 |
2 |
658 |
0.03 |
b) Semantic Prosody
Left:
No groups identified but see colligation section below.
Right:
Three groups identified.
|
semantic prosody |
frequency/ 451 & % |
example |
|
people |
69
- 15.29% |
a
lot of clients a
lot of contractors a
lot of people |
|
money/finance/economy |
35
- 7.76% |
a
lot of investment a
lot of invoices a
lot of money |
|
companies/institutions |
17
- 3.76% |
a
lot of advertisers a
lot of companies a
lot of firms |
c) Clusters
6-word:
|
N |
cluster |
Freq. |
|
1 |
a
lot of time and money |
3 |
|
2 |
is
that a lot of people |
3 |
|
3 |
there
will be a lot of |
3 |
5-word:
|
N |
cluster |
Freq. |
|
1 |
we
have a lot of |
11 |
|
2 |
there
are a lot of |
10 |
|
3 |
a
lot of money on |
8 |
|
4 |
there
is a lot of |
6 |
|
5 |
there
was a lot of |
6 |
|
6 |
a
lot of people who |
5 |
|
7 |
i
think a lot of |
5 |
|
8 |
that
a lot of people |
5 |
|
9 |
we
do a lot of |
5 |
|
10 |
we've
had a lot of |
5 |
|
11 |
you've
got a lot of |
5 |
|
12 |
a
lot of work for |
4 |
|
13 |
to
get a lot of |
4 |
|
14 |
we
get a lot of |
4 |
|
15 |
we've
got a lot of |
4 |
4-word:
|
N |
cluster |
Freq. |
|
1 |
a
lot of people |
45 |
|
2 |
a
lot of money |
31 |
|
3 |
a
lot of the |
31 |
|
4 |
have
a lot of |
25 |
|
5 |
there's
a lot of |
25 |
|
6 |
quite
a lot of |
20 |
|
7 |
a
lot of work |
17 |
|
8 |
got
a lot of |
16 |
|
9 |
had
a lot of |
15 |
|
10 |
and
a lot of |
12 |
|
11 |
do
a lot of |
12 |
|
12 |
get
a lot of |
12 |
|
13 |
because
a lot of |
11 |
|
14 |
is
a lot of |
11 |
|
15 |
we
have a lot |
11 |
|
16 |
a
lot of time |
10 |
|
17 |
are
a lot of |
10 |
|
18 |
there
are a lot |
10 |
|
19 |
a
lot of it |
9 |
|
20 |
a
lot of them |
9 |
|
21 |
a
lot of things |
9 |
|
22 |
lot
of money on |
8 |
|
23 |
that
a lot of |
8 |
|
24 |
a
lot of these |
7 |
|
25 |
be
a lot of |
7 |
|
26 |
with
a lot of |
7 |
|
27 |
in
a lot of |
6 |
|
28 |
there
is a lot |
6 |
|
29 |
there
was a lot |
6 |
|
30 |
think
a lot of |
6 |
|
31 |
was
a lot of |
6 |
|
32 |
a
lot of business |
5 |
|
33 |
a
lot of companies |
5 |
|
34 |
a
lot of talk |
5 |
|
35 |
a
lot of that |
5 |
|
36 |
for
a lot of |
5 |
|
37 |
i
think a lot |
5 |
|
38 |
lot
of people who |
5 |
|
39 |
spend
a lot of |
5 |
|
40 |
we
do a lot |
5 |
|
41 |
we've
had a lot |
5 |
|
42 |
you've
got a lot |
5 |
|
43 |
a
lot of fun |
4 |
|
44 |
a
lot of other |
4 |
|
45 |
a
lot of problems |
4 |
|
46 |
been
a lot of |
4 |
|
47 |
it's
a lot of |
4 |
|
48 |
lot
of work for |
4 |
|
49 |
to
get a lot |
4 |
|
50 |
we
get a lot |
4 |
|
51 |
we've
got a lot |
4 |
d) Macro-generic distribution
e) Colligation
Definition:
A lot of = a phrasal quantifier
a
lot of is a phrasal quantifier and serves to
determine the rough amount of what it refers to: a lot of money, a lot of people,
a lot of problems
Patterns:
i) existential
subject + to be + a lot of + noun (group):
48
instances - 10.64% of sample
ii)
modifier + a lot of + (noun group)
20
instances - 4.43% of sample
it’s
going to cost quite a lot
The
only modifier collocating with a lot of
was quite.
iii) personal pronoun + to get* + a lot of + noun group/
personal pronoun + to have + a lot of
+ noun group
47
instances - 10.42% of sample
You get a lot of stress and strain, I’ve got a lot of hotel experience
we
have a lot of international guests, we’ve had a lot of very good product
* get used in several forms/meanings
f) Associates
No
associates identified.