| Acknowledgements | 第3-4页 |
| Abstract | 第4-7页 |
| 摘要 | 第8-14页 |
| Chapter One Introduction | 第14-18页 |
| 1.1 The Background of the Research | 第14-15页 |
| 1.2 The Questions of the Research | 第15页 |
| 1.3 The Significance of the Research | 第15-16页 |
| 1.4 The Methods of the Research | 第16-17页 |
| 1.5 The Organization of the Thesis | 第17-18页 |
| Chapter Two Literature Review | 第18-27页 |
| 2.1 Previous Studies on English Nominals | 第18-20页 |
| 2.1.1 Previous Studies on the Structure of English Nominals | 第18-19页 |
| 2.1.2 Previous Studies on the Classification of English Nominals | 第19-20页 |
| 2.1.3 Previous Systemic-Functional Studies on English Nominals | 第20页 |
| 2.2 Previous Studies on the Reference of English Nominals | 第20-23页 |
| 2.2.1 Definitions of the Reference of Nominals | 第21-22页 |
| 2.2.2 Classifications of the Reference of Nominals | 第22-23页 |
| 2.3 Previous Studies on the Application of Grounding Theory | 第23-25页 |
| 2.3.1 Previous Studies on the Application of Grounding Theory Abroad | 第23-24页 |
| 2.3.2 Previous Studies on the Application of Grounding Theory at Home | 第24-25页 |
| 2.4 Summary | 第25-27页 |
| Chapter Three Theoretical Foundations | 第27-37页 |
| 3.1 The General Ideas of Cognitive Grammar | 第27-28页 |
| 3.2 The Grounding Theory | 第28-31页 |
| 3.2.1 Langacker’ Studies on Grounding | 第28-29页 |
| 3.2.2 Tylor’ Studies on Grounding | 第29-30页 |
| 3.2.3 Radden and Dirven’s Studies on Grounding | 第30-31页 |
| 3.3 Nominal Grounding | 第31-35页 |
| 3.3.1 Type-instance Relation | 第32-34页 |
| 3.3.2 Langacker’s Stage Model | 第34-35页 |
| 3.4 Summary | 第35-37页 |
| Chapter Four The Cognitive Analysis of English Nominals’ Referential Meanings | 第37-83页 |
| 4.1 Introduction | 第37-38页 |
| 4.2 Indefinite Individuative Referential Meaning | 第38-39页 |
| 4.3 Definite Individuative Referential Meaning | 第39-74页 |
| 4.3.1 Deictic Referential Meaning | 第40-51页 |
| 4.3.2 Discourse Referential Meaning | 第51-56页 |
| 4.3.3 Unique Referential Meaning | 第56-74页 |
| 4.4 Indefinite Generic Reference | 第74-76页 |
| 4.4.1 Indefinite Singular Generic Referential Meaning | 第74-75页 |
| 4.4.2 Indefinite Plural Generic Referential Meaning | 第75-76页 |
| 4.5 Definite Generic Reference | 第76-81页 |
| 4.5.1 Definite Singular Generic Referential Meaning | 第77-78页 |
| 4.5.2 Definite Plural Generic Referential Meaning | 第78-81页 |
| 4.6 Summary | 第81-83页 |
| Chapter Five Characteristics and Functions of English Nominal Grounding | 第83-91页 |
| 5.1 Grounding Characteristics of English Nominals | 第83-86页 |
| 5.1.1 Explicit Grounding of English Nominals | 第83-84页 |
| 5.1.2 Implicit Grounding of English Nominals | 第84-86页 |
| 5.2 Grounding Functions of English Nominals | 第86-91页 |
| 5.2.1 Syntactic Function of Nominal Grounding | 第86-87页 |
| 5.2.2 Semantic Function of Nominal Grounding | 第87-89页 |
| 5.2.3 Textual Function of Nominal Grounding | 第89-90页 |
| 5.2.4 Cognitive Function of Nominal Grounding | 第90-91页 |
| Chapter Six Conclusions | 第91-98页 |
| 6.1 Major Findings of the Research | 第91-95页 |
| 6.2 Implications of the Research | 第95-96页 |
| 6.3 Limitations of the Research and Suggestions for the Further Study | 第96-98页 |
| References | 第98-102页 |
