Final answer:
We understand referring expressions like 'yesterday' and 'four hundred' through context, shared understanding, and intuitive grasp of language and grammar rules.
Step-by-step explanation:
We resolve the apparent difficulty of dealing with referring expressions like yesterday, four hundred, and the distance between Detroit and Chicago through context and shared understanding. In English, we often use these types of expressions to convey specific information that can be understood based on the common knowledge or the situation in which the expressions are used. For example, yesterday refers to the day before the current one, four hundred could refer to a quantity or a numerical value, and the distance between Detroit and Chicago can be understood as a measure of space between two geographical locations.
Our brains intuitively comprehend the underlying rules and context of these expressions similar to how we implicitly understand grammar rules without consciously analyzing each possible word arrangement. This intuitive understanding extends to various disciplines, such as mathematics, where we might intuitively rule out nonsensical combinations or irrelevant information when solving problems. Additionally, predicates help clarify statements by highlighting what is being stated and how, in any given sentence.