Hi @Cardinal. Yes. Long time, no see. It's probably a nonstandard variety of English, for example, that kind of grammar would be heard in African-American Vernacular English. See: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African-American_Vernacular_English
Company profits are down from last year's figures.
(Copied from Cambridge dictionary.)
1) Why we did not use a possessive s?
2) Why we use plural profits?
3) Why we did not use “the”? When you compare with last year figures then you are talking about a specific profit. Also, If you are not t...
You're merely trying to understand how the sentence might be interpreted; the labels don't really interest you. If they do, you should open a book on English grammar (such as The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language).
The first two chapters of CGEL are available online, I believe. CGEL is a reference grammar, meaning it's not meant to be read from cover to cover. Instead, you read the first two chapters and then look up whatever you need either by using the index or the contents page(s).
Another book, by the same authors, which is actually a textbook, representing the condensed version of CGEL is A Student's Introduction to English Grammar. You should check that one out first (and I think you can find that one online as well).
Oxford Modern English Grammar is another fine book.