Abstract: Based on the interactive function of language, Cognitive Grammar comes up with the grounding theory. As a semantic function, grounding is formally represented as the grounding system in language, which is held to find realization in all nominals and finite clauses. Focusing on nominal grounding system (i.e. the determiner system), and taking Chinese bare nouns as point of access, this paper suggests that bare nouns remain ungrounded when denoting generic reference, and further argues that generic expressions have nothing to do with grounding, and that there is no iconic mapping between the determinant elements in generic NPs and the grounding function. This suggests that current grounding theory has posed too stringent constraints on form-meaning correspondence, which is difficult to hold in effect.