NOUN PHRASES

A noun phrase is either a single noun or pronoun or any group of words containing a noun or a pronoun that function together as a noun or pronoun, as the subject or object of a verb.

For example, ‘they’, ‘books’, and ‘the books’ are noun phrases, but ‘book’ is just a noun, as you can see in these sentences (in which the noun phrases are all in bold)

Example 1:

Shaggy: Do you like books?

Bean : Yes, I like them.

Shaggy: Do you like books over there?

Bean : Yes, they are nice.

Shaggy: Do you like the book I brought yesterday?

Bean : Yes, I like it. (Note: ‘It’ refers to ‘the book’, not ‘book’)

Example 2:

Nicko was late.

(‘Nicko’ is the noun phrase functioning as the subject of the verb.)

Some noun phrases are short: The students

Some are long: The very tall education consultant

Structures of noun phrases:

▪ A beautiful old painting on the wall

The structure of this noun phrase contains three sections:

* Pre-modifier

   - A beautiful

   - A beautiful

   -       -

* Head noun

   - painting

   - painting

   - painting

* Post-modifier

   - on the wall

   -       -

   - on the wall

This is the table of the adjectives that are combined with the nouns:

* Determiner :

~ A

~ The

* Opinion adjective :

^ General :

~ Lovely

~ Cheap

^ Specific :

~ Comfortable

~ -

* Descriptive adjective :

^ Size :

~ Big

~ -

~ Large

^ Shape :

~ -

~ -

~ Round

^ Age :

~ -

~ New

~ -

^ Colour :

~ -

~ Black

~ -

^ Nationality :

~ -

~ German

~ -

^ Material :

~ Wooden

~ -

~ Metal

^ Nouns :

~ Chair

~ Car

~ Table

When you use a noun in front of another noun, you never put adjectives between them. You put adjectives in front of the first noun.

Example: We just spoke with a young American boy.

Noun phrase can be in form of gerund (Vbase+ing) or gerund and other nouns compounding.

Example:

* passing the exam

* watching TV

* preparing the equipment

* sliding down a rope

* going to school

* diving board