Noun phrase in English

Noun phrase

Definition : a noun phrase is a meaningful series of words in which the noun serves as the head of the phrase.

Constituent  ( head + modifier )

Head : noun/pronoun

Modifier :

A.    Determiner

1.      Article

a.       A/an

·         Precedes a singular indefinite noun

·         Precedes a singular  generic noun

·         Replaces “one/per” in a fraction

b.      The

·         Precedes a singular, plural, uncountable definite noun

·         Precedes an ordinal number

·         Precedes a superlative form

·         Precedes a comparative form in adverbial clause of proportion

2.      Demonstrative adjective

a.       Close to the speaker :

·         For singular or uncountable : this

·         For plural : these

b.      Far from the speaker

·         For singular or uncountable : that

·         For plural : those

3.      Possessive

a.       Possessive adjective :

My, your, our, her, his, its, their

b.      Possessive noun/noun phrase :

Noun/ noun phrase + ‘s

4.      Numerical adjective

a.       Cardinal number

One, two, three, four, etc

b.      Ordinal number :

First, second, third, fourth, etc

5.      Indefinite quantifier

a.       For singular :

Each, every, another, either, neither

b.      For plural :

Both, several, a couple of, a number of, many, other,(a) few, fewer

c.       For singular/uncountable :

The other

d.      For uncountable :

Much, a deal of, an amount of, (a) little, less

e.       For plural/uncountable :

A lot of, lots of, plenty of, more, most, enough

f.       For singular/uncountable/plural :

Some, any, no

6.      Interrogartive adjective

a.       Whose (asking possesion)

b.      Which (asking choice)

c.       What (asking kind of thing)

7.      Exclamatory adjective

a.       What

b.      Such 

B.     Modifier (pre modifier “ modifier before head)

1.      Adjective denoting general description :

a.       Character : smarst, lazy, intelligent, etc.

b.      Quality/opinion : good,interisting, nice, etc.

2.      Adjective denoting physical description :

a.       Size : big, large, small, etc.

b.      Shape : round, rectangular,etc.

c.       Compound adjective :

·         Adjective + noun + ed : white-skinned

·         Cardinal number + noun + ed : four-legged

·         Noun + noun + ed : rainbow-colored

·         Adverb + present participle : fast moving

·         Adverb + past participle : perfectly drawn

d.      Age : young, old, new, etc

e.       Temperature : hot, clod, warm, etc

f.       Color : red, blue, yellow, etc

3.      Proper adjective

a.       Denoting religion : islamic, christian, etc

b.      Denoting nationality : indonesian, japanase, etc

c.       Denoting ethnic : javanese, sundanese, etc

4.      Adjunct of material : plastic, wooden, metal, etc

5.      Gerund : swimming, waiting, etc

Past modifier (modifier after head)

1.      Adjective :

a.       After indefinitie pronoun : someone, nothing, etc

b.      After head denoting age or measurement : years, feet, etc

2.      Adjective phrase :

a.       After indefinitie pronoun : someone, nothing, etc

b.      After adjective with bound preposition : eligble for, afraid of, native to, etc

3.      Noun/noun phrase as appositive :

a.       Restrictive

·         Without commas

·         After proper of definite noun

b.      Non restrictive

·         With commas

·         After generic or indefinite noun

4.      Prepositional phrase

a.       With bound preposition

b.      With free preposition

5.      Adjective clause :

a.       Restrictive :

·         Without commas

·         Conjunction “that” is permitted

·         Omission of relative pronoun object or relative adverb is permitted

b.      Non restrictive :

·         With commas

·         Conjunction “that” is permitted

·         Omission of relative pronoun object or relative adverb is not permitted

6.      Verbal construction :

a.       Present participle phrase (ving) : active meaning

b.      Past participle phrase (v3) : passive meaning

c.       To infinitive phrase :

·         After noun modified by ordinal number

·         After noun modified by superlative adjective

·         After certain noun, such as ability, decision, failure, ambition, etc

7.      Noun clause as appositive after certain noun, such as news, fact, truth, issue, gossip, etc

Word order

1.      Determiner + head

Example :                     the              car

                             determiner       head

2.      Modifier + head

Example :                     red               car

                                 modifier        head

3.      Determiner + modifier + head

Example :               the                    red            car

                          determiner        modifier     head

4.      Head + modifier

Example :        the                   car              in front of the building

                   determiner           head             modifier

5.      Determiner + modifier + head + modifier

Example :        the                    red            car            in front of the building

                    determiner         modifier      head           modifier

Function :

1.      In sentence

a.       As subject

b.      As complement of subject

c.       As direct object

d.      As indirect of object

e.       As complement of object

f.       As adverb (special function) :

·         Adverb of time

·         Adverb of frequency

2.      In phrase

a.       Innoun phrase

·         As premodifier (adjunct)

·         As post modifier (appositive)

b.      In prepositional phrase

·         As object of preposition