Noun phrases: dependent words
de English Grammar Today
In a noun phrase, dependent words before the head are either determiners (e.g. the, my, some) some) or
premodifiers (e.g. adjectives). Dependent words after the head are either complements or postmodifiers.
Noun phrases: determiners (a, (a, the, my, his, some, this, this , etc.)
Determiners come first in a noun phrase (e.g. the big black car ). ). They include:
articles: a/an, the
demonstratives: this, that, these, those possessive determiners: my, your, his, her , etc. quantifiers: some, any, all, enough, no, no, every , etc. numerals: one, two, three, three, etc. interrogative words: which, what, whose Determiners show the type of reference the noun phrase makes. The reference may may be definite (the ( the), ), indefinite (a/an (a/an), ), demonstrative (this, (this, that, these, those), those), possessive (my, (my, our, their , etc.). Determiners can also also indicate number or quantity quantity (e.g. seven, all, some, no). no). (Determiners are in bold; heads are underlined.): This room This room is the the guest guest bedroom. Your sister sister rang while you were at the the shop. shop. Every time time I see him he’s wearing no no shoes. shoes. Which box Which box do you want? See also: Determiners (the, (the, my , some some,, this this))
Noun phrases: premodifiers (big, (big, good, red ) Premodifiers consist of single adjectives, adjective phrases, single nouns and noun phrases which are
Adjective premodifiers Adjectives describe the qualities or features of a noun. Common adjectives include nice, big, bad, happy, black, beautiful, new . (Adjectives and adjective phrases are in bold; heads are underlined.):
a nice day
my new armchair
a very happy life
that big, black umbrella
See also: Adjectives Adjective phrases
Nouns acting as premodifiers Nouns can act as premodifiers in noun phrases. They specify particular aspects or features of the noun, such as type, material, etc. (Premodifier nouns are in bold; heads are underlined.):
a university education
two 18th-century solid silver cups
a fur coat
the post-war economy
a recent government report
Nouns which act as premodifiers are singular, even when the head is plural: Four metal cylinders were attached to the machine. Not: Four metals cylinders were attached to the machine. You can get really good, cheap leather jackets in Marrakesh. Noun phrase modifiers indicating time or measurements are singular in form even when their meaning is plural. Hyphens are normally used in the modifying expression: an eight-hour flight a three-day tour of Amsterdam a two-litre bottle Not: an eight-hours flight
Noun phrases: complements Complements come immediately after the head in a noun phrase. They are prepositional phrases or clauses which are necessary to complete the meaning of the noun. Without the complement, we wouldn’t understand what the noun was referring to.
pre-head
head
complement
type
a
rise
in inflation
prepositional phrase
a
feeling
of fear and loneliness
prepositional phrase
the
idea
that schools should control their own finances
the
fact
that the planet is getting warmer
clause
clause
A r ise in inflation is likely in the coming months. The idea that schools should control their own finances is not a new one. The fact that the planet is getting warmer is no longer disputed. See also: Prepositional phrases Relative clauses
Noun phrases: postmodifiers Postmodifiers come after the head in a noun phrase. They consist of adverb phrases, prepositional phrases and clauses. Postmodifiers give extra or specific information about the noun (e.g. place, possession, identifying features). Unlike complements, they are not necessary to complete the meaning.
pre-
head
postmodifier
type
an old
cottage
nearby
adverb phrase
a tall
man
with grey hair
prepositional phrase
table
she bought last year
head
that antique
the
parcel
clause
on my desk that Philip
prepositional phrase (on my desk) + clause
left for you
(that Philip left for you)
prehead
the
head
woman
postmodifier
type
in the black dress
prepositional phrase (in the black dress) +
talking to Marcus
clause (talking to Marcus)
Postmodifiers usually come after any complement in the noun phrase.
pre-head
head
complement
postmodifier
the
claim
that he was a car thief
which appeared in several newspapers
a
feeling
of hope
that everyone shared
See also: Prepositional phrases
Noun phrases: complements or postmodifiers? Complements are necessary to complete the meaning of a noun. Postmodifiers are not necessary; they give extra information about the noun which helps to identify it or locate it in some way. (The complement and the postmodifier are underlined below.)
Compare complement
We all felt a sense of despair.
postmodifier
The tall woman in the red skirt talking to Paula is a colleague of mine.
The head sense needs more
The postmodifiers in the red skirt and talking
information to complete its meaning.
to Paula help us to identify the woman but
If we only said We all felt a sense,
they are not necessary. The meaning (The
the meaning would not be complete;
tall woman is a colleague of mine.) would be
we need the complement.
complete without them.
(“Noun phrases: dependent words” de English Grammar Today © Cambridge University Press.)
¡Crea y comparte tus propias listas de palabras y cuestionarios de forma gratuita! Regístrate ahora
Iniciar sesión
Table of contents
+ Adjectives and adverbs + –
Easily confused words Nouns, pronouns and determiners about nouns common nouns determiners
–
noun phrases Noun phrases Noun phrases: complements Noun phrases: noun phrases and verbs Noun phrases: order Noun phrases: two noun phrases together Noun phrases: uses pronouns quantifiers question words uncountable nouns
+
Prepositions and particles
+
Words, sentences and clauses
+
Using English
+
Verbs
Palabra del día
sour grapes If you describe someone's behaviour or opinion as sour grapes, you mean that that person is angry because they have not got or achieved something that they wanted.
Sobre esto
Blog Deal with it! (Phrasal verbs for managing problems) May 03, 2017
Aprende más
Palabras nuevas roamer noun May 08, 2017
Más nuevas palabras
Busca desde tu navegador ¡Añade Cambridge Dictionary a tu navegador con solo un clic!
Obtén nuestros widgets gratis Incorpora todas las ventajas de Cambridge Dictionary a tu sitio web, con nuestros widgets de búsqueda gratuitos.
Aplicaciones del diccionario Explora nuestras aplicaciones hoy y asegúrate de estar a la última.
Learn
2.29 m Me gusta
135 k Seguidores
10.5 k Fans
Develop About
© Cambridge University Press 2017
