Noun Phrases

Definition

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.

IN ENGLISH GRAMMAR, A NOUN PHRASE HAS FOUR COMPONENTS:

1. The head

Is the hub, the center of Attraction (as it were) of the noun phrase; it is the noun or pronoun around which the other parts gather together. The head determines concord with the portion of the sentence Outside the noun phrase. Thus:

1.The change in the Asian

economies is unprecedented.

2.The changes in Japan’s economy

are most unexpected.

2. Pre-Modifiers

Consists of all the words place before the head. These words are usually determiners, adjectives and nouns. Thus:

1.That sophisticated city woman (“That”(determiner), sophisticated” (adjective), “city” (noun); woman (head)

2.Many honest down and out small-town businessmen (“Many” (determiner), “honest” (adjective), “down and out” (adjective phrase), “small-town” (noun); businessmen (head))

3. Post-Modifier

Comprises words in the noun phrase that follow the head. These words usually consist of prepositional phrases, nonfinite clauses, and relative clauses.

Thus:

1.The talkative man in the center of the room … (prepositional phrase)

2.All the women walking on the bik path …(non- finite clause)

3.The house that I purchased for my third husband … (restrictive relative clause)

4.The house, which my partner and i bought a month after we met, …(non- restrictive relative clause)

4. Apposition

Arelated concept is apposition, a construction usually involving two noun phrases that refer to the same entity (noun or pronoun). Examples:

1. That president, Abraham Lincoln, lives in the hearts …

2. Her dog, sixteen years old and nearly blind with cataract, greeted …

3. The book was written by Jane Doe, a pioneering seventeenth century veterinarian.

Although these examples are non-restrictive,

apposition can be restrictive as well:

1. The book is written by Jane Doe the local veterinarian.

Apposition can also take the form of a

prepositional phrase:

1.… until the twin curses of famine and pestilence are lifted from the brows of mankind. (The “twin curses” are “famine and pestilence”).

The function of Noun phrase

Subject

v Example :

The children play on the forest.

Object

v Example :

My mother buys a basket of

vegetables.

Complement

v Example :

Bogor is a rainy location.

The basic structure of Noun phrase

Phrase consist minimally of a head this means,in one word Phrase Like “boy” the head is“boy” in Langer phrase a string of Elements My appear before the head.

Example : The naughty boy.

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

Example:

ü Passing the exam

ü Watching TV

ü Preparing the equipment

ü Sliding down a rope

ü Going to school

ü Diving board