Noun Phrase

Noun phrase

Either a single noun / pronoun / any group of words containing a noun / a pronoun that function together as a noun / pronoun , as the subject / object of a verb .

For example , ‘ they ’ , ‘ books ’ , & ‘ 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 3 sections :

Pre – modifier	Head noun	Post – modifier
A beautiful old	Painting	on the wall
A beautiful old	Painting	-
-	Painting	on the wall

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

Determiner	Opinion adjectives		Descriptive adjectives						Nouns
	General	Specific	Size	Shape	Age	Colour	Nationality	Material
A	Lovely	Comfortable	Big	-	-	-	-	Wooden	Chair
The	Cheap	-	-	-	New	Black	German	-	Car
			Large	Round	-	-	-	Metal	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 ) / gerund &  other nouns compounding .

Example : passing the exam watching TV

preparing the equipment sliding down a rope

going to school diving board