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Inanounphrase,dependentwordsbeforetheheadareeitherdeterminers(e.g.the,my,some)or
premodifiers(e.g.adjectives).Dependentwordsaftertheheadareeithercomplementsor
postmodifiers.
Nounphrases:determiners(a,the,my,his,some,this,etc.)
Determinerscomefirstinanounphrase(e.g.thebigblackcar).Theyinclude:
articles:a/an,the
demonstratives:this,that,these,those
possessivedeterminers:my,your,his,her,etc.
quantifiers:some,any,all,enough,no,every,etc.
numerals:one,two,three,etc.
interrogativewords:which,what,whose
Determinersshowthetypeofreferencethenounphrasemakes.Thereferencemaybedefinite(the),
indefinite(a/an),demonstrative(this,that,these,those),possessive(my,our,their,etc.).Determiners
canalsoindicatenumberorquantity(e.g.seven,all,some,no).(Determinersareinboldheadsare
underlined.):
Thisroomistheguestbedroom.
Yoursisterrangwhileyouwereattheshop.
EverytimeIseehimheswearingnoshoes.
Whichboxdoyouwant?
Seealso:
Determiners(the,my,some,this)
Nounphrases:premodifiers(big,good,red)
Premodifiersconsistofsingleadjectives,adjectivephrases,singlenounsandnounphraseswhichare
usedbeforetheheadinanounphrase.
Adjectivepremodifiers
Adjectivesdescribethequalitiesorfeaturesofanoun.Commonadjectivesincludenice,big,bad,
happy,black,beautiful,new.(Adjectivesandadjectivephrasesareinboldheadsareunderlined.):
aniceday mynewarmchair
averyhappylife thatbig,blackumbrella
Seealso:
Adjectives
Adjectivephrases
Nounsactingaspremodifiers
Nounscanactaspremodifiersinnounphrases.Theyspecifyparticularaspectsorfeaturesofthe
noun,suchastype,material,etc.(Premodifiernounsareinboldheadsareunderlined.):
auniversityeducation two18thcenturysolidsilvercups
afurcoat thepostwareconomy
arecentgovernmentreport
Nounswhichactaspremodifiersaresingular,evenwhentheheadisplural:
Fourmetalcylinderswereattachedtothemachine.
Not:Fourmetalscylinderswereattachedtothemachine.
Youcangetreallygood,cheapleatherjacketsinMarrakesh.
Nounphrasemodifiersindicatingtimeormeasurementsaresingularinformevenwhentheirmeaning
isplural.Hyphensarenormallyusedinthemodifyingexpression:
aneighthourflightathreedaytourofAmsterdamatwolitrebottle
Not:aneighthoursflight
Nounphrases:complements
Complementscomeimmediatelyaftertheheadinanounphrase.Theyareprepositionalphrasesor
clauseswhicharenecessarytocompletethemeaningofthenoun.Withoutthecomplement,we
wouldntunderstandwhatthenounwasreferringto.
prehead head complement type
Ariseininflationislikelyinthecomingmonths.
Theideathatschoolsshouldcontroltheirownfinancesisnotanewone.
Thefactthattheplanetisgettingwarmerisnolongerdisputed.
Seealso:
Prepositionalphrases
Relativeclauses
Nounphrases:postmodifiers
Postmodifierscomeaftertheheadinanounphrase.Theyconsistofadverbphrases,prepositional
phrasesandclauses.Postmodifiersgiveextraorspecificinformationaboutthenoun(e.g.place,
possession,identifyingfeatures).Unlikecomplements,theyarenotnecessarytocompletethe
meaning.
pre
head postmodifier type
head
that
table sheboughtlastyear clause
antique
onmydeskthatPhilip prepositionalphrase(onmydesk)+clause
the parcel
leftforyou (thatPhilipleftforyou)
pre
head postmodifier type
head
intheblackdress prepositionalphrase(intheblackdress)+
the woman
talkingtoMarcus clause(talkingtoMarcus)
Postmodifiersusuallycomeafteranycomplementinthenounphrase.
Seealso:
Prepositionalphrases
Nounphrases:complementsorpostmodifiers?
Complementsarenecessarytocompletethemeaningofanoun.Postmodifiersarenotnecessary
theygiveextrainformationaboutthenounwhichhelpstoidentifyitorlocateitinsomeway.(The
complementandthepostmodifierareunderlinedbelow.)
Compare
complement postmodifier
Thetallwomanintheredskirttalkingto
Weallfeltasenseofdespair.
Paulaisacolleagueofmine.
Theheadsenseneedsmore Thepostmodifiersintheredskirtandtalking
informationtocompleteitsmeaning. toPaulahelpustoidentifythewomanbut
IfweonlysaidWeallfeltasense, theyarenotnecessary.Themeaning(The
themeaningwouldnotbecomplete tallwomanisacolleagueofmine.)wouldbe
weneedthecomplement. completewithoutthem.
(Nounphrases:dependentwordsdeEnglishGrammarTodayCambridgeUniversityPress.)
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Tableofcontents
+ Adjectivesandadverbs
+ Easilyconfusedwords
Nouns,pronounsanddeterminers
aboutnouns
commonnouns
determiners
nounphrases
Nounphrases
Nounphrases:complements
Nounphrases:nounphrasesandverbs
Nounphrases:order
Nounphrases:twonounphrasestogether
Nounphrases:uses
pronouns
quantifiers
questionwords
uncountablenouns
+ Prepositionsandparticles
+ Words,sentencesandclauses
+ UsingEnglish
+ Verbs
Palabradelda
sourgrapes
Ifyoudescribesomeone'sbehaviouroropinionassourgrapes,youmeanthatthatpersonisangry
becausetheyhavenotgotorachievedsomethingthattheywanted.
Sobreesto
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Dealwithit!(Phrasalverbsformanagingproblems)
May03,2017
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Palabrasnuevas
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May08,2017
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