A Noun phrase (NP) consists of a noun and its modifiers, including determiners, adjectives, prepositional phrses and adjective clauses. A typical NP can be formulated as follows: Determiner + Adjective + Noun. However, if they are placed after the noun, they are called post- modifiers.
- If the cost of
health benefits for working people in a country rises, usually employers
cut wages or pass on the costs as higher to customers.
a) Determiners are usually placed before the noun. Articles: the, a/an
Demonstratives:
this, that Numerals: two, five, etc. Possessives: my, their, etc. Quantifiers:
some, many, etc.
Example: Love is a beautiful feeling. (“a beautiful
feeling” is a noun phrase that includes a noun, “feeling,” and the determiner
“a” and the adjective (modifier) “beautiful”)
Example: My house is over there. (“My house” is a noun phrase which
consists of the noun “house” and a modifier - the
possessive adjective “my”)
b)
Adjectives: the delicious food
c)
Complements, in the form of
a prepositional phrase Such as: the
student of physics,
That-clause:
the idea that the world is a small village
Noun phrases can function as subjects, objects.
-
That sophisticated woman is beautiful. (“That sophisticated woman”
is a noun phrase that functions as a subject.)
- People running for their lives: People who run for their lives.
-
I like the book that you bought. (“The book that you bought” is a noun
phrase that functions as an object.)
·
A relative clause could
replace the preposition phrase.
- The man who is wearing the hat.
·
There could be a string of
adjectives (and pre-modifying nouns) instead of just one.
- Both of these systems have their own
structural rules.
- The world cup football competition.
·
A numeral or cardinal could
be inserted after the determiner.
- Do you remember the first time I bumped into
you in the park?
·
A noun phrase can be made
more complex.
- The roving eye which he had cultivated for so
many years.
·
Any part of the noun phrase
can simply be stripped away.
-
“The very tall education consultant with the roving
eye” can become “The tall
education consultant with the roving eye” (here 'very' has been deleted).
