Nounphrases:dependentwords

deEnglishGrammarToday

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

a rise ininflation prepositionalphrase

a feeling offearandloneliness prepositionalphrase

the idea thatschoolsshouldcontroltheirownfinances clause

the fact thattheplanetisgettingwarmer clause

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

anold cottage nearby adverbphrase

atall man withgreyhair prepositionalphrase

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.

prehead head complement postmodifier

the claim thathewasacarthief whichappearedinseveralnewspapers

a feeling ofhope thateveryoneshared

Seealso:
Prepositionalphrases

Nounphrases:complementsorpostmodifiers?

Complementsarenecessarytocompletethemeaningofanoun.Postmodifiersarenotnecessary
theygiveextrainformationaboutthenounwhichhelpstoidentifyitorlocateitinsomeway.(The
complementandthepostmodifierareunderlinedbelow.)

Compare

complement postmodifier

Thetallwomanintheredskirttalkingto
Weallfeltasenseofdespair.
Paulaisacolleagueofmine.

Theheadsenseneedsmore
informationtocompleteitsmeaning.
IfweonlysaidWeallfeltasense,
themeaningwouldnotbecomplete
weneedthecomplement.
Thepostmodifiersintheredskirtandtalking
toPaulahelpustoidentifythewomanbut
theyarenotnecessary.Themeaning(The
tallwomanisacolleagueofmine.)wouldbe
completewithoutthem.

(Nounphrases:dependentwordsdeEnglishGrammarTodayCambridgeUniversityPress.)

Creaycompartetuspropiaslistasdepalabrasycuestionariosdeformagratuita!

Regstrateahora Iniciarsesin

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

Blog
Dealwithit!(Phrasalverbsformanagingproblems)
May03,2017

Aprendems

 Palabrasnuevas
roamernoun
May08,2017

Msnuevaspalabras

Buscadesdetunavegador
AadeCambridgeDictionaryatunavegadorconsolounclic!

Obtnnuestroswidgetsgratis
IncorporatodaslasventajasdeCambridgeDictionaryatusitioweb,connuestroswidgetsdebsquedagratuitos.

Aplicacionesdeldiccionario
Exploranuestrasaplicacioneshoyyasegratedeestaralaltima.

Learn 2.29m 135k 10.5k

Megusta Seguidores Fans
Develop

About

CambridgeUniversityPress2017