Noun Phrase

A 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.

For example, ‘they’, ‘books’, and ‘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:

Aditya : Do you like books?

Dodi : Yes, I like them.

Aditya : Do you like books over there?

Dodi : Yes, they are nice.

Aditya : Do you like the book I brought yesterday?

Dodi : 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

Pre-modifier

- A beautiful old

Head noun

- painting

Post-modifier

- on the wall

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) or gerund and other nouns compounding.

Example: passing the exam watching TV

preparing the equipment sliding down a rope

going to school diving board