What is a noun phrase? Learn the noun phrase definition, components of a noun phrase and usefulgrammar rulesto use noun phrases in English sentences with useful examples.
Noun Phrase
What Is a Noun Phrase?
A noun phrase refers to words that work the same way as anoun. A noun phrase features a noun,pronoun, and other modifiers. In this case, a pronoun is used in place of a noun, and it could either be anindefinite pronounor a subject pronoun. An indefinite pronoun refers to a pronoun that does not specify a particular place, person, or thing. Words like anybody, everyone, someone, and nothing are good examples of indefinite pronouns. A subject pronoun, on the other hand, is apersonal pronounlie I, she, and he. A noun refers to the name of a thing, place, or person. This article gives you more insights on noun phrases, take a close look.
Components of a Noun Phrase
A Noun
A nounphrasemust have a noun on which other modifiers are connected. A noun refers to the name of a person, thing, or place.
- Thedoctortook thedrugsto thehospital.
In this case, the nouns doctor, drugs, and hospital represent the names of a person, thing, and place, respectively.
An Article (modifier)
Anarticlemust be part of a noun phrase since it is usually connected to a noun. In modern English, articles include a, an, and the.
- Theofficeis always clean.
In this noun phrase, there is an article “the,” which is joined to the noun “office.” The subject in thissentenceis the office.
An Adjective (modifier)
Anadjectiverefers to a word that describes a noun or pronoun.
- Thehandsomemanmarried today.
In this case, the adjective is “handsome,” and it describes the “man” Both words form a noun phrase, and they are also the subject in the sentence.
Prepositional Phrase (modifier)
It refers to words that begin with aprepositionbut has an object at the end.
- The clothesin the dressing roomare gorgeous.
Theprepositional phrasein the sentence is ” in the dressing room” It gives details about the location of the clothes and also modifies “clothes.”
Determiner
Adeterminerclarifies/describes a noun. Examples include; those, these, that, this.
- Thesegirlsare beautiful.
The determiner “these” describes the noun and forms the noun phrase “these girls.”
Functions of Noun Phrases
Noun phrases can be; a subject, direct object, indirect objects, complement, and object of a preposition.
作为一门学科
A subject is a component of a clause or sentence that describes what the sentence/clause is about.
- Very many broken carsremain in the garage.
The subject in this sentence is “very many broken cars” since the sentence wishes to describe the cars. It is also a noun phrase in the sentence.
As a Direct Object
A direct object refers to a noun phrase, noun, or pronoun that is a recipient of a direct action of a verb.
- They bought books forthe whole class.
The direct object is “book,” and it directly receives the action of theverb“bought” The phrase “for the whole class” also becomes part of the noun phrase.
As an Indirect Object
An indirect object identifies the person to whom or for whom a verb action is done.
- Mary cooked herweak, sickly grandmothersome food.
The indirect object is the noun phrase, in this case, is “weak, sickly grandmother,” and it receives the food. The food is the direct object since it gets the verb action “cooked.”
As a Compliment
A compliment gives details about a noun. A compliment follows verbs like; am, will, is, were, was, are.
- The best African clothes to wear arecolorful and gorgeous, Ankara.
The noun phrase “colorful and gorgeous Ankara” is the compliment that gives more details about “the best African clothes to wear” It also complements the noun phrase” African clothes.”
As an Object of the Preposition
A prepositional object refers to a pronoun, noun, or noun phrase that precedes a preposition in a sentence.
- John drives toa dirty homedaily.
The noun phrase in the sentence is “a dirty home” The preposition is “to.”
Noun phrases generally serve similar purposes as a noun. It comprises of a noun/ pronoun and other modifiers. It is impossible to have a noun phrase that doesn’t have a noun/ pronoun. Noun phrases can act as a subject, a direct object, an indirect object, a compliment, and a prepositional object. Noun phrases help one write descriptive information in a sentence without beingwordy, and they also make sentences enjoyable.
Noun Phrases | Picture
Last Updated on February 2, 2020
This website is very useful for learner and teacher for English four skills.So I like this website.
thanks for it