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Using Nouns and Noun Phrases as Noun Phrase Modifiers

Using Nouns and Noun Phrases as Noun Phrase Modifiers

Traditional grammars define nouns as words that refer to people, places, things, and ideas. A noun phrase is a phrase that consists of a noun functioning as the phrase head plus any modifiers, complements, or determiners. A subcategory of nouns, pronouns are words that take the place of nouns and noun phrases.

In grammar, a noun phrase modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that modifies or describes a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase. Nouns often function as noun phrase modifiers to describe other nouns in English. Examples of nouns and noun phrases as noun phrase modifiers include the following:

  • My toddler daughter is quite mischievous. (noun)
  • Please bring me a clean water jug. (noun)
  • Ameda makes a fine breast pump. (noun)
  • Grandma installed a baby gate system throughout her house. (noun phrase)
  • The hotel room bathroom is disgusting. (noun phrase)
  • My husband and I are shopping for a new dining room table. (noun phrase)

Noun as Noun Phrase Modifier

Noun as Noun Phrase Modifier

Noun Phrase as Noun Phrase Modifier

Noun Phrase as Noun Phrase Modifier

References

Brinton, Laurel J. & Donna M. Brinton. 2010. The linguistic structure of Modern English, 2nd edn. Amsterdam: John Benjamins Publishing Company.
Hopper, Paul J. 1999. A short course in grammar. New York: W. W. Norton & Company.
Huddleston, Rodney. 1984. Introduction to the grammar of English. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Using Nouns and Noun Phrases as Prepositional Complements

Using Nouns and Noun Phrases as Prepositional Complements

Using Nouns and Pronouns as Noun Phrase Heads

Using Nouns and Pronouns as Noun Phrase Heads