The Noun Phrase in English

Describing Nouns with Determinatives, Modifiers, and Complements

Sep 20, 2009 Heather Marie Kosur

The following article explains the seven grammatical forms that function as determinatives, noun phrase modifiers, and noun phrase complements in English noun phrases.

Noun phrases in English are defined as phrases that consist of a noun plus any determiners, modifiers, and complements. The seven grammatical forms that appear within English noun phrases are:

Determiner
Adjective phrase
Noun phrase
Prepositional phrase
Verb phrase
Adjective clause
Noun clause

The following sections define each of these seven grammatical forms as well as provide examples to illustrate use.

Determiners in Noun Phrases

Determiners are the first grammatical form that appear within noun phrases in the English language. Determiners include articles, demonstrative determiners, interrogative determiners, possessive determiners, quantifiers, and numerals. Determiners perform the grammatical function of determinative in English noun phrases. For example, the following italicized determiners function as determinatives:

The children stole my pumpkins.
Which monkey is the winner of the prize?
Two of his students forgot their homework.

Determiners precede the main noun and all other modifiers and complements in English noun phrases.

Adjective Phrases in Noun Phrases

Adjective phrases are the second grammatical form that appear within noun phrases in the English language. Adjectives are traditionally defined as "words that describe nouns." Adjective phrases are defined as phrases that are formed by an adjective plus any adjective phrase modifiers or complements. Adjective phrases perform the grammatical function of noun phrase modifier in English noun phrases. For example, the following italicized adjective phrases function as noun phrase modifiers:

The severe nun threw the spoiled milk out.
The most recent ad requests someone highly skilled.
The quick, brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.

Adjective phrases may precede or follow the main noun in English noun phrases.

Noun Phrases in Noun Phrases

Noun phrases are the third grammatical form that appear within noun phrases in the English language. Nouns are traditionally defined as "words that name people, places, things, and ideas." Noun phrases also perform the grammatical function of noun phrase modifier in English noun phrases. For example, the following italicized noun phrases function as noun phrase modifiers:

The company reserved ten hotel rooms and one conference room.
His dog chewed on her new dining room table leg.
Please do not put cat food in the dog bowl.

Noun phrases always directly precede the main noun but follow determiners and attributive adjective phrases in English noun phrases.

Prepositional Phrases in Noun Phrases

Prepositional phrases are the fourth grammatical form that appear within noun phrases in the English language. Prepositions are traditionally defined as "words the relate nouns, adjectives, and verbs to other words." Prepositional phrases are defined as phrases formed by a preposition directly followed by a prepositional complement. Prepositional phrases perform the grammatical functions of both noun phrase modifier and noun phrase complement in English noun phrases. For example, the following italicized prepositional phrases function as noun phrase modifiers or noun phrase complements:

The puppy with the blue collar is my favorite. (modifier)
Please bring me the blanket from my grandmother. (modifier)
Mr. Monk's fear of milk would be quite comical. (complement)
I am inspired by your passion for animal rights. (complement)

Prepositional phrases always follow the main noun in English noun phrases.

Verb Phrases in Noun Phrases

Verb phrases in the form of infinitives, present participles, and past participles are the fifth grammatical form that appear within noun phrases in the English language. Verbs are traditionally defined as "action or state of being words." Verb phrases are defined as phrases that are formed by a verb plus any auxiliary verbs, particles, modifiers, or complements. Verb phrases perform the grammatical function of noun phrase modifier in English noun phrases. For example, the following italicized verb phrases function as noun phrase modifiers:

The vegetables to freeze are in the plastic bags.
The child shrieking loudly is my niece.
That howling dog must be the neighbor's.
The skeleton stolen from the biology lab turned up on the football field.

Verb phrases may precede or follow the main noun in English noun phrases.

Adjective Clauses in Noun Phrases

Adjective clauses are the sixth grammatical form that appear within noun phrases in the English language. Adjective clauses are defined as subordinate clauses that consist of a subordinating conjunction or relative pronoun followed by a clause. Adjective clauses perform the grammatical function of noun phrase modifier in English noun phrases. For example, the following italicized adjective clauses function as noun phrase modifiers:

The apple that Snow White bit into was poisoned.
The woman, who is also my aunt, is a world-renowned poet.
Espen is the man whose children play with mine.

Adjective clauses always follow the main noun in English noun phrases.

Noun Clauses in Noun Phrases

Noun clauses are the seventh grammatical form that appear within noun phrases in the English language. Noun clauses are defined as subordinate clauses that consist of a subordinating conjunction following by a clause. Noun clauses perform the grammatical function of noun phrase complement in English noun phrases. For example, the following italicized noun clauses function as noun phrase complements:

Your belief that women and men are not socially equal is preposterous.
I am upset by the fact that you scheduled the meeting without consulting me.
Our hope that no child will ever go hungry is possible with your help.

Noun clauses always follow the main noun in English noun phrases.

The seven grammatical forms that appear within English noun phrases as determinatives, noun phrase modifiers, and noun phrase complements are determiners, adjective phrases, noun phrases, prepositional phrases, verb phrases, adjective clauses, and noun clauses. Both native speakers and ESL students must learn the seven grammatical forms to correctly construct noun phrases in both spoken and written English.

Sources

Huddleston, Rodney. Introduction to the Grammar of English. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, 1984.

Kurland, Dan. "Complete Reference: The Noun Phrase." Critical Reading. 2003. Critical Reading. 20. Sep. 2009.

The copyright of the article The Noun Phrase in English in Language Study is owned by Heather Marie Kosur. Permission to republish The Noun Phrase in English in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.