NOUN PHRASE

A noun phrase is a phrase with a noun or a pronoun as its head. In addition to the head, a
noun phrase may contain one or more determiners, pre modifiers, and post modifiers. In other
words, noun phrase is a phrase which includes a noun (also called a head) and optionally
modifiers. A noun phrase may optionally contain noun modifiers. If these modifiers are placed
before the noun, they are called pre-modifiers. However, if they are placed after the noun, they
are called post-modifiers.
A noun phrase includes a noun (a person, place, or thing) and the modifiers which
distinguish it.
Examples :
1. The book on the chair had been lost two days ago.
From this sentence, prepositional phrase “on the chair” is as a noun phrase modifier.
2. The book opened on the chair is mine.
From this sentence, verb “opened on the chair” is as a noun phrase modifier.

Now, we are going to discuss about modifiers used in noun phrase. They are called noun phrase
modifiers. A noun phrase modifier is a word, phrase or clause that modifies or describes a noun
including a pronoun or a noun phrase.

1. Pre-Modifiers
Modifiers can come before the noun. They include articles, possessive nouns, possessive
pronoun adjectives and participles.
a. Articles or Determiners
 I bought a car yesterday.
 The car is red
b. Possessive Nouns.
 The neighbor’s car is new.
 The man’s car was my car two years ago.
c. Possessive Pronouns Adjectives.
 My car is parked near the store.
 His car is parked in front of the park.
d. Adjectives.
 The pretty cat won a competition.
 The small cat is very expensive.
e. Participles
 The painted car costs 80 million dollars.
 The running car is Andi’s car.

2. Post- modifiers
Modifiers can come after the noun. They include prepositional phrase, adjectives clauses,
participle phrases and infinitives.
a. Prepositional Phrases
 The bag under the table is mine.
 A bag on the chair is Sania’s
b. Adjective clauses
  The bike that has white flag was stolen last week.
 The bike which the chain was lost this morning.
c. Participle phrase
 The movie running now was released three days ago.
 The bike which the chain was loose was lost this morning.
d. Infinitives
 I don’t know the movie to watch for my holiday.
 I am confused to decide the shirt to buy.

Read this dialogue and find the noun phrase and decide the names.

Rosa : Come on, Leni. This is my new bedroom.

Leni : Wow. It’s a nice room. There are many things in your room.
Rosa : Yeah. My father bought them for me.
Leni : What is the thing in the wardrobe?
Rosa : The thing in the wardrobe is my suitcase. It is really big, isn’t it?
Leni : Yes. What is remote applied on the wall used for?
Rosa : Oh. It is for switching on the air conditioner.
Leni : Your bedroom is cool. I want to have such bedroom.

Identify the Noun Phrases in the following sentences

1. Mr. Purba is working for a big firm.
2. I had a very good seat at the theater.
3. The girl gave her mother a free dress once a month.
4. I have just received a letter from my brother.
5. I have just moved to a house in Merak Street.
6. Uncle Robby has built a wooden bridge over the pool.
7. A woman in blue jeans stood at the window of an expensive shop.
8. Little boys who play truant from school have been punished.
9. A public house which has recently bought by Mr. Ian is up for sale.
10. At the station, the boy was warned by a smiling policeman not to sit on the rubbish man.