NOUN PHRASES

Noun phrases is a group of words with a NOUN as its main part. Information about the noun can be
before or after the noun:

- Before:
o Adjectives or adverbs:
A very (adv) rich (adj) habitat
o Determiners:
This/that/these/those/my/your/his…
This horrible rubbish
- After:
o Prepositional phrase (cum gioi tu):
An abundance of creatures
o Past participle clause (cum V2):
The rubbish contained in the habour
o Present participle clause (cum V-ing):
The rubbish lying at the bottom of the sea
o To-infinitive clause (cum to-V):
A decision to expand

1. NOUN + PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE

Common prepositions are: of, in, for, on, to, with

- “OF” is the most common. It is used after nouns of quantity or containers

VD:
The number of fish (quantity)
An abundance of creatures (quantity)
A bottle of water (container)
A packet of sweets (container)
We also use “of” to show belonging or possession
VD:
The rubble of the past
Particular areas of the habour
- “AT, IN, ON, TO, FROM”: talk about location
VD:
The rubbish at the bottom of the sea
The different species in Sydney harbour’

The food on the table

The distance to the nearest gas station

The path from my house to my school

- “WITH” = relative clause with the main verb “have”:

VD:

Sea tulips with bright red bodies = sea tulips which have bright red bodies

2. NOUN + V2 clause:
Gives the same info as a relative clause with a passive verb:

VD:

All of the rubbish contained in the habour = …which is contained in the habour

(It is better to use the V2 clause instead of the full relative clause to express the same info
with fewer words)

3. NOUN + V-ing clause:

Gives the same info as a relative clause with an active verb:

VD:

The debris lying on the sea floor = … which is lying on the sea floor

… which lies on the sea floor.

4. NOUN + To-V:
To show a purpose or intention. Usually comes after nouns of time, place, manner, quantity….

VD:

Time to go (time)

The place to visit (place)

A lot to look at (quantity)

A decision to study English (manner)

A way to look at it (manner)