Modern English part II—Sentence & Complex Structures

Exercises for Non-native Speakers

9-8 REVIEW OF ABSTRACT NOUN PHRASES

pp. 164~165

In each set of sentences, replace the word this with an abstract noun phrase
formed from the other italicized sentence.

Abstract Noun Phrases as Subjects

1. The doctor arrived quickly.
This saved the patient’s life.
The doctor’s quick arrival/The quick arrival of the doctor saved the
patient’s life.
2. He loved his wife passionately.
This caused him to put up with her nagging habits.
His passionate love for/of his wife caused him to put up with her nagging
habits.
3. John was unexpectedly dismissed by his company.
This disappointed him very much.
John’s unexpected dismissed by his company disappointed him very
much.
4. Ellen was very ambitious to get ahead.
This was the subject of much discussion.
Ellen’s great ambition to get ahead was the subject of much discussion.

Abstract Noun Phrases as Objects of Verbs

5. The doctor arrived quickly.
I appreciated this.
I appreciated the doctor’s quick arrival/the quick arrival of the doctor.
6. He loved his wife passionately.
Everyone could understand this.
Everyone could understand his passionate love for/of his wife.

7. John was unexpectedly dismissed by his company.

The union committee is investigating this.
The union committee is investigating John’s unexpected dismissal by his

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 Modern English part II—Sentence & Complex Structures
Exercises for Non-native Speakers
9-8 REVIEW OF ABSTRACT NOUN PHRASES

company.
8. Ellen was very ambitious to get ahead.
Her husband discussed this.
Her husband discussed Ellen’s great ambition to get head.

Abstract Noun Phrases as Objects of Prepositions

9. The doctor arrived quickly.
We were grateful for this.
We were grateful for the doctor’s quick arrival/the quick arrival of the
doctor.
10. He loved his wife passionately.
We talked about this.
We talked about his passionate love for/of his wife.
11. John was unexpectedly dismissed by his company.
We were surprised at this.
We were surprised at John’s unexpected dismissal by his company.
12. Ellen was very ambitious to get ahead.
Her friends worried about this.
Her friends worried about Ellen’s great ambition to get head.

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