NOUN PHRASES

Modification of Nouns
1. Pre-modifying words:
• articles, quantifiers
• adjectives
• nouns

2. Post-modifying structures:
• prepositional phrases
• full relative clauses
• -ing relative clauses
• -ed relative clauses
• to-infinitive relative clauses
• adjective phrases
1. Premodifying words

1. Articles (see Oxford Grammar for EAP, pp. 29 – 30)

2. Adjectives
a) Compound adjectives (usually hyphenated, e.g. a small-scale experiment)
ADJECTIVE + PAST/PRESENT PARTICIPLE (ready-made garment, best- selling
book...)
ADJECTIVE + NOUN (hi-tech gadgets, right-wing media...)
NOUN + NOUN/ADJECTIVE/PAST PARTICIPLE (year-end bonuses,
performance-led pay...)
b) Adverb + adjectival combinations
adverb + adjective (e.g. highly sensitive, politically independent)
adverb + past participle (e.g. extensively researched, highly educated)
adverb + present participle (e.g. slow-moving, rapidly-growing)
c) Coordinated adjectives (linked by and)
Long-term unemployment can affect a person’s mental and physical health.
Juries in complex fraud cases are often presented with complex and technical
information.
3. Nouns + Nouns: a variety of relations
a) Source (shale gas = a gas that comes from shale)
b) Purpose (defense systems = systems that are used for defense)
c) Specialization (account manager = manager who is in charge of accounts)
d) Composition (lead walls = walls made of lead)
e) Content (linguistics essay = an essay on/about linguistics)
f) Location (back pain = pain in the back)
g) Time (weekend job = a job that takes place at the weekend)
Postmodifying structures
1 Prepositional Phrases

Public protests can sometimes lead to a change in the law.

There is a risk of reaching a simplistic rather than useful conclusion if the enquiry
is rush.

(see Oxford Grammar for EAP, p. 35 for a list arranged alphabetically by noun, e.g.
advertisement for, alternative to…)
2. Full relative clause
The serious issues that the enquiry has raised may lead to new laws.
the newspapers I have always bought

3. –ing relative clause

the short fat man walking through the shop

4. –ed relative clause

the six Cuban nationals held in custody by rebel soldiers
5. to-infinitive relative clauses
We had a long journey to make before nightfall.

6. Adjective phrases which include a complement of the adjective

a jacket similar to yours
parents eager to support their children’s efforts
Taski 1) Define determiner, premodification, head
and postmodification in the noun phrases below

• the small stone cottage which he bought three years ago

• an ancient market town in the heart of the country
• a new staff structure for the company
• some very sudden changes caused by an area of low pressure
• many brave soldiers willing to volonteer
References
Carter, R . & McCarthy, M. (2006) Cambridge Grammar of English. A
Comprehensive Guide. Spoken and Written English Grammar and Usage.
Cambridge: CUP, p. 325.

Paterson, K. & Wedge, R. (2013) Oxford Grammar for EAP. English

Grammar and Practice for Academic Purposes. Oxford: OUP, pp. 124 – 129.