1. Noun phrases – part A Lesson 10
Phrases I
Noun phrases – part A
Lesson 10

2. A phrase is a string of words forming a syntactic unit
Named after the class of the most important word they contain (i.e. the ‘head’)
Noun phrase
Verb phrase
Adjective phrase
Adverb phrase
Prepositional phrase

3. The noun phrase (NP)
A noun phrase is a phrase which has a noun (or indefinite pronoun) as its head word.
Noun phrases often function as verb subjects and objects, as predicative expressions, and as the complements of prepositions.
Noun phrases can be embedded inside each other; for instance, the noun phrase “the house on the hill” contains the shorter noun phrase the hill.

4. A tree-representation of a NP
By Tjo3ya - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0,

5. Noun phrase structure premodification head noun postmodification My
house
My beautiful
The
on the hill (PP)
man
(that) I love (finite rel clause)
lady
waiting outside (non-finite rel. Clause)
trip
Back home (AdvP)
Something
Unusual (AdjP)
Test to identify the words belonging to a NP: replacing it with a pronoun

6. Identify NPs and their internal structure
Thank you for your prompt return of a signed cheque for £43.
Unfortunately, although this cheque is signed, it appears to be dated 14 February No doubt just an oversight on your part.
Brompton's Store cannot accept post-dated cheques as payment, and I am therefore returning it to you with the request that you return to us a signed cheque, dated with the date of signature.
Alternatively you can pay by cash or on the enclosed bank giro credit slip. A leaflet is enclosed for your information.
I look forward to receiving your payment.

7. Identify NPs and their internal structure
Thank you for your prompt return of a signed cheque for £43.
Unfortunately, although this cheque is signed, it appears to be dated 14 February No doubt just an oversight on your part.
Brompton's Store cannot accept post-dated cheques as payment, and I am therefore returning it to you with the request that you return to us a signed cheque, dated with the date of signature.
Alternatively you can pay by cash or on the enclosed bank giro credit slip. A leaflet is enclosed for your information.
I look forward to receiving your payment.

8. Translation problems I
Italian>English
Order of the pre-modifiers
Det.
Adjectives with an absolute or intensifying meaning
(same, certain, entire) and numbers
opinion
«fact»
Size
Other qualities (type)
Age
Shape
Temperature
Colour
Pattern
Origin/nationality
Material
Purpose/type
Head noun
Can be expressed by nouns with an adjectival function

9. Translation problems I
Italian>English: getting the right order Un elegante hotel a 4 stelle Un piacevole giardino paesaggistico Una splendida sabbia bianca I magnifici templi greci Delle (alcune) placide pozze scavate nella roccia [rock pools] L’imponente hall in stile moderno La grande piscina riscaldata

10. Translation problems I
Italian>English: getting the right order
Det.
Adjectives absol./intens. numbers
opinion
«fact»
Head noun an
elegant
4-star
Hotel a
pleasant
landscaped
Garden
dazzling white
sand
Magnificent
Greek
Temples
Ssome
tranquil
rock
pools
The
Impressive
modern entrance
hall
large heated swimming
Pool