1. Phrases

2. What is a phrase? phrases sintagmi / gruppi clauses proposizioni
syntax: the principles of stringing words together to form larger units of construction such as phrases, clauses, and sentences (ch 5 6 and 7 in the book)
phrases sintagmi / gruppi
clauses proposizioni
sentences frasi / periodi

3. Example How would you divide the words of this sentence into groups?
The black
labrador was
chewing a juicy
bone very noisily
The black labrador
was chewing
a juicy bone
very noisily

4. Example We instinctively know that words are grouped into phrases
The subject slot is empty and it can be filled with a phrase
The black labrador
was chewing
a juicy bone
very noisily

5. Head words What are the key words in this sentence?
The black labrador was chewing a juicy bone very noisily
The black labrador
was chewing
a juicy bone
very noisily

6. 4 phrases
The black labrador
Labrador chewing bone noisily
In our example, the head word occurs at the end of the phrase. This is often, but not always the case.
was chewing
a juicy bone
very noisily

7. 5 types noun phrase (NP) verb phrase (VP) adjective phrase (AdjP)
adverb phrase (AdvP)
prepositional phrase (PP)
except for prepositional phrases (PP), phrases can consist of a single lexical item

8. Representation phrases may be represented by square brackets
that black dog was chewing a juicy bone very nosily
[that black dog NP] [was chewing VP] [a juicy bone NP] [very noisily AdvP]
grass snakes may appear rather dangerous to zoo visitors
[grass snakes NP] [may appear VP] [rather dangerous AdjP] [to zoo visitors PP]

9. Tree diagram phrases may be represented in a tree diagram
that black dog was chewing a juicy bone very nosily NP
that black dog was chewing a juicy bone very nosily VP
was chewing a juicy bone very nosily
NP AdvP
a juicy bone very nosily

10. pre-modification and post-modification
all phrases can be extended by pre-modification or post-modification
Snakes appear dangerous
NP + VP + AdjP
British grass snakes
may appear
rather dangerous

11. Noun phrases Doughnuts are really fattening If we expand doughnuts…
These large sugary doughnuts filled with jam and cream are really fattening

12. Structure These large sugary doughnuts filled with jam and cream
Determiners (section 2.9) will be
at the beginning of the noun phrase
(if they occur).
Determiners can ONLY occur
in noun phrases
These
large sugary
doughnuts
filled with jam and cream
DETERMINER
PREMODIFICATION
HEAD NOUN
POSTMODIFICATION

13. Premodifiers Most typically, they will be adjectives
In theory there is no limit to the number of adjectives, but in reality we usually find two or three at most.
When more than one adjective appears in premodifying position, an ordering process may come into play

14. Adjectives: order before nouns
Description before classification
An old political idea
The latest educational reform
A green wine bottle
Leather dancing shoes
Opinion before description
A lovely cool drink
A wonderful old house
Beautiful green mountains
That silly fat cat
(from Swan, Practical English Usage, OUP)

15. Order of descriptive words
size
age
shape
colour
origin
material
noun a
fat
old
white
horse
big
grey
woollen
sweater
new
Italian
boots
small
round
black
leather
handbag an
enormous
brown
German
glass
mug
little
modern
square
brick
house
The order of descriptive words is not completely fixed. Words for origin and material usually come last.
(from Swan, Practical English Usage, OUP)

16. More premodifiers
Nouns in the possessive form can also premodify head nouns
the children’s playground
London’s pubs
a composer’s music
This article belongs to composer and not to music
> The music of a composer

17. More premodifiers An adverb A short sentence
the then headteacher
A short sentence
their do-as-you-please attitude
These are exceptions. Most premodifying elements are adjectives and nouns

18. Postmodification
post-modifying elements: phrases (usually PP) or clauses
> relative clauses
e.g. the proposal which the committee approved
> that clauses
e.g. the belief that God exists
> comparative clauses
e.g. she gave a louder cry than her sister

19. Phrase type It can be identified from the class of the head word.
Normally, a noun is the head of a noun phrase. But a pronoun can also be the head of a noun phrase:
Someone who knows should be consulted
We can also find cardinal numbers or adjectives > in this case they occur pronominally (i.e. in the position of the noun)

20. Example
The remains of a giant meat-eating sea monster that patrolled the oceans during the reign of the dinosaurs have been unearthed on an island in the remote Arctic archipelago of Svalbard.

21. Homework Read Ballard’s book, pages 93-101 (5.1 - 5.2)
Find examples of complex noun phrases and post them on the blog. You can also try to analyse their structure.