Noun phrases are always a significant component of a sentence. These can be used at different positions and in different roles in sentences for the successful expression of concepts. Therefore, the command at the use of noun phrases in sentences is very important for impactful writing. In this post, first, nouns have been detailed and then composition, functions and various roles of noun phrase have been detailed.
1. Nouns
Nouns make the largest word class. They denote physical entities, concepts, processes, etc. and can be identified by three grammatical properties i.e., inflection, function, and dependents.
1.1 Noun inflection
Nouns’ inflection is exhibited in terms of number and case. As far as the number of a noun is concerned, a noun may be singular or plural, e.g., boy is singular and boys is plural. When the case is used for indicating physical possession,in singular form, it is boy’s and in plural it is boys’ (possessive). When possession is used for indicating grammatical relation, its examples are: the policeman’s courtesy, the train’s arrival, the canal’s water, today’s temperature (genitive).
1.2 Formation of nouns from verbs
Gerunds are verbals (i.e., words drawn from verbs by adding –ing to the base form of verb) which function as nouns. For example:
- Writing a book is difficult.
- Picking these flowers can be costly.
- In academic writing, completely catching an opportunity of expression is a success.
In the examples given above, the words in bold face are gerunds. At times, interpretation is needed.
- The officer appreciates the employee finishing the assignment.
- The officer appreciates the employee’s finishing the assignment.
- Flying birds can be entertaining
In example (a), the employee is appreciated, in (b) employee’s action is appreciated and in (c) flying can be either an adjective of birds or can be a noun.
Gerunds do the function of nouns in sentences. However, on account of their verbal nature, they name actions, activities or behaviors or states of mind or states of being.
1.3 Functions
In noun phrases, a noun can perform the role of Head. The phrase thus constituted stays as subject or complement in a clause, or complement of a preposition.
Examples:
- The thief was arrested. [Subject in clause]
- He welcomed [all the guests]. [Complement in clause]
- The old man was assisted by [a boy]. [Complement in prep phrase]
1.4 Noun dependents
Noun dependents are certain items that occur frequently with a head noun.
- The boy, a canal, every person, which book [certain determinatives]
- skilled workers, an old city, a recreational tour [pre-head adjectives]
- the doctor who treated the patient, a car he’s using [relative clauses]
2. Noun Phrase
A noun phrase may comprise a single noun (that stays as a head of the phrase) or a number of specifiers, pre-modifiers, head noun, and post-modifiers. For example:
- All1 the2 poor3 people4 of this village5 are waiting for the rain emergency support.
The italicized words in (a), make a noun phrase. The word all stays as a limiter, the as a determiner, poor as a pre-modifying adjective. Further, people stay as the head of the phrase, and the prepositional phrase of this village is a post-modifier.
2.1 Functions of a noun phrase
When a noun or noun phrase follows an action verb, it stays as the object of the verb. In this position, it renames or describes the preceding noun, and functions as the object complement. Furthermore, when a noun phrase that follows a noun tells something more about the noun phrase is known as apposition. For example:
- Azeem won an award for excellent performance.
- The teachers call my brother a wrestler.
- My sister, the doctor, was awarded a certificate of specialization.
In example (a), an award for excellent performance is an object of the verb won. In (b), a wrestler is a complement of my brother which is the object of the verb call. In (c), the doctor is apposition to My sister.
A noun phrase can perform some structural functions in a sentence as well, i.e., it can take the position of subject, subject complement, object of preposition. For example:
- The exhausted runners were gasping.
- He is a talented player.
- They stayed at a four-star hotel.
The noun phrase in italics in (a) is doing the function of subject; in (b) subject complement; and in (c) object of a preposition.
2.2 Noun phrase vs. noun clause
Noun phrases and noun clauses can perform similar functions, i.e., they both can take the position of subject or object in sentences. However, in structure they are different, e.g., a noun phrase does not contain a verb and can have one or more words. On the other hand, a noun clause must contain subject and verb. However, this rule does not apply to non-finite noun clauses. For example:
- Whoever has done this must be held responsible.
- That fluent player is my country fellow.
In (a), whoever is subject and has done is a verb. These both make a noun clause. In (b) that fluent player is a noun phrase in the role of subject but has no verb.
At times, differentiation between a noun phrase and a noun clause becomes difficult. This is especially so when an adjective clause is the component of a noun phrase. The function of a noun clause in a sentence is to take the place of a noun. Nevertheless, adjective clause stays as a component of a noun phrase and its function is to describe the noun in a sentence. We need to keep this point in mind that noun clauses also start with relative pronouns like who, whom, that, which, whose, etc. However, noun phrases usually start with the head noun or pronoun that are modified by the relative clause. For example:
- The member who left the meeting rejoined soon.
- We noticed that the member rejoined soon.
- Akram, who should have behaved well, talked loudly in the meeting.
- It is not clearly known who did not behave well in the meeting.
In example (a), the noun phrase starts with the member. In (b), the noun clause starts with that; in (c), noun phrase starts with Akram; and in (d), noun clause starts with who.
2.3 Noun phrase as an absolute phrase to a subject
Absolute phrases are composed of a noun and a modifier. Further, such phrases cannot carry finite verb since they cannot contain a subject. And if we add a finite verb to such phrase, the verb turns it into a subordinate clause. When a comma is used in a sentence, it is important to note that sometimes commas simply indicate a clause or an aside and not an absolute phrase. The comma indicates an absolute phrase when it sets apart a noun and its modifying part to add depth to the meaning of the construction. For example:
- The workers took their cups of sweet tea, their bodies replenished.
- The workers took their cups of sweet tea, their bodies were replenished.
In example (b), with the addition of were, the absolute phrase has become a run-on sentence.
Since absolute phrases supply additional details about the subject or the whole sentence, a noun phrase can be used as an absolute phrase. The purpose of this use is to stylistically modify the subject of a sentence, or the whole sentence.
2.4 Noun phrase as an object
When a noun phrase receives the action from the subject, it stays as the object in a sentence. For example:
- At the restaurant, they ate spicy food.
- You should not support that undeveloped proposal.
- In my office, I take a warm cup of coffee after every three hours.
In the examples given above, the phrases in italics are the noun phrases that stay as direct objects.
2.5 Noun phrase as direct object + indirect object
When the action of the verb occurs on the noun that follows it, the noun + the rest of the phrase give rise to a noun phrase. The role of this phrase is of a direct object. For example:
- The teacher specially prepared learning materials for lagging students.
- The Highway Authority relaxed traffic rules for the parliamentarians.
In example (a), the verb is ‘prepared’ and the object of this verb is learning materials. The rest of the phrase for lagging students helps create a noun phrase that functions as an object. In (b), relaxed is an action verb and the object of this verb is traffic rules and the remaining words for the parliamentarians add information to the phrase. This phrase on the whole stays as an object.
This post presents information about the role of nouns in sentence. Next it indicates how nouns can be identified on the basis of their inflection, formation, function and the words that depend upon them. Further, the information regarding noun phrase formation and its function in sentence construction has been provided. Furthermore, the comparison between noun phrase and noun clause has been given and information has been provided how noun phrases are different from noun clauses. Finally, the use of noun phrase as an absolute phrase, an object, and direct and indirect object has been specified. The information and the clarification of points included in this post can be very helpful regarding the construction of good sentences in proficient writing.
Sources Consulted
Huddleston, R. (n.d.).
Kolln and Funk, 1998
