STRUCTURE OF NOUN PHRASES
Types of modification
Type 1) Adjectives / past participles modifying nouns
X
Rel.
BE
woman
car
disc
who / that
which / that
which / that
city
flowers
which / that
which / that
adj. / pp
-
adj. / pp
X
is
was
is
Italian
old
compact
-
Italian
old
compact
woman
car
disc
is
are
crowded
beautiful
-
crowded
beautiful
city
flowers
Type 2) Nouns modifying other nouns:
a) General (“Noun string”)
X
prep.
art.
Y
-
Y
X
officer
player
licence
eater
of
of / for
for
of
the
Ø
Ø
Ø
police
CDs
driving
mice
-
police
CD
driving
mouse / mice
officer
player
licence (BrE)
eater
distillation
handle
cream
of
of
for
Ø
the
Ø
whisky
door
faces
-
whisky
door
face
distillation
handle
cream
b) Genitive
i) belonging / ownership
X
belonging to
Y
bar
brother
house
belonging to
belonging to
belonging to
Sam
James
the Smiths
helicopter
head
finest
belonging to
belonging to
belonging to
the President
the patient
New York
Y’s / Ys’
X
-
Sam’s
James’s / James'
the Smiths’
bar
brother
house
-
the President’s
the patient ‘s
New York’s
helicopter
head
finest
ii) intended for a specific group of people
X
for
Y
jacket
license
helmet
for
for
for
a woman / women
a driver / drivers
a pilot / pilots
-
discount
chair
for
for
a student / students
a dentist / dentists
-
-
Y’s / Ys’
X
a woman’s
a driver’s
pilot's
jacket
license (USE)
helmet
a student’s
a dentist’s
discount
chair
iii) time expressions in general
X
of
paper
time
model
of
of
of
yesterday
five minutes
last year
-
yesterday’s
five minutes’
last year’s
lecture
train
of
of
Tuesday
tomorrow night
-
Tuesday’s
lecture
tomorrow night’s train
Noun Phrase Structure
Y
Y’s / Ys’
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X
paper
time
model
T. Christiansen
What would one call:
1)
a guard of a prison which is security which is high?
a high security prison guard
2)
the production of hydrogen which is liquid?
liquid hydrogen production
3)
a grant for students who are from overseas?
an overseas student’s grant
4)
the garage of (belonging to) the man who lives opposite?
the man who lives opposite’s garage
5)
a pump of fluid which is thermovector?
a thermovector fluid pump
6)
the book by an actress who is famous?
a famous actress’s book
7)
a painter of landscapes who is from Holland?
a Dutch landscape painter
8)
a device for the saving of energy?
an energy saving device
9)
a parcel made of paper which is brown?
a brown paper parcel
Further points for consideration:
(NB: *"the handle's door" = the form is impossible; ?"the door's handle" = the form is not acceptable to all speakers
or can only be used in very specific contexts)
1)
What is the difference between “the English team” and “the England team”?
“The English team” = e.g. Manchester United, Aston Villa etc:
“The England Team” = the team of England, i.e. the national side.
2)
Why does one normally say “the Queen of England” and not *“the England queen”, “England’s queen” or “the
English queen”?
Formal titles are not normally abbreviated , like proper names in formal contexts (cf.
Elizabeth / Liz)
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2)
Although structures like "X of Y" can normally be shortened to "YX" (see Type 2, a), expressions like "a lot of
problems" or "a litre of wine" do not have the equivalents *"a problem lot" or *"a wine litre". Why do you think
this is so?
“A lot of” and “a litre of” etc. function as quantifiers (like “many” / “much”). As such, they
constitute single indivisible expressions and, indeed, typically the verb agrees with the
postmodifying noun (that which is quantified) not the grammatical head, the quantifier
(e.g. “lot”; “litre”): “A lot of people drink” and not *“A lot of people drinks” (cf: in Italian:
“La maggiore parte della gente beve”).
4)
In the examples below, say why the particular noun phrase structure has been used
i)
They have put the new Adele album on the shelves next to the cash register.
Adele is not the owner of the album (i.e. the piece of plastic for sale). ‘Adele’
designates the kind of album.
ii)
I borrowed Adele’s album but I’ve lost it and will have to buy her a new one.
Adele is the owner of the album.
iii)
Adele’s new album marks her return after a long absence.
Adele is the owner of the album, not as an artefact (i.e. a piece of plastic), but as a
work of art.
5)
Regarding genitives used for something intended for a specific group of people (see Type 2, b, ii), occasionally
one finds structures like those given in the examples below, which would seem to adhere to the structure of Type
2, a. Why do you think such structures are used in the specific contexts in question?
i)
Centrum Trains Block Train Driver Pay Rise. "We Will Take Action" Unions Warn.
In the telegraphic styles of newspaper headlines, shorter forms are preferred wherever
possible. A noun string (Type 2 a) is shorter than a genitive (Type 2b), even if there is
a slight change in meaning.
ii)
Starting university this autumn? Apply for one of our student loans. Just call in to your local branch and ask
for a leaflet.
Type ii genitives are being replaced by noun strings (2a) in more impersonal, neutral
discourse.
iii)
The passenger compartment has been redesigned to comply with new regulations on aircraft safety.
Type ii genitives are being replaced by noun strings (2a) in the more impersonal,
neutral discourse of technology
6)
While, in conversation, it is possible to say something like “the man who lives opposite’s garage”, such structures
are less acceptable in written discourse. Why do you think this is so? Which of the below do you think would be
acceptable in either spoken (s) or written (w) discourse, or both?
s
w
√
√
√
√
√
√
√
X
X
?
i) Einstein’s theory
ii) This particular physicist’s theory.
iii) This particular original-thinking physicist’s theory.
iv) This particular original-thinking and widely respected physicist’s theory.
v) This particular physicist, who, in the past, has admitted he has been wrong’s theory.
Basically, the longer (and more complex) the noun phrase to which the genitive 's' is
attached, the less acceptable it is in written discourse, and to a lesser degree in spoken
discourse. This because, if the head (‘theory’ in the cases above) is postponed for too long
the phrase is successively more difficult for the addressee to process and there is a risk of
incoherence. Also the stylistic rule of end-weighting applies (longer more complex
elements – in this case the modification ̶ are best placed at the end of the clause: “The
theory of this particular physicist, who, in the past, has admitted he has been wrong.” )
7)
Explain the ambiguity of expressions like “English teacher”, “government inspector”, “Police Complaints Authority”
or “dentist’s chair”.
“Teacher who is English” vs. “teacher of English” (the subject); “Inspector of governments”
(someone who inspects governments) vs. “Inspector from the government” (a government
Noun Phrase Structure
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official); who sits in the chair? Is it for the dentist, or the patient (i.e. respectively, is it for
his use (as in 2b ii) or does it belong to him or her (as in 2b i) ?)
8)
Sometimes, the same noun phrase can be said to derive from different underlying structures. For example, New
York City could be said to come either from "City of New York" or "City which is New York", the latter structure
being equative (i.e. "X = Y") rather than attributive (i.e. "X has the quality of being Y"). Indeed, between Type 1
and Type 2,a there would seem to be some overlap given that phrases like "blue eyes" can be expressed as
"eyes which are blue" or "eyes of blue". How would you explain this fact, given that it is not possible to say
*"eyes of tired" or *"eyes of Irish"?
“Blue” can be both a noun and an adjective; “tired” and “Irish” can only be adjectives
(and can thus not be the object of a preposition)
9)
An animal that eats mice can be either a “mouse eater” or a “mice eater” (see Type 2,a), but an animal that eats
rats can only be called a “rat eater” not a *“rats eater”. Similarly a book for children is generally known as a
“Children’s book” or a “Child’s book” (see Type 2, b, ii), although the former term is more usual. What is different
about the words ‘mouse’ and ‘child’?
Irregular plurals like ‘mice’ and ‘children’ can be used to modify nouns. It would seem
that there is a rule that removes the plural ‘s’ from regular plurals like ‘rats’ when it is
used as a premodifier. Such a rule has no effect on irregular plurals.
10) Regarding the general point of plural modifiers, although *“rats eater” is impossible, one still finds noun phrases
like “sports centre”, “Arts Council”, “Police Complaints Authority” (see Type 2, a), or “visitors’ waiting area” (see
Type 2, b, ii). What factors may make the plural admissible in these cases?
A plural noun can be used as premodifier in noun string (2a) when there is a contrast
two senses of a word, one countable, the other uncountable (e.g. ‘sport’ meaning physical
activity for leisure and “a sport” such as football). In such a case the plural form is used
to show that the countable sense is meant (e.g. a centre for specific sports such as tennis,
football etc. and not a centre for physical activity for leisure in general), In other cases
(e.g. complaints and visitors’), the plural is used to emphasise the plurality, and variety
of the modifier (i.e. an authority for all kinds of compliant against the police; a waiting
area for all visitors)
11) Examine any potential differences in meaning between the four structures below:
i)
The greenhouse is at the bottom of the garden.
Compound noun meaning “serra” in Italian, in this extreme case, a meaning not
directly deducible from the separate component words ‘green’ and ‘house’ (cf.
‘blackboard’, ‘weekend’, ‘doorbell’)
ii)
The green house is at the bottom of the road.
An abbreviated noun phrase of type 1 = “the house which is green”.
iii)
iv)
The house which is green is at the bottom of the road.
A full, extended, noun phrase of type 1, in effect a defining (or restrictive)
relative clause.
The house, which is green, is number 43.
In this case, there is a non-defining (non-restrictive) relative clause which cannot
be abbreviated as with type 1 noun phrases. The information contained therein,
namely that the house is green is presented as additional or parenthetical (cf.
“the house (which is green) is number 43”) and not necessary for designation of
the referent.
12) Despite the rules outlined in the table above, occasionally there are noun phrases such as “court-martial” (plural,
both “courts-martial” and ?“court-martials”), “Theatre Royal”, “Mission Impossible”, "Police Scotland" and "County
Durham". Analyse the probable structures of such noun phrases and say why you think they might be used.
“Court martial”, and possibly “Theatre Royal” and “County Durham” derive form French
and retain the original syntax even if the spelling has been anglicised to a degree.
Phrases like “Mission Impossible” or "Police Scotland" (or “Love Supreme”, “Team GB”, “Post
Australia”), which are becoming more common, would seem to be used because the
marked word order adds emphasis and gives the expression a more grandiose, important,
sound.
Noun Phrase Structure
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NEWS IN BRIEF:
Another (1) crisis for the EU
(2) Ministers of agriculture from Europe have finished their (3) emergency’s meeting in Brussels. No agreement was
reached on the (4) carrot’s crisis. (5) The minister from Finland has threatened to boycott future talks if something is not
done to reduce (6) the importation of carrots from (7) countries which are non-EU.
(8) Fire in factory. Police seek youths
(9) Last night’s fire which destroyed (10) a warehouse of a factory is believed to have been started deliberately. (11) A
spokesperson for the police said that there were reports of (12) a youths group who were seen in (13) the area of the
factory at about the time that the fire started. Police are appealing for witnesses.
Aston United sign new player.
Gerry Nugumi, (14) the striker from Nigeria who is 21 years old, has agreed to leave his present club, Dynamo
Innsbruck, who play in (15) the Austria’s League, for a (16) fee for transfer of £8 million. This is the highest sum that
Aston United have ever paid for a player but (17) manager of the team, Bobby Corner, said: “Gerry’s a (18) player who
is a star and he is worth every penny.(19) The United future depends on attracting (20) players of a standard which is
international like Gerry to Aston.”
Say whether the noun phrases which are underlined are correct. If they are, put a tick ( ) in the box. In either
case, reformulate the noun phrases, if possible.
1)
√ EU crisis
11) √
2)
√ European Ministers of Agriculture
3)
X Emergency meeting
13) √
Factory area
4)
X carrot crisis
14) √
the 21-year old Nigerian striker
5)
√
The Finnish minister
15) X
the Austrian league
6)
√
carrot importation
16) √
an £8-million transfer fee
7)
√
non-EU countries
17) √
team manager
8)
√
Factory Fire
18) √
star player
9)
√
the fire of last night
19) X
United’s future
20) √
international standard players
A police spokesperson
12) X
A group of youths
European Agriculture Ministers (informal)
(no change necessary)
10) √
factory warehouse
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