Sentence
A sentence is a group of words, and it must at least have a subject as well as a predicate, and it also has a complete meaning.
Phrase
A phrase is a group of words, and it has no subject, predicate and complete meaning.
Noun Phrase
A sentence is a group of words, and it must at least have a subject as well as a predicate, and it also has a complete meaning.
Phrase
A phrase is a group of words, and it has no subject, predicate and complete meaning.
Noun Phrase
A noun phrase is a phrase, and in it there is a noun modified by the other word(s).
Principal Noun / Head Word / Key Word
A principal noun / a head word / a key word is a noun modified by the other word(s) in the noun phrase.
Pre Modifier
A pre modifier is a word or a group of words in front of the principal noun / the head word / the key word in the noun phrase.
Post Modifier
A post modifier is a word or a group of words in back of the principal noun / the head word / the key word in the noun phrase.
THE PRINCIPAL NOUN WITH PRE MODIFIERS AND / OR WITH POST MODIFIERS IN THE NOUN PHRASE, AS WELL AS IN THE NOUN PHRASE OF A SENTENCE
The Principal Noun with Pre Modifiers in the Noun Phrase
Pre Modifier
|
Principal
Noun /
Head word /
Key word
|
|||||||||
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
9
|
10
|
|
Determiner
|
Quality /
Character
|
Size
|
Age /
Temperature
|
Shape
|
Color
|
Origin /
Location
|
Participle
|
Material
|
Noun
|
|
The
|
beautiful
|
big
|
antique
|
square
|
brown
|
Indonesian
|
handmade
(V3 / Past
Participle)
|
teak
|
kitchen
|
cupboard
|
The noun phrase in the table is The beautiful, big, antique, square, brown, Indonesian, handmade, teak, kitchen cupboard. The principal noun in the noun phrase is cupboard. The pre modifiers are The beautiful, big, antique, square, brown, Indonesian, handmade, teak, kitchen. Each of the above-mentioned pre modifiers directly modifies the principal noun cupboard.
Study the following noun phrases.
In the noun phrase a small, car factory, each of the pre modifiers (a small, car) directly modifies the principal noun factory. Here, it is the factory which is small, and such a factory is for making cars.
In the noun phrase a small-car factory, the pre modifier small directly modifies car. Here, it is the car which is small, not the principal noun factory, and such a factory is for making small
cars.
Below are the other examples of noun phrases with pre modifiers.
The pretty, tall, young, American lady
A step–by–step plan
The five–story building
The foreign–language academy
Study the following noun phrases.
In the noun phrase a neat, written letter, each of the pre modifiers (a neat, written) directly modifies the principal noun letter. Here, it is the letter which is neat, not the letter which was neatly written.
In the noun phrase a neatly written letter, the pre modifier neatly directly modifies the pre modifier written. Here, it's the letter which was neatly written, not the principal noun letter, and such a letter is neatly written.
In the noun phrase singing birds, the pre modifier singing directly modifies the principal noun birds, and it is a present participle. So, the meaning of singing birds is the same as birds which are singing.
In the noun phrase walking-sticks, the pre modifier walking directly modifies the principal noun sticks, and it is a gerund. So, the meaning of walking-sticks is the same as sticks for walking.
Noun Phrases with Pre Modifiers in Sentence Cores
The beautiful, big, antique, square, brown, Indonesian, handmade, teak, kitchen cupboard is mine.
Its sentence core: The cupboard is mine.
I like the beautiful, big, antique, square, brown, Indonesian, handmade, teak, kitchen cupboard.
Its sentence core: I (S) like (P) the cupboard (O).
He owns a small, car factory.
Its sentence core: He (S) owns (P) a factory (O).
They made a step–by–step plan.
Its sentence core: They (S) made (P) a plan (O).
She climbed the five–story building.
Its sentence core: She (S) climbed (P) the building (O).
He sent neatly written letters.
Its sentence core: He (S) sent (P) letters (O).
She is a mathematics teacher.
Its sentence core: He (S) is a teacher (P).
They are English speaking students.
Its sentence core: They (S) are students (P).
Noun Phrases with Post Modifiers
The baby in the room
The baby over there
The baby in the room over there
The baby crying (present participle) in the room over there
The baby nursed (past participle) by its mother in the room over there
The principal noun in each of the above-mentioned noun phrases is baby. Each group of the post modifiers exists in back of the pricipal noun baby and directly modifies it.
Study the noun phrases and the sentences below.
The lady in the room over there (noun phrase) [= The lady (who is) in the room over there]
The lady (S) is in the room over there (P). (sentence)
The lady typing in my room. (noun phrase) [= The lady (who is) typing in the room]
The lady (S) is typing (P) in my room (Adjunct). (sentence)
Below are noun phrases with post modifiers in sentence cores.
The lady in the room over there is my secretary.
Its sentence core: The lady is my secretary.
That computer, rather than this, is good.
Its sentence core: That computer is good.
Our teacher, with all of us, is busy.
Its sentence core: Our teacher is busy.
The baby, together with its mother, was safe.
Its sentence core: The baby was safe.
This student, like / unlike / as well as John, looks happy.
Its sentence core: This student looks happy.
Everybody normal knows it.
Its sentence core: Everybody knows it.
Study the noun phrase with pre modifiers and with post modifiers in the following sentence.
The pretty, tall, young, American lady typing in the room over there is my secretary.
Its sentence core: The lady is my secretary.
EXERCISES
A. Identify the Principal Noun in Each of the Following Noun Phrases.
- Portrait and Landscape orientation options
- Tiny, magnetized or unmagnetized core.
- A change in the printable page on the screen.
- The selection at the left of the top line of icons.
- The versatility of an electronic machine for processing data.
- The standard measure of distance on a computer screen.
- A straight line between the starting point and the cursor.
- On and off switches inside the mechanism.
- The diagram accompanying the selection.
- The nine tools used to draw, shape, outline, view and fill objects.
B. Identify the Sentence Core in Each of the Following Sentences
- Your rectangle, with the black box at each corner and on each side, is selected.
- A straight line between the starting point and the cursor forms
- The message on your screen names the file.
- Each of the seven drops-down menus offers a selection of the command.
- Either of the lines of icons determines outline shading or color.
- The value of data produced by a computer requires the programming
- The selection at the left of the top line of icons provides access to the dialog box.
- The toolbox displays icons of the nine tools used to draw, shape, outline, view and fill objects.
- The diagrams accompanying the selections provide a graphic depiction of the result.
- Programs, often called application programs, are instructions written in computer languages.
WISH YOU LUCK!