Noun phrases – See 3.3.1

Noun phrases – See 3.3.1

Subject-verb agreement – See 3.5.2

determiner

The different elements

head

modifier

premodifier postmodifier

The head

Typically a noun e.g. music, dogs, Sydney

The only obligatory element

Noun phrases with just a head

Music makes you smarter

an uncountable noun – general sense

Dogs are very intuitive

an plural noun – general sense

Sydney is Australia’s largest city

an proper noun

The determiner – before the head

noun phrase

determiner head

the sun

Types of determiner

determiner

article

possessive pronoun

demonstrative pronoun

quantifying pronoun

numeral

genitive

a computerthe computer

my computer

this computer

some computers

three computers

Peter’s computer

Singular countable noun obligatory determiner

Incorrect:

*In conclusion, society is in the middle oftechnological boom

Rules for article use – See 4.6

head = singular countable noun

In conclusion, society is in the middle ofa technological boom

Correct:

The modifier: two types

noun phrase

premodifier head postmodifier

The premodifier – before the head

premodifier

adjective noun

a stone cottage the green parrot

these old books

my favourite author

The premodifier – before the head

more than one premodifier

the good old days

premodifier, no determiner

old computers

beautiful Venice

The postmodifier – after the head

postmodifier

prepositional phrase dependent clause

the police officer involved in the case

the basket that contained all the eggs

fear of the dark

a pub in London

See 3.3.5 See 3.4.7.1

determiner

All four parts

head

premodifier postmodifier

the red spot on your cheek

Exercise

4 the woman who walked into doors

3 my chemical romance

2 the boy in the bubble

1 a beautiful morning

5 the yellow light in the kitchen

head

determiner

premodifier

postmodifier

A pronoun as the head

We are the world.

head

head

This is an interesting question.

Everybody wants to rule the world.

head

Some pronouns can be pre- or postmodified

Silly me.

head

Everybody in the office laughed.head