A Primer On Noun Phrase and Noun Modifier

A PRIMER ON NOUN PHRASES
AND NOUN MODIFIERS
NOUN PHRASE
In our article “Noun modifiers can modify slightly far away nouns”, we say that
the noun modifiers if preceded by a noun phrase can modify the head of the noun
phrase. Through this article we will understand what these noun phrases and
noun modifiers are so that we can quickly identify them and ascertain their roles
in modification.
So let’s first begin with noun phrases. Now even before we start with noun phrase,
let us quickly take a look at the definition of noun.
NOUN – A noun is word used to show a place, a person, a thing, or an idea

(abstract noun).
Now let’s understand what a noun phrase is.
NOUN PHRASE - A noun phrase is a group of words that consists of a noun and a
modifier that modifies that noun. Study the table for examples:
EXAMPLE NOUN NOUN MODIFIER
a striped cat cat a striped
the engine of the car the engine of the car
Jimmy’s kitchen kitchen Jimmy’s
STRUCTURE OF NOUN PHRASE
In the above three examples, we see that the first and the second examples starts
with a modifier first followed by the noun, whereas the second example starts
with the noun followed by a modifier. So, in a noun phrase, the modifier can be
placed either after or before the noun it refers to. A noun phrase can start with
either a noun or a noun modifier.
Following are the types of modifiers that come before the noun to make a noun
phrase:
TYPE EXAMPLE EXPLANATION
While in “a cat”, “a”

refers to just any cat, in
“the engine”, “the”
refers to particular
Articles a cat, the engine engine.
“Jimmy’s” is the noun

in possessive case. It
acts an adjective that
modifies the noun
Possessive Nouns Jimmy’s kitchen “kitchen”.
“our” & “his” are

possessive pronouns
that refer to “cat” and
Possessive Pronouns our cat, his car “car” respectively.
“striped” and
“flowering” are
adjectives. They modify
“cat” and “plant”
respectively. Both the
modifiers give
a striped cat, a information about the
Adjectives flowering plant nouns they modify.
Following are the examples of the modifiers that come after the noun in a noun
phrase:
TYPES EXAMPLES EXPLANATION

1. “of the car” start with “of” &
hence is a prepositional
phrase. It gives information
about the noun “the engine”
1. the engine of the car 2. Prepositional phrase “behind
Prepositional 2. the man behind the the fence” gives information
phrases fence about “the man”, a noun.
1. Although “that has stripes” is

a clause, together with “cat”,
the whole entity is a noun
phrase.
1. the cat that has stripes 2. The relative clause starting
Relative pronoun 2. the author who wrote with “who” and “the author”
clause the book together make a noun phrase.
1. Verb-ing modifier “sitting…”

is giving information about
1. the cat sitting on the the noun “the cat”.
table 2. “staying…” is giving
2. the guests staying in information about “the
Verb-ing modifiers room 205 guests”.
1. Verb-ed modifier “kept…” is

1. the book kept on the giving information about the
upper shelf noun “the book”.
2. the car driven by a 2. “driven…” is giving
Verb-ed modifiers chauffeur in uniform information about “the car”.
In rare occasions, we do see a noun phrase that starts with a pronoun and is
followed by a modifier modifying that pronoun:
EXAMPLE PRONOUN MODIFIER
1. 1. We who were famished by then who were famished by

were still stuck in the jungle. We then
1. 2. Someone very important has Someone Very important

asked me to deliver this to you.
1. 3. There is no one intelligent

enough to understand the forces
of nature. No one Intelligent enough
NOUN MODIFIERS
Now that we know about the noun phrases, we must also know about what all can
classify as noun modifiers that can modify a noun phrase, to be more precise the
head of the noun phrase.
As the name suggests, noun modifiers are the modifiers that modify noun
entities. These noun entities can be a one-word noun or a noun phrase. Since
noun modifiers modify noun entities, they must be placed as close to the entity
that they modify as possible to keep the meaning of the sentence logical and clear.
Following are the kinds of noun modifiers:
NOUN
TYPES EXAMPLE MODIFIER ENTITY
The striped cat

jumped out of the
Adjectives window. striped cat
The planets circling

Verb-ing the sun form the
modifiers solar system. circling the sun The planets
The book kept on the

Verb-ed table belongs to my kept on the
modifiers sister. table The book
Prepositional The engine of the

phrases car died down of the car The engine
midway
who is
The man who is standing
Relative Pronoun standing behind the behind the
Modifiers fence is my trainer. fence The man

A Primer On Noun Phrase and Noun Modifier

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A PRIMER ON NOUN PHRASES

AND NOUN MODIFIERS

NOUN – A noun is word used to show a place, a person, a thing, or an idea

Now let’s understand what a noun phrase is.

EXAMPLE NOUN NOUN MODIFIER

a striped cat cat a striped

the engine of the car the engine of the car

Jimmy’s kitchen kitchen Jimmy’s

STRUCTURE OF NOUN PHRASE

TYPE EXAMPLE EXPLANATION

While in “a cat”, “a”

“Jimmy’s” is the noun

“our” & “his” are

TYPES EXAMPLES EXPLANATION

1. Although “that has stripes” is

1. Verb-ing modifier “sitting…”

1. Verb-ed modifier “kept…” is

EXAMPLE PRONOUN MODIFIER

1. 1. We who were famished by then who were famished by

1. 2. Someone very important has Someone Very important

1. 3. There is no one intelligent

Following are the kinds of noun modifiers:

The striped cat

The planets circling

The book kept on the

Prepositional The engine of the

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