Noun Phrases for English Language Learners

This is the second of two courses designed to be simple to learn English for Chinese students.

This article explains noun phrases and their modifiers including articles, adjectives and prepositions in prepositional phrases.

Noun Phrase worksheets

The noun phrase lessons included the  1. prepositions and noun phrases, and, 2. the noun phrase and advanced noun phrase exercises. Here are the questions, the solutions will be included soon. The preposition and noun phrase worksheet, and the noun phrase and advanced noun phrase worksheet (click to download the pdf).

Introduction

Sentences in English have a S-V-O structure

subject

  • John
  • He
  • A woman

verb

  • played with
  • was sleeping in
  • is watching

object

  • the ball
  • the bed
  • TV
  • Subject – is doing something (the verb)
  • Object – (verb) is doing to this
  • The boy kicked the ball
  • The boy (S) kicked (V) the ball (O)
  • nouns – boy, ball   verb – kicked

What are Noun Phrases

A noun phrase is a group of words related to a noun – The big red ball rolled down the hill

Noun phrases can include: articles (the) – adjectives (big, red) – nouns (ball), but do not include the verb – The big red ball rolled down the hill

These are the noun phrases

  • Article + noun (the boy, the ball, a boy, a ball, an artist, an apple)
  • Adjective + noun (small boy, new ball)
  • Article + adjective + noun (the small boy, a new ball)
  • Article + adjective + adjective + noun
    • the small Indian boy
    • a big, new ball

Modifiers

A noun phrase consists of a noun and its modifiers. Modifiers include articles, adjectives, and other elements that provide more information about the noun.

  • The happy cat
  • Two delicious slices of pizza

The boy kicked the ball – ‘the’ is used as a modifier. A modifier for the noun ‘boy’ and the noun ‘ball’.

add a modifier (adjective) to complete these sentences
  1. The _____naughty_________ child was disruptive at the restaurant.
  2. The _____________________ horse galloped around the track.
  3. I took the ball from the _________________________ child.
  4. We walked to the ______________________ farm on the weekend.
  5. The _______________________ park was open until the afternoon.

Example answers: 1. naughty, 2. valuable, 3. cheeky, 4. local, 5. public

Exercise #1

underline the noun phrases

  1. The teacher helps students with their homework.
  2. A cat sleeps on the windowsill.
  3. The children play in the playground.
  4. A cook prepares delicious meals in the restaurant.
  5. A car waits at the traffic light.
  6. A girl dances in the park.
  7. A dog greets visitors at the front door.

Exercise #2

order the noun phrases

  1. mountains the snowy are busy this time of the year
  2. I hope you had happy a Christmas.
  3. Don’t touch boiling the pot.
  4. table table the tennis is now available.
  5. Can you afford tickets the train expensive?
  6. I used to go to work on old an bicycle.
  7. We enjoyed decorating tree Christmas the beautiful

Prepositions and Noun Phrases

prepositions help answer questions like “where,” “when,” and “how.“

  • where is the cat?

The cat is on the roof

  • where is the book?

The book is on the shelf

  • “The cat on the mat.”
  • “The book in the bag.”
  • “The sun above the clouds.”
  • “The ball under the chair.”
  • “The flower beside the vase.”
  • “The car between the trees.”
  • “The cup on the table.”
  • “The bird in the sky.”
  • “The fish under the water.”
  • “The clock above the door.”

time

  1. We have a meeting at 10 AM.
  2. The concert starts at 7 PM.
  3. I usually have lunch around noon.

place

  1. The children played in the playground.
  2. The cat is hiding under the table.
  3. We had a picnic by the river.

direction

  1. The hikers walked toward the mountain.
  2. The arrow points to the left.
  3. She looked across the street before crossing.

location

  1. The cat is next to the dog.
  2. The brothers stood beside each other.
  3. We sat between Tom and Emily during the movie.

Exercise #1

insert the preposition

  1. The picture is __________ the wall.
  2. The computer is __________ the desk.
  3. The park is __________ our house.
  4. The cat is __________ the sofa.
  5. The coffee shop is __________ the street from the office.
  6. The supermarket is __________ the bank and the library.
  7. The playground is __________ the school building.

Exercise #2

constructing noun phrases in or on?

  1. The students like to study __________ the library on campus.
  2. The chef is cooking __________ the kitchen with stainless steel appliances.
  3. The family enjoys picnics __________ the weekends at the nearby park.
  4. The cat likes to sleep __________ the warm sunlight on the windowsill.
  5. Our team practices soccer __________ the large field behind the school.
  6. The old bookstore is located __________ the historic downtown area.
  7. We planted flowers __________ the small garden near the front porch.

Preposition and Noun Phrase Exercises

Exercise #1

constructing noun phrases in or on?

1.The cat is __________ the roof.

2.The book is __________ the shelf.

3.We play games __________ the park.

4.The ball is __________ the box.

5.The flowers are __________ the vase.

6.The sun is __________ the sky.

7.The pencil is __________ the desk.

Exercise #2

constructing noun phrases with the words below

above  across  at    for  near  within  up

  1. The plane flew __________ the clouds.
  2. The restaurant is famous __________ its delicious desserts.
  3. She walked __________ the street to the other side.
  4. The treasure is hidden __________ the ancient castle.
  5. We waited for the bus __________ the bus stop.
  6. The hiking trail leads __________ the mountain.
  7. The bakery is located __________ the busy intersection.

Exercise #3

Choose the correct preposition to complete the sentences.

1. The restaurant is located __________ the corner.

  • a) in     b) at   c) on

2. We have a meeting __________ 2 PM.

  • a) on   b) at    c) in

3. The movie starts __________ 7 PM.

  • a) in    b) at   c) on

4. She stood __________ the bus stop.

  • a) on    b) at    c) by

5. The cat is sleeping __________ the bed.

  • a) on    b) at    c) in

6. They live __________ the third floor.

  • a) on    b) at    c) in

7. The gift is __________ the table.

  • a) on    b) at    c) in

Examples of Noun Phrases

A noun phrase is a group of two or more words that acts as a noun in a sentence. Below are some examples to help you understand how noun phrases can vary in structure:

  1. Simple noun phrase

    • The cat slept on the couch.
      (The cat is a simple noun phrase consisting of a determiner and a noun.)

  2. Noun phrase with a pronoun

    • She saw him yesterday.
      (She and him are pronouns functioning as simple noun phrases in this sentence.)

  3. Expanded noun phrase with an adverb

    • The very tall building stood out in the skyline.
      (The very tall building is an expanded noun phrase where very is an adverb modifying the adjective tall.)

  4. Noun phrase with an infinitive

    • His dream to travel the world became a reality.
      (To travel the world is an infinitive phrase modifying the noun dream.)
 

If you wish to view 50 noun phase examples then visit this webpage: Noun Phase Examples

Expanded Noun Phrase Examples

An expanded noun phrase contains a head noun and additional words that describe or modify the noun. Here are some simple examples:

  1. The small dog with brown fur
  2. A delicious cake topped with strawberries
  3. Her new book about space exploration

Frequently Asked Questions about Noun Phrases

Q: What is a noun phrase definition?
A: A noun phrase is a group of two or more words that function as a noun in a sentence. It consists of a head noun and may include modifiers, determiners, adjectives, or other words that describe the noun.

Q: How do I identify the noun phrase in a sentence?
A: To identify a noun phrase, look for the head noun and any words that modify it. Noun phrases are groups of words that function as a noun, so they can be the subject, object, or complement in a sentence.

Q: Can a noun phrase contain a relative clause?
A: Yes, an expanded noun phrase can contain a relative clause to provide more information about the noun. For example, in the phrase “the book that she bought,” the relative clause “that she bought” modifies the noun “book.”

Q: What are examples of noun phrases?
A: Examples of noun phrases include simple noun phrases like “the cat” and expanded noun phrases like “the fluffy cat with green eyes.” Both phrases function as a noun in the sentence.

Q: Can modifiers come before or after the noun in a noun phrase?
A: Yes, modifiers can come before or after the head noun. For example, in “a beautiful garden” the adjective “beautiful” modifies the noun “garden” before it, while in “the house on the hill,” the phrase “on the hill” modifies the noun “house” after it.

Q: What is the function of a noun phrase in English grammar?
A: A noun phrase functions as a noun and can act as the subject of a verb, the object of a verb, or the object of a preposition. For example, in the sentence “The large dog barked loudly,” the noun phrase “the large dog” is the subject of the verb “barked.”

Q: How do noun phrases modify the meaning of a sentence?
A: Noun phrases modify the meaning of a sentence by providing more detailed information about the noun. This can include adjectives, determiners, or participle phrases that describe the noun, helping to clarify or expand its meaning.

Q: What types of phrases can act as modifiers in a noun phrase?
A: Adjective phrases, participle phrases, and prepositional phrases can act as modifiers in a noun phrase. For example, in “a girl with a red hat,” the prepositional phrase “with a red hat” modifies the noun “girl.”

Insights about Noun Phrases

 

  1. Noun phrases can replace single words
    In English grammar, a noun phrase can replace a single word noun to provide more detail or clarity. For instance, the single word “dog” can be expanded into “the big brown dog with a wagging tail.” This helps writers and speakers create more descriptive and specific sentences.

  2. Expanded noun phrases make writing richer
    An expanded noun phrase includes a head noun and modifiers that describe the noun in detail. These modifiers can be adjectives, determiners, or even clauses. For example, instead of saying “I saw a bird,” you can say “I saw a small bird with bright blue feathers.” Expanded noun phrases are commonly used in both academic writing and everyday conversation.

  3. Noun phrases can contain clauses
    A noun phrase can include a noun clause, which is a type of clause that functions like a noun within the sentence. For example, in the sentence “What he said surprised everyone,” the noun clause “what he said” acts as the subject of the verb “surprised.”

  4. Noun phrases can function as different parts of a sentence
    A noun phrase can function as the subject, direct object, or even the object of a preposition. For example:

    • “The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog” (subject)
    • “She saw the fox in the garden” (direct object)
    • “He was hiding behind the tall tree” (object of a preposition)

  5. Common errors when using noun phrases
    ESL students often confuse the placement of modifiers in a noun phrase. Remember that determiners (like a, the, or some) usually come before adjectives, and adjectives come before the head noun. For example, it’s correct to say “a beautiful old house” and not “beautiful a old house.”

  6. Noun phrases can be part of other types of phrases
    In complex sentences, a noun phrase can be embedded within other types of phrases, such as verb phrases or adjective clauses. For instance, in the sentence “He found a book that was written by a famous author,” the noun phrase “a book that was written by a famous author” is part of the verb phrase “found a book.”

  7. Noun phrases and possessive determiners
    Possessive determiners (like my, your, or their) can also be part of a noun phrase. For example, in “her red shoes,” the possessive determiner “her” modifies the head noun “shoes.” This is an important aspect of forming possessive structures in English.

  8. Using noun phrases in spoken English
    While noun phrases are more common in written English, they are also frequently used in spoken English to add more precision or description. For example, instead of saying “I saw a man,” someone might say “I saw a tall man in a black coat.”

Conclusion

If you want to learn more about nouns visit the nouns page, or visit the parts of speech page.

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