Noun phrase
Definition
A noun phrase is built around a noun, pronoun, or another nominal head. It can include determiners, numbers, adjectives, noun modifiers, prepositional phrases, and relative clauses.
Examples
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Those two old books belong to Maya.
The phrase contains a determiner, number, adjectives, and the head noun books.
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The woman by the window is waiting.
The prepositional phrase by the window modifies the head noun woman.
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She bought a camera that works underwater.
The relative clause modifies the head noun camera.
Noun phrase vs. clause
The new manager arrived early.
The phrase has no finite verb inside it.
The manager who started yesterday arrived early.
The relative clause contains the finite verb started and modifies manager.
A noun phrase has a nominal head. It may contain a clause as one of its modifiers.
Noun phrases perform several sentence functions
A noun phrase can function as a subject, direct object, indirect object, complement, or object of a preposition.
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The tall building blocks the view.
The noun phrase functions as the subject.
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We photographed the tall building.
The same noun phrase functions as the direct object.
Common mistakes
The list of names are on the desk.
The list of names is on the desk.
Agreement follows the singular head noun list, not the nearer plural noun names.
those old two books
those two old books
Determiners and numbers normally come before descriptive adjectives.
Quick check
Question 1 of 3
Which complete expression is a noun phrase?
The expression is built around the head noun windows.Which noun phrase functions as the direct object?
The old bicycle receives the action of repaired.Which verb agrees with the head noun in The box of tools ___ heavy?
The singular head noun box controls the verb.Nice work — you've completed the quick check.
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