NOUN PHRASE

NOUN PHRASE

Subject English

Grade X

• Read the following sentences:

1. He demanded something.  (Sub + Verb + Noun)
2. He demanded something to eat. (Sub + Verb + NP with infinitive)

• She took tea. (Sub + Verb + Noun)

1. She took tea early.  (Sub + Verb + NP + Adverb)
2. Praising is a good virtue. (Noun as Sub + Verb)
3. Praising all is equal to praising none.        (NP + Verb + Adjective + NP)

• He showed me a computer. (Sub + Verb + Noun)
• He showed me how to assemble a computer. (with how to)
• In first sentence ‘something’ is a noun and it is object of verb (demanded).
• In second sentence ‘something to eat’ is also object of the verb (demanded) this group of words is used for noun, so this group of words is called Noun Phrase.
• In fourth sentence ‘Tea Early’ is object of verb Took. But this group of words is worked as noun, so this group of words is called Noun Phrase.
• In five sentence ‘praising’ is a noun and this subject of verb (Is)
• In sixth sentence ‘praising all’ is a subject of verb (is) but this is a group of words and used for noun, so this is also called a Noun Phrase.
• In eight sentence ‘ how to assemble a computer’ is also a noun phrase, so here let`s define Noun Phrase;

Definition of a Noun Phrase

• A noun phrase is a group of words that acts as a noun. It may be a subject or object or complement of a verb. For example;

1. Playing hockey, II. Reading Books, III. Early to bed, IV. To win a prize

• • • Playing hockey keeps man active.
    • We have enjoyed reading this book.
    • Early to bed is a good habit.
    • To win a prize is a hard task.
• More examples:

1. Bird`s eye view, 2.Reading novels, 3.At sixes and sevens, 4.ups and down, 5.kith and kin, 6.wear and tear, 7.without rhyme or reason, 8.long and short, 9.to learn driving, 10.part and parcel

• The above phrases can be turned into sentences, as such;

1. 1. We had a bird`s eye view of the city from the tower.
   2. Everything in the room was at sixes and sevens.

• • We should be kind to our kith and kin.

1. 1. He left his service without rhyme or reason.
   2. He wants to learn driving.
   3. I am fond of reading novels.

• • We should learn the ups and downs of life.
  • Wear and tear of roads causes problems.

1. 1. The long and short of discussion is that he was killed.
   2. TV is a part and parcel of a modern house.

• Note: In order to understand the Noun Phrase more clearly, question “What” should be asked after the “Verb” and what follows, is either a Noun , a Noun Phrase or Noun Clause as;
• He wants “what”……………..to learn driving. Hence “to learn driving” is a Noun Phrase.