Noun Phrase and it's functions

GRAMMATICAL NAMES AND FUNCTIONS (NOUN PHRASE)

WHAT IS A PHRASE?

Unlike a clause, a phrase is a group of words (or possibly a word) without a subject, a finite verb and it does not make complete sense. A phrase is a constituent of a sentence. In other words, a sentence is made up of phrases. For example, the sentence, "The boy behind the door is my brother," is made up of a noun phrase (The boy), a prepositional phrase (behind the door) and another noun phrase (my brother).

Phrases are of different types:

i. Noun Phrase (NP).

ii. Adjectival (or Adjective) Phrase (AdjP).

iii. Adverbial (or Adverb) Phrase (AdvP).

iv. Verb Phrase (VP).

v. Prepositional Phrase (PP).

NOUN PHRASE?

A noun phrase is a phrase that is made up of only a noun, a noun with a determiner, or a noun with a post modifier. A noun phrase has a noun or pronoun as its headword and can be premodified by an article/determiner and an adjective. The adjective can be possessive or demonstrative. 

Examples

i. The book.

ii. Your pen.

iii. That watch.

In example one, the noun phrase is modified by the definite article (the). In example two, it is modified by the possessive adjective (your). And in example three, it is modified by the demonstrative adjective (that).

PLEASE NOTE: A modifier can come before or after the word it modifies. For the purpose of clarity, henceforth, the term "premodify" will be used when a modifier precedes the word it modifies, and the term "post modify" will be used when a modifier comes after the word it modifies.

A noun phrase can also be post modified by adjectives, prepositional phrases, or adjectival/relative clauses. Please note that the words in bold in the examples below are the noun phrases while the modifiers are underlined.

Examples

i. Something terrible (has happened). 

"Terrible" is an adjective and a post modifier of the noun phrase, Something terrible. In this case, we have a pronoun (something) as the headword of the noun phrase. As earlier stated, a noun phrase can either have a noun or a pronoun as its headword.

ii. The boy in the room (is my nephew).

In this case, the noun phrase, The boy, is post modified by the prepositional phrase, "in the room."

iii. The boy who came in (is my uncle's son). 
In this case, we have an adjectival (or a relative) clause, who came in, functioning as a post modifier in the noun phrase. 

FUNCTIONS OF A NOUN PHRASE (NP)?

Functions of a Noun Phrase (NP)

A noun phrase performs the following grammatical functions:

1. As subject of a sentence

A noun phrase functions as the subject of a clause/sentence. A subject is a word, phrase or clause which performs the action or acts upon the verb. The group of words in bold in each of the examples below is the noun phrase functioning as the subject of the sentence.

Examples

i. The armed robbers have invaded the city.

ii. The boy in the room is my friend.

iii. The beautiful lady in pink stole the baby.

2. As object of a verb

A noun phrase can function as object of a verb in a sentence.

Examples

i. I met the new English teacher.

"The new English teacher" is the noun phrase functioning as the object of the verb, "met."

ii. His dad suspended the programme.

iii. The man bought a T-shirt.

3. As object complement

An object complement is a word, phrase or clause that directly follows and describes the direct object of a sentence.

Examples

i. We made him our class representative.

"Our class representative" is the noun phrase functioning as the complement of the object of the sentence, "him."

4. As complement or object of a preposition

When a noun phrase functions as a complement (object) of a preposition, it comes immediately after the preposition. This helps you to easily detect a noun phrase that functions as a complement of a preposition.

Examples

i. The boy behind the door is a thief.

In this example, you have the noun phrase, the door, functioning as the complement of the preposition, "behind."

ii. The little girl gave her pen to her brother.

"Her brother" is the noun phrase complementing the preposition, "to."

5. As complement of a subject

Examples

i. The brilliant girl is my friend.

"My friend", which is a noun phrase, is functioning as the complement of the subject.

ii. John is a student.

6. As an appositive

An appositive is a word, phrase or clause that modifies or explains another noun or noun phrase.

Examples

i. Mr Tammy, our new English teacher, is a good teacher.

"Our new English teacher," which is a noun phrase, is in apposition to the noun phrase, "Mr Tammy."

ii. 2baba, the musician, is very rich.

"The musician" is in apposition to the noun, "2baba."

Multiple Choice

Mr Tammy, our new English teacher, is a good teacher.

What is the function of the underlined expression?

• It is in apposition to the noun phrase 'Mr Tammy'.

• It is the subject of the verb 'is'.

• It is the subject of the sentence

• It comes before the teacher

Multiple Choice

Road traffic accidents have a great potential for causing injury to the human body.

What is the grammatical name of the underlined expression?

• Adjectival phrase

• Adverbial clause

• Verbal phrase

• Noun phrase

Multiple Choice

Road traffic accidents have a great potential for causing injury to the human body.

What is the function of the underlined expression?

• the subject of the sentence

• it modifies the sentence

• object of the sentence

• noun phrase

Multiple Choice

The Kagoro Hills scenery is one of the most beautiful natural attractions in Kaduna.

What is the function of the underlined expression?

• the object of the sentence

• subject of the sentence

• the modifier of the sentence

• verb phrase of the sentence

Multiple Choice

His dad suspended the programme.

What is the function of the underlined expression?

• subject of the sentence

• the noun phrase of the sentence

• the object

• object of the verb 'suspended'

Multiple Choice

We made him our class representative.

What is the function of the underlined expression?

• object of the verb

• object complement

• subject complement

• object of the preposition

Multiple Choice

There was always a huge quantity of food left over at the end of the day.

What is the function of the underlined expression?

• subject of the preposition

• noun phrase of the sentence

• object of the verb 'left'

• the object of the preposition 'at'

Multiple Choice

John is a student.

What is the function of the underlined expression?

• object of the sentenc

• object of the verb 'is'

• complement of the subject

• object of the preposition 'is'

Multiple Choice

The regulation of the earth's temperature is also partly due to the seas.

What is the function of the underlined expression?

• The subject of the sentence

• subject of the preposition 'is'

• It modifies the verb 'is'

• It is stating how the earth's temperature is