Phrases I Noun phrases part A Lesson

Phrases I Noun phrases – part A Lesson 10

• A phrase is a string of words forming a syntactic unit • Named after the class of the most important word they contain (i. e. the ‘head’) • Noun phrase • Verb phrase • Adjective phrase • Adverb phrase • Prepositional phrase

The noun phrase (NP) • A noun phrase is a phrase which has a noun (or indefinite pronoun) as its head word. • Noun phrases often function as verb subjects and objects, as predicative expressions, and as the complements of prepositions. • Noun phrases can be embedded inside each other; for instance, the noun phrase “the house on the hill” contains the shorter noun phrase the hill.

A tree-representation of a NP • By Tjo 3 ya - Own work, CC BY-SA 3. 0, https: //commons. wikimedia. org/w/index. php? curid=20423763

Noun phrase structure premodification head noun postmodification My house My beautiful house The house on the hill (PP) The man (that) I love (finite rel clause) The lady waiting outside (non-finite rel. Clause) My trip Back home (Adv. P) Something Unusual (Adj. P) Test to identify the words belonging to a NP: replacing it with a pronoun

Identify NPs and their internal structure • Thank you for your prompt return of a signed cheque for £ 43. • Unfortunately, although this cheque is signed, it appears to be dated 14 February 2200. No doubt just an oversight on your part. • Brompton's Store cannot accept post-dated cheques as payment, and I am therefore returning it to you with the request that you return to us a signed cheque, dated with the date of signature. • Alternatively you can pay by cash or on the enclosed bank giro credit slip. A leaflet is enclosed for your information. • I look forward to receiving your payment.

Identify NPs and their internal structure • Thank you for your prompt return of a signed cheque for £ 43. • Unfortunately, although this cheque is signed, it appears to be dated 14 February 2200. No doubt just an oversight on your part. • Brompton's Store cannot accept post-dated cheques as payment, and I am therefore returning it to you with the request that you return to us a signed cheque, dated with the date of signature. • Alternatively you can pay by cash or on the enclosed bank giro credit slip. A leaflet is enclosed for your information. • I look forward to receiving your payment.

Translation problems I Italian>English • Order of the pre-modifiers Det. Adjectives with an opinion absolute or intensifying meaning (same, certain, entire) and numbers «fact» Size Other qualities (type) Age Shape Temperature Colour Pattern Origin/nationality Material Purpose/type Head noun Can be expressed by nouns with an adjectival function

Translation problems I Italian>English: getting the right order Un elegante hotel a 4 stelle Un piacevole giardino paesaggistico Una splendida sabbia bianca I magnifici templi greci Delle (alcune) placide pozze scavate nella roccia [rock pools] L’imponente hall in stile moderno La grande piscina riscaldata

Translation problems I Italian>English: getting the right order Det. Adjectives absol. /intens. numbers opinion «fact» Head noun an elegant 4 -star Hotel a pleasant landscaped Garden dazzling white sand Magnificent Greek Temples tranquil rock pools Impressive modern entrance hall large heated swimming Pool a Ssome The