📋 Download worksheet 5.1.1 here.

Based on its structure/formation, an NP can be simple or complex.

• Simple: (pre-modification) + head noun

• Complex: pre-modification + head noun + post-modification

1. Simple NP = [a single noun/pron.]

1. People | like to have money.

NP = n. (common)

2. Dogs | are not allowed in this restaurant.

NP = n. (common)

3. Washington DC | is seven hours’ drive to the north.

NP = n. (proper)

4. I | am busy.

NP = pron. (personal)

5. Everything | is fine.

NP = pron. (indefinite)

2. Simple NP = [pre-modifier(s) + head noun]

1. A tree | was struck by the lightning last night. [art. + head noun]

2. Our friends | have moved to Florida. [possessive adj. + head noun]

3. Some books | are not worth reading. [quantifier + head noun]

4. That dog | is not allowed in this restaurant. [demonstrative adj. + head noun]

5. Interesting minds | are hard to come upon. [adj. + head noun]

6. He| was caught with a smoking gun in his hand. [art. + adj. + head noun]

7. Someone | has returned the stolen painting to the museum. [art. + adj. + head noun]

8. The angry Lithuanian pastry chef | resigned. [art. + adj + adj. + n. + head noun]

9. (You) | Try our freshly-brewed Timothy’s custom-roasted Italian-blend gourmet coffee.

[complex adj. + possessive pron. + complex adj. + complex adj. + n. + head noun]

Note. Pre-modifiers can be determines (articles, possessive pronouns, indefinite determiners, demonstrative determiners) attributive adjectives, present/past participles, nouns, etc.

3. Complex NP = [pre-modifier(s) + head noun + PNM (post noun modifiers)]

1) PNM = PP

• The pineapples [on the dining table] | are delicious.

[art. + NP + PP]

2) PNM = nonfinite dependent clause (with an untensed lexical verb)

• The next flight {[to arrive]} | is from London.

[art. + adj. + NP + to-infinitive clause]

• The cat {[running after a squirrel]} | is Zoey.

[art. + NP + v-ing clause]

• The vase {[broken by my cat]} | was inexpensive.

[art. + NP + v-ed clause]

3) PNM = a finite dependent clause (with a tensed main verb)

• The person {that she recommended} | is trustworthy.

[art. + NP + relative clause]

• The fact {that the earth is round} | sounded shocking at that time.

[art. + NP + complement clause]

Note. We will learn to distinguish between finite and nonfinite clauses in the last module of the course. For now, you only need to be able to recognize a finite dependent clause.

To summarize, a post-noun Modifier (PNM) can take the form of

A. a phrase

• PP (the car keys [on the table])

• appositive noun phrase (The Minister of Defense, [General John], resigned.)

B. a non-finite clause: (not marked for tense or with a modal auxiliary verb)

• to-clause (the way {to get to our house})

• ing-clause (a play {consisting of nine acts})

• ed-clause (products {required to support bone growth})

C. a finite clauses: (clause marked for present /past tense or with a modal auxiliary verb)

• relative clause: This is the movie {that I talked about}.

• noun complement clause: The reason {why he didn't show up} remains unknown.

Diagramming complex NPs to show their internal hierarchical structures: