Understanding Noun Phrases, Adjectives, and Verb Phrases
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Noun Phrase
A noun phrase is characterized by having a noun or other nominal element as its core, such as a pronoun, an infinitive, or a substantive noun.
Modifiers
Examples of modifiers include:
- Articles
- Demonstratives
- Possessives
- Indefinite pronouns
- Numerals
- Interrogative and exclamative pronouns
- Distributive pronouns
Core Elements
Core elements include:
- Nouns
- Pronouns
- Substantivized elements
Noun Complements (NC)
Examples of noun complements include:
- Adjectives
- Prepositional Phrases (PrepP)
- Noun Phrases in apposition
- Adjective clauses
- Substantive clauses
Adjective
An adjective describes a quality of the noun it accompanies. From a syntactic point of view, it has three functions: noun complement, attribute, and predicative complement. From a morphological point of view, it has a stem and admits derivational and inflectional morphemes.
Noun
A noun designates a reality. It is a type of word that has gender and number variance and is the nucleus of a noun phrase. It can play the role of subject. From a morphological point of view, it has a token that can admit derivational and inflectional morphemes. From a syntactic point of view, it can have many functions (subject, etc.).
Verb Phrase
The verb phrase functions as the predicate of the sentence, and the obligatory element is the verb, which serves as the nucleus.
Verbal Periphrasis
Verbal Periphrasis (VP) = Auxiliary Verb + (conjunction/preposition) + Non-finite Verb.
Types of Verbal Periphrasis
Modal (Manners/Duties)
- have to + infinitive
- be obliged to + infinitive
- need to + infinitive
Modal (Doubt)
- may + infinitive
- might + infinitive
- could + infinitive
Aspectual (Inceptive)
To begin an action:
- go to + infinitive
- be about to + infinitive
Aspectual (Inchoative)
The moment of action:
- start to + infinitive
- begin to + infinitive
- commence to + infinitive
- set about + infinitive
- start + infinitive
Aspectual (Repetitive)
Repeated action:
- return to + infinitive
Aspectual (Durative)
Developing action:
- be + gerund (playing)
- continue + gerund
- keep + gerund
- go on + gerund
- go + gerund
Aspectual (Perfective)
The action is completed:
- have + participle (played)
- get + participle
- finish + gerund