4 Noun and Noun Phrase.ppt

Lecture 4Noun and Noun Phrase Teaching Contents 4.1 Classification of nouns and function of noun phrases 4.2 Number forms of nouns 4.3 Partitives 4.1 Classification of nouns and function of noun phrases 1) Classification of nouns a) Simple, compound and derivative nouns: by word-formation b) Common and proper nouns: by lexical meaning C) Countable noun and uncountable noun This classification is based on the grammatical features of nouns instead of whether they are countable. Regarding grammatical features, uncountable nouns cannot have numeral before them (*two information), have no plural forms (*informations) and cannot be modified by “how many” but by “how much” 2) Functions of noun phrases Nouns can function as all the elements in a sentence except the predicative verb. e.g. They elected him chairman of the board. He returned last night. A photo is taken each time this button is pushed The general pattern of noun phrase is (determiner)+(premodifier)+noun+(postmodifier) The premodifier of noun phrase can be noun as well as adj. or participle. e.g. a table leg, water supply, the life sciences When noun is used as premodifier, it can be either singular, plural, or both. (1) Singular noun as premodifier e.g. table legs = legs of a table / tables a shoe store = a store that sells shoes a car race = a race between cars a kitchen sink = a sink in a kitchen When the plural noun in the postmidifier is changed into premodifier, it usually becomes singular. e.g. a cloth for dishes = a dish cloth decay of teeth = tooth decay a station for buses = a bus station a pocket for trousers = a trouser pocket a tray for ashes = an ash tray (2)Singular or plural noun as premodifier a.There is ambiguity here. foreign language(s) department= department of foreign languages (foreign language department = department of a foreign language) soft drinks manufacturer = manufacturer that produces several kinds o