Nouns Pre-Modifiers

NOUNS – Pre Modifiers What if a single noun isn't specific enough for our purposes? How then do we modify a noun to construct a more specific reference?

NOUNS – Pre Modifiers HOUSE HOUSE WHITE HOUSE MAN LARGE MAN

NOUNS – Pre Modifiers  Modification is a somewhat technical term in linguistics. It does not mean to change something, as when we "modify" a car or dress. To modify means to limit, restrict, characterize, or otherwise focus meaning. We use this meaning throughout the discussion here.

NOUNS – Pre Modifiers Modifiers before the noun are called pre-modifiers. All of the pre- modifiers that are present and the noun together form a noun phrase.

NOUNS – Pre Modifiers The most common pre-modifiers are adjectives, such as red, long, hot. Other types of words often play this same role. Not only articles - the water but also verbs - running water and possessive pronouns - her thoughts

NOUNS – Pre Modifiers Pre-modifiers limit the reference in a wide variety of ways. Order: second, last Location: kitchen, westerly Source or Origin: Canadian Color: red, dark Smell: acrid, scented Material: metal, oak Size: large, 5-inch Weight: heavy Luster: shiny, dull

NOUNS – Pre Modifiers  Some noun phrases are short: the table  Some are long: the second shiny red Swedish touring sedan a large smelly red Irish setter my carved green Venetian glass salad bowl *

NOUNS – Pre Modifiers   Each construction would function as a single unit within a sentence.   The noun phrase is the most common unit in English sentences.

NOUNS – Pre Modifiers   See how much you can expand a pre- modifier in a noun phrase: the book the history book the American history book the illustrated American history book the recent illustrated American history book the recent controversial illustrated American history book the recent controversial illustrated leather bound American history book