COLLECTIVE NOUNS

Collective nouns are words for groups of people or things. The typical collective noun is a body made up of individual people:
the air force , the army , an audience , a band
Although these collective nouns are singular , they often used with a plural verb , especially when you are thinking of the group as several individual people. When you think of the group more as a unit than as several people, you usually use a singular verb . For example , you can say :
* My family comes from Hong Kong.
* My family were pleased to see me again .
* The staff consists of a manager and four sales assistants .
* The staff are pleased with their pay rise .
* Our team has a good chance of victory.
* Our team have been practicing hard .
* The public rarely gets a say .
* The public are admitted on weekdays .
* The committee is too large .
* The committee are considering further action.
In American English collective nouns usually have a singular verb:
* The orchestra was tuning up .
If you use a singular verb, you usually refer to the body as it ; if you use a plural verb , you refer to the body as they:

NOUNS USED WITH ZERO ARTICLE

Quite a lots of nouns , many of them countable, are used without the articles a\ an or the in certain situations . For example:
* What did you learn at school today ?
* Is Dad back from work yet ?
* We are a long way from home.
* Are you going into town ?
* You ' ll end up in prison !
* Helen is still at college.
Dropping the article is like calling them by their own name.
Nouns used with zero article include the following:
* standard places and institutions , typically used with prepositions , especially to, from, at :
* Few folk go to church nowadays.
* I start university in the autumn.
* Hi ! I ' m phoning from work.
* I never learnt much at school.
The use of zero article indicates general rather than specific reference. You use articles when you are being specific .
WITH ZERO ARTICLE                                                     WITH AN ARTICLE
* I never liked school.                                                        * I went to a good school.
* Jim was sent to prison.                                                     * The work is very demanding.
* I usually walk to work.( = my office or place of work )
In British English you are at school when you are attending a school , but in American English you are in school

UNCOUNTABLE NOUNS

 We noticed that countable nouns are items (floor , ceiling , door , window , and so on ). By contrast , uncountable nouns , cannot be regarded as items .
Uncountable nouns are typically nouns that do not form plurals. They can be divided into two main types: concrete uncountable nouns and abstract uncountable nouns.
1  ) Concrete uncountable nouns
   Concrete uncountable nouns represent types of food or material ; here are some examples :
    air  , bread , cheese, grass , dust , ink rain , scenery, water  
It is quite helpful to think of these kinds of material and food as mass nouns. Some grammarians actually use the term mass nouns for all countable nouns .
2 ) Abstract uncountable nouns
Abstract uncountable nouns represent qualities or concepts , for example :
 advice , anger , harm , haste , glory sleep , luck , lust etc.
As a general rule , you do not use a | an with uncountable  nouns. You do not say , for example , a milk or an anger.
Nor , again as a general rule, do you make uncountable nouns plural. you do not say , for example, happinesses or rices.
How uncountable nouns are used
1 ) Uncountable nouns are used in general statements :
   * I don' t like cheese.
2 ) They can be used with some in specific situation ; some takes the place of the a | an you use with countable nouns:
* There is some cheese in the fridge and a knife on the table .
3 ) They can be used with the when it is clear what you are referring to :
* Put the cheese back in the fridge.
4 ) They can be used with other determiners , quantity words and possessive forms :
* That cheese is quite delicious !
* I do not eat much cheese .
* My hair needs a wash .
*Granddad 's health is deteriorating.








   

   










   
   
   
   

COUNTABLE NOUNS

Countable nouns are used with the indefinite article a or an if the noun begins with a vowel . When the noun is mentioned for the first time. Countable nouns used in general observations are also used with a / an ( eg Never take a risk unnecessarily) .
When a countable noun is mentioned a second time , it is typically used with the because listeners and readers know which thing or person is meant . The is used with a countable noun if there is one thing or person that the speaker or writer could be referring to.
As well as a / an and  the , you can use determiners such as possessives, demonstratives and quantifiers with countable nouns , and with possessives formed from proper nouns with 's.
Countable nouns can be made plural , and most plurals are formed by adding s ( or es ). Some nouns are used in the plural only( eg clothes , trousers , ) , and some plural forms ( eg people ) don't end in s.
Adjectives can be used before countable nouns , and they typically come between the article ( or determiner) and the noun.
When you use a superlative adjective with a countable noun , you use the before it.
Using the with countable nouns
* you use the  with countable noun when there is only one such thing or person in existence , or only one that you could possibly mean :
* Look at the moon!
* The 

GRAMMAR HELP

Certain proper nouns ( that is nouns with capital letters ) are uncountable. For example
* A person of a certain nationality such as German , is a countable noun.
* The language of certain country such as German , is an uncountable noun .
* Beliefs such as Communism are uncountable nouns.
* The trade names of certain products, such as Coca- cola , are uncountable nouns .
There are some exceptions to the a + consonant and  an + vowel rule :
* You u put an ( not a ) before words begin with an h that is not pronounced as in the following words:
    an heir , an heiress, an heirloom, an honor , an hour
*  You put a ( not an ) before words that begin with a u that sounds like the word you.
*  a uniform , a unicorn , a union, a unit , a university , a user , a utensil , a U- turn

THE FUNCTION OF A NOUN IN A SENTENCE

Nouns can have several different grammatical functions. They can act as the subject or object of a verb , the object of a preposition , the complement of a linking verb , the object complement after a transitive verb, and an adjective used before another noun .
NOUNS AS SUBJECTS
A noun can be the subject of a verb :
* The students were all reading quietly .
* Is that light switch faulty .
* Mum and Dad usually get up about 6 am .
NOUNS ACT AS OBJECTS
A noun can be the object of a verb:
* Have you fed the cat ?
* Please don't interrupt the speaker .
* Did you enjoy the movie ?
NOUNS AS OBJECTS OF A PREPOSITION 
Remember that a preposition always has an object :
* I walked into the sitting room .
* He was working at his desk .
* You are standing on my toe .
NOTE : The preposition can be separated from its object .
*  What gods do they believe in ?
* Which region are you from ?
Two nouns may be joined by a conjunction such as and or, and share the grammatical function of subject of a verb , or object of a verb or a preposition:
* Gales and rain showers will develop tonight .
* Please don ' t leave your coats and bag here .
* I wiped the dust off the tables and chairs .
NOUNS AS COMPLEMENTS AFTER LINKING VERBS
A noun can be a complement after a verb such as be or become:
* I feel a fool  .
* Be a man .
* I became an actress quite by an accident ,
NOTE: A verb that takes a complement , such as be or become is called a linking verb .
NOUNS AS OBJECT COMPLEMENTS AFTER TRANSITIVE VERBS
A noun  can also be a complement after  a transitive  verb , a verb that takes an object . The complement is attached to the object:
* She called { transitive verb } me { object ] a fool [complement ]
NOTE : A verb that takes a complement after an object is called a complex transitive verb .
Verbs such as  elect , vote , make , which take an object complement , can be used actively or passively:
* We voted her the winner. [ active]
* She was voted the winner .[passive]
NOUNS USED ADJECTIVELY 
Frequently in English you find a noun used as adjective before another noun ; the first noun describes or defines the second noun:
* Rain clouds were approaching .
* An internet search will give you the answer .
* We are planning to review the school curriculum .
NOTE : A lot of compound nouns are formed from two nouns , where first noun defines or describes the second :
* bookcase , dining room , keyboard , coffee cup , 

NOUNS

Nouns are what you talked about . Nouns are words for people , animals or things.
FORMS OF NOUNS:
* Singular or plural
* with an article ( a, an , the )
*  with a determiner
* with zero article
* phrase
* compound
USES:
* SUBJECT OF A VERB
* OBJECT OF VERB
* OBJECT OF A PREPOSITION
* COMPLEMENT AFTER A LINKING VERB
* OBJECT COMPLEMENT
* ADJECTIVAL BEFORE  ANOTHER NOUN
TYPES OF NOUNS:
* PROPER NOUNS
* names of particular people , animals , places , objects, buildings
COUNTABLE  NAMES eg Germans , Muslims
* UNCOUNTABLE   NAMES  eg Mandarin , Coca- cola , Christianity
* COMMON NOUNS :
* COUNTABLE = CONCRETE AND ABSTRACT
* UNCOUNTABLE = CONCRETE AND ABSTRACT
* COLLECTIVE NOUNS
* COMMON - GENDER NOUNS
* MASCULINE NOUNS
* FEMININE NOUNS
* NEUTER NOUNS
Nouns can consist of two or more words :
Mrs Jones , swimming pool , the great wall of China, school uniforms
A noun such as swimming pool or school uniform or hair - dryer , made up of two words ( often two nouns) , is called a compound noun.
Nouns can be used with articles , possessives and other determiners
We use the articles a / an and the with nouns:
eg , a newspaper , a journalist , the news
* used with possessives : my brother , his friends , their concerns
* used with determiners:
 this room , these cups , that chair
A proper noun is the name of a particular person, animal , place ,or thing , for example:
  September ,Taipei , Reader 's Digest
A common noun is a word for a person , animal , place or thing , for example :
    teenager , butcher , hyena , station , candle , enjoyment
Noons can be singular or plural
The noun is singular when it refers to one item :
  a carpet , the door  , the floor , a wall
The noun is plural when it refers to more than one item :
   windows , curtains , cushions
NOUNS  made plural by adding s , are called countable nouns .
Nouns act as the subjects and objects in sentences
For example:
 The stranger [ subject ] rang the doorbell [object ]
NOUNS ARE WHAT YOU TALK ABOUT 
You may have noticed that most of the words in any general English dictionary are nouns.
* A spider is an animal , not an insect .
* Do we need milk and bread ?
Nouns as abstract things  ( that you can' t see or touch )
 beauty , idea , hope , belief , truth , friendship , silence
Nouns as concrete things :
This include things that you can see or , touch :
 arm , face , knife fork , spoon , paper , pencil
NOUNS for people :
 brother , child , lawyer , libration , manager

TYPES OF PARTICIPIAL PHRASES

Some conjunctions can be used with non- finite( or reduced ) adverbial clauses:
* While hunting for a lost necklace ( = while I was hunting for a lost necklace ) I found this .
* When planning a meal , check your complete cupboards for stocks before you go shopping .
Perfect participial plays a big part in the subordinate - clause type of participial phrase; or example:
* Having showered and changed ( = when she had showered and changed ) she returned to the guests' lounge.
* I decided to park safely outside the town , having been fined previously for illegal parking .
BEWARE OF HANGING PARTICIPLE!
Make sure that the subject of the participial phrase and the subject of the main verb are the same person or thing :
RIGHT: While window- shopping one day I was nearly involved in an accident.
WRONG: While window- shopping one day a bus mounted the pavement in front of us.
In the second example , the subject of the main verb is a bus but the subject of the participial phrase is intended to be I. YOU CAN GET SOME ABSURD EFFECT WITH HANGING PARTICIPLES AS HERE , WITH BUS DOING SOME WINDOW-SHOPPING.
There are two ways of rescuing hanging participle:
1)   Make  the subjects same :
* While window- shopping one day, I encountered a bus mounting the pavement in front me .
2 ) Turn the participial phrase into subordinate clause:
* While I was window- shopping one day , a bus mounted in front of me .
INDEPENDENT TYPE :
In some participial phrases the subject of the participle is different from that of the main verb , and the whole phrase , with its subject included , is independent of the main clause :
* Her eyes flashing , Margret addressed her critics.
 * Washing-up done , we sat down to watch television .
SENTENCE ADVERBIALS
Certain participial phrases look as if they are a case of hanging participle , but they have acquired the grammatical status of sentence adverbial ( representing a comment by the speaker ) , so again , are independent of the main verb :
* Strictly speaking , a spider is an animal not an insect .
Participle - free ( or verbless ) non- finite structure :
Adjectival phrases and noun phrases relating to the subject of the main verb can be used with the same effect as the participial phrases . you can visualize a linking participle such as being or looking preceding them):
* White with rage , she slammed the door in his face .
* A pessimist always , I was not expecting much .
Participle- free  structures independent of the subject of the main verb are also possible , but notice that the subject of the independent structure  typically ' belongs ' to the main subject :
* Her face pale with fright , Susan sat motion-less
*

TYPES OF PARTICIPIAL PHRASES

Subordinate- clause type
relative -clause type
We saw that post- modifying participial phrases act as relative clause of both the defining and non defining and can be referred to as non- finite or reduced relative clause :
* Defining type: Students wanting immediate employment (= who want immediate employment) should consult their careers adviser.
*Non -defining type : Maggie, looking better for her holidays ( = who was looking better for her holidays) came over to greet me.
Adverbial type clause
Participial phrases can play the part of adverbial clauses , for example clauses of time, reason, concession, result. They can be called non-finite or reduced adverbial clauses. For example:
Time
* Completed at last ( = when it was completed ), a jigsaw is visible proof of your patience .
* Running her eyes down the text ( = as she was running her eyes down the text ) she spotted a mistake .

reason:
* Having no knowledge of the subject (= because I had no knowledge of the subject ), I could contribute nothing to the discussion .
* Humiliated by his retort ( = because I was humiliated by his retort ), I said nothing.
concession:
* Relishing the opportunity for revenge ( = although she was relishing the opportunity for revenge ) , she nevertheless waited patiently for the right movement .
* Disgusted by his treachery ( = though I was disgusted by his treachery ) I still , paradoxically, pitied him .
condition :
* Fed healthy food for six months or so ( = if they are fed healthy food for six months or so ) , these obese children will probably return to a normal body mass .
* Properly packed ( = if they had been properly packed ) , these goods have arrived unbroken .
 result :
* He won first prize , surprising even himself ( = so that he surprised even himself ) ,
          

TYPES OF PARTICIPIAL PHRASES

1 ) ADJECTIVAL TYPE
We know that participial phrases can modify nouns and pronouns.They may come before (pre- modifying) or after (post- modifying)the noun or pronoun:
* The people  waiting for the bus got very wet .
* Courses having a bearing on vocation are popular with students seeking a job  immediately after University.
* The meeting scheduled for 10.00 for everyone involved in the project has been postponed.
* Those leaving longer may take a copy ; those staying longer will be given theirs later .
Notice that in post- modifying participial phrases the participle can be followed by: 
* an object: student seeking job 
* a prepositional phrase : everyone involved in the project
* an adverb : those leaving now; those staying longer 
Post- modifying participles and participial phrases can do the work of relative clauses, of both defining and non -defining type:
1   defining type:
* those leaving now ( = those who are leaving now )
2   non- defining type :
* We visited the poet ' s house , now lying empty and badly neglected ( = We visited the poet' s house, which was now lying empty and badly neglected)
Such participles and participial clauses can be referred to as non-finite relative clauses or reduced clauses.
2 ) COMPLEMENT TYPE 
A participial phrase can occur as a complement after a linking verb or after the object of a complex transitive verb .
a ) after a linking verb
:: You seem dissatisfied with the arrangement .
* He grew increasingly subdued depressed .
2 ) after the object of a complex transitive verb such as make and get :
* Where can  I get my car professionally serviced .
* I can usually make myself understood by most people .
3 ) an observing or sensing verb can also have a participial phrase after its object :
* We watched the boxers training in the gym .
* I heard her leaving the house at four -thirty .
3  ) Adverbial type :
Present participles and present - participial phrases can describe the action in a similar way to an adverbial phrase :
* Shaking with silent fury , Sam closed the door again .
* The dog retreated in a corner , licking its wounds .
In some cases the activity represented in the participle phrase comes just before the action in the main clause :
* Picking herself  up again the child ran off quite happily .
* Folding her note neatly , she slipped it into an envelope .
Past participles and perfect participles are used for facts about the subject that precede the action of the main verb :
* Having trained at Loughborough, she was now teaching gymnastics at a private school .
* Born in London , she emigrated to Australia with her family at the age of eleven .





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PARTICIPIAL PHRASES

Participle phrases include a participle . Adjectival participial phrases can pre modify or post modify a noun or noun phrase.
* The afternoon sun, now sinking towards the west, was still too hot for comfort .
* The slowly moving crowds filled the pavement as I emerged from the literally baking interior of the Underground station.
A PARTICIPIAL PHRASE can be the complement of a linking verb , or the object complement of a complex transitive verb ,and can also follow the object of an observing or sensing verb .
* I was letting myself become oppressed by the heat and stress, so I decided to chill out and get myself properly sorted out  by sitting down and having a drink.
Present participial phrases can describe the action like an adverbial phrase , or express action that just precedes that of the main verb
* A man was walking between the tables, moving unobtrusively and behaving suspiciously.
Participial phrases often function like subordinate clauses of reason , concession condition, time and so on, and can even be introduced by conjunctions
* Though inexperienced in street fighting  I resolved to grab him round the legs and bring him to the ground.
Some participial phrases have their own subject , and are independent of the main subject and verb .
* The police having been alerted by this time, sirens were heard in the distance and very soon a police car drew up alongside us.
Certain participial phrases serve as sentence adverbials and are independent of the main object.
* Considering my earlier mood of lethargy and self- pity , and taking into account the possibility that the owner of the purse was still completely unaware of the loss, the incident began to seem quite funny.
So participial phrase is a phrase involving a participle. Such a phrase can have an adjectival or adverbial function , or it may act as a complement . It may even function as a subordinate clause , or it may be independent of the main sentence structure.
Types of participial phrases
* Adjectival type

VERB PHRASES

A verb phrase typically consists of a main verb + one or more auxiliaries, of which may be a model auxiliary .
A verb phrase is a word group that makes up the verb in a sentence. The verb in a sentence may be a single word :
* They lowered the flag .
* We eat sensibly .
But if it consists of more than one word , it is a verb phrase :
* They were lowering the flag .
* Could you help me?
* We have always eaten sensibly .
Make sure you know the difference between a verb phrase and a phrasal verb :
A phrasal verb is an idiomatic combination of verb + one or more adverbial particles or prepositional particles .:
There are certain idiomatic word groups , composed in various ways , that combine with a main verb to function rather like modal verbs . They can be called ' modal combinations '
A phrasal verb :
*We ran into problems .
* Leave out the second paragraph .
A verb phrase :
*  You might have run into problems .
* You can leave out the second paragraph .

SENTENCE ADVERBIALS

Adverbial phrases may also serve as sentence adverbials also called disjuncts . representing a comment by the speaker , and standing clear of the main grammatical structure of the sentence :
* Pretty evidently , she acted out of spite.
* Quite honestly ,I ' d rather just go to bed .
* To a certain extent , that is correct .
* At the end of the day , all that matters is keeping out of bed .
As an alternative you can use to- infinitive .
* To be quite honest , I didn't really want to go .
* To be fair , she was only trying to help.
As well as modifying the action represented by an action verb , an adverbial phrase can be a complement after a linking verb or after the object of a complex transitive verb .
* I 'll be back home soon.
* Your dinner is in the microwave .
* Our name is on the door .
* Keep your steps in time with the music .
There are several adverbial expressions consisting of a pair of time or direction adverbs linked by and :
* The birds bobbed up and down on the waves .
* Figures moved in and out among the trees  .
* I see Fred now and then .
* We walked on and on .
The structure noun    + preposition +noun ,or pronoun +pronoun + preposition + pronoun:
* Little by little  we cleared the mess .
* Disasters came one after the another .
* Stand back to back.
* Hour after hour they waited .
* The two ministers came head to head (= into direct conflict ) over this issue .

TYPES OF ADVERBIAL PHRASES

Adverb modified by an intensifier, moderator , emphasizer ,or other adverb :
  *The party went very well.
    * you are trying too hard .
 *You spoke rather angrily .
 * You are walking fast enough .
* Please speak more slowly .
*They arrived noticeably late .
* That dress fits you quite perfectly.
A prepositional  phrase:
* I hung my coat on the peg .
* Mum was working in the kitchen .
* The taxi drew up beside us .
* Dad sat down in the armchair .
A noun phrase :
* Next day we arrived at Jakarta,
* Sally guessed the right answer every time .
* Last winter the village pond  froze over .
*All night the planes droned overhead .
Adverb of place or time emphasized or modified by another adverb :
* The taxi parked right outside .
*Come over here ,
* I don't want to climb up there .
*When did you get back home ?

Adverbial phrases

An adverbial phrase is any phrase that has an adverbial function in a sentence;
that is,it modifies the action represented by the verb.

• George was walking very briskly.
• George was walking in the woods.
• George was walking towards the flagpole.
• George was walking with great determination.
• George was walking on tuesday evening 

ADJECTIVAL PHRASES USED AFTER A NOUN OR PRONOUN(POST MODIFICATION)

1 a prepositional phrase

• the girl in the ticket office
• anybody with any sense
• people of real integrity
• an operation on the kidneys
• changes to the timetable

2 an adverb of place or time emphasized or focused by another adverb:

• my folks back home
• the rubbish in there
• the weather down here
• the situation  right now
• my mood just then

3 an adjective + prepositional phrase (consisting of a a customary preposition+object):

• the person responsible for the confusion
• people allergic to wheat flour
• something wrong with my computer
• teenagers dependent on drugs

4   a participle phrase:

•     an operation lasting five hours
•  an operation performed with enormous skill
• the people waiting for the bus
• tests set by education inspectors
• chairs made of moulded plastics

5    a noun phrase:

• my operation last year
• her behavior the following day 
• the meeting next week

ADJECTIVAL PHRASES AS COMPLEMENTS:

• subject complement after a linking verb :
• The operation was very successful .
• you are perfectly right .
• My voice sounded strangely loud .
• Is the timetable absolutely up-to-date ?
• Such behavior is typical of teenagers .
• She became disillusioned with teaching .
• Are you still angry with me?
• These questions are not relevant to the main enquiry.
• The strangers were dark-skined and long-haired.
• object complement after the object of a complex transitive verb:
• You've made your mother very proud.
• Consider yourself extremely fortunate.
• The approaching storm had turned the sky quite black.
• We'll paint the walls pale green.
• You've lost yout key?I call that very careless.
• The shock left him incapable of speech.
• My doctor has declared me fit for work.
• I found the content of the programme very up-to-the minute. 

ADJECTIVAL PHRASES

Adjectival phrases are any phrases that do the job of an adjective in describing or modifying a noun or pronoun :
* an extremely skillful operation
* a heart - in -the -mouth operation
* a long awaited operation

* a very successfully operation
* a brilliantly performed operation
* a round -the -clock operation
* an operation on the kidneys 
* The operation was quite painless .
TYPES AND POSITIONS OF ADJECTIVAL PHRASES
Adjectival phrases can come before or after a noun , and can take many different forms.
Adjectival phrases used before a noun ( pre -modification)
1  an intensifier, moderator, or other adverb + adjective :
   * a rather silly remark , miserably cold weather
2  *an adverb +participle :
    * dubiously acquired wealth , a hard -won battle
 3 a possessive expression :
* the headmaster 's room   , last year 's report
4 hyphenated phrases of various kinds
noun phrase
* a ten story building , a seventy foot yacht
phrases based on an adjective
 *a blood -red lipstick , crystal-clear water
a prepositional phrase
*in -your -face language ,an over- the- top  reaction
a phrase based on a participle
* a leather -bound book , sun -dried bananas , index -linked pensions
an adjective or number + noun formed into an -ed participle
* blond haired children ,long -legged animals ,four -winged insects
a phrasal- verb derivative
* some left- over food , a much sought -after delicacy
other combinations
*up -and- down mood swings , wall -to wall carpets

NOUN PHRASES THAT EXPLAIN: APPOSITION

Some time a noun phrase, a noun or proper noun is added with a comma after a noun phrase , to identify the person or thing  or place  you mean more exactly :
* the home of ballet , Russia
* Zubaida ' native tongue , Malay
* the bird of peace , the dove
* the latest fashion , navel jewellery
NOTICE : Expressions such as  that is , that is to say , namely can be used to emphasize the identification:
* Zubaida ' tongue , that is Malay
* Shakespeare 's Scottish play , namely, Macbeth
* the bird of peace , that is to say , the dove
Sometime you add a comma + noun phrase as an explanation after a name  or other noun ;
* Mr Lal, our lab assistant
* Penang , a holiday island off the cost of Malaysia
* pepper ,a substance handy for self defence
The nouns and noun phrases that are in apposition do not necessarily come side by side - they may be separated :
* Ben arrived yesterday , a volunteer worker from Australia
* My aunt always carries her own form of self defence  in her pocket , namely a small pepperpot.
NOUN PHRASES IN THE GRAMMAR OF A SENTENCE
*Noun phrases as subject :
A strange looking balloon was circling overhead .
All the traffic on the motorway slowed down .
The man repairing the road stopped work .
* NOTE: When two noun phrases are linked by AND , and the combination is the subject of the verb , the verb is plural :
* Please note that flash photography and video recording are forbidden .
When the linking conjunction is or , the verb is strictly singular but , in practice , sometimes plural:
* I  think I ' ll invite my cousins John and Jack to my party .
NOUN PHRASES AS DIRECT OBJECT:
* I bought four plastic hooks in the DIY shop.
*Libby sold me her painting of lighthouse .
NOUN PHRASE AS OBJECT OF A  PREPOSITION:
* Please keep us some front -row seats for the show .
* We had to shift an enormous tree lying across the road .
NOUN PHRASES AS INDIRECT OBJECT :
 * Mum used to make my sisters the most wonderful clothes .
*They found the evicted family some temporary accommodation .
NOUN PHRASES AS SUBJECT COMPLIMENT AFTER A LINKING VERB :
*Diana seems right person for this job .
*Geoff has become a terrible bore .
 NOUN PHRASES AS OBJECT COMPLEMENT AFTER A COMLEX TRANSITIVE VERB :
*I call it a major disgrace .
*I painted the door a kind of greenish- brown .
NOUN PHRASES AS ADVERBIALS :
*We will discuss it next week .
*The noise continued all night .
NOUN PHRASES AS CONJUNCTIONS:
* Phone me the minute you hear any news.
* Every time I arrange to meet her , she cancels .

NOUN PHRASES IN CONTEXT

NOUN PHRASES may consist simply of a 'pre- modifying' article or determiner + noun . A pre determiner may come before the article or determiner.
For example:
1 a storm
2 my relations
3 some money
4 the postman

5 these fashions
But in many noun phrases the noun has , besides the article or determiner , one or more adjectives , adjectival phrases , or prepositional phrases before it or after it :
For example :
1 the larger  picture
2 unusual  happenings
3 some wonderful  news 
4 our new neighbours  in the flat opposite
5 an  extraordinarily talented  girl in my class 
6 the in-your-face language typical of today ' s TV soaps 
7 an enormous plate of fish and chips 
8 a politely worded letter to the managing director 
9 last- minute applications for tickets for the show 
10 my parents' old fashioned  opinions about proper behaviour 
11 recent important  changes affecting many school - leavers
NOTICE that  within the adjectival material attached to these nouns there are a lot of ' sub ' noun phrases:
the flat opposite , today's TV soaps,TV soaps, the managing director ,my parents ,tickets for the show , proper behaviour, fish and chips, the show ,many school-leavers
The MAIN NOUN that is being described ( picture, happenings, news, neighbors and so on in the original examples)is said to be the head of the noun phrases.
NOTICE that a pronoun can also be the head of a noun phrases :
* anybody with an interest in saving the planet 
*the brutal few responsible for these atrocities 
* those on income support 
* the starving millions 
*Modification before or after nouns or pronouns 
The adjectival material added before or after a noun or pronoun is called modification. Many different types of modification can be added to a noun or pronoun; for example :
*  before a noun (pre- modification):
 1  a determiner ( or pre- determiner+ determiner) :
    * the frog, my cousin, half the trouble, some products, that factory, all our houses, few reasons, 
2  a number:
*  four blackbirds, two thousand sheep 
 3  one or more adjectives:
 * beautiful weather , a charming hostess . unhealthy, greasy food 
4  a possessive :
    * Helen' method, the city ' drain , tomorrow ' agenda 
5  an adjective modified ( intensified , moderated, emphasized or characterized) by an adverb:
*   an utterly unsuitable outfit, a highly appropriate punishment, the barely audible announcement , a         cheerfully flamboyant outfit 
6  a present or past participle :
     * whirling leaves , a planned pregnancy
7   an adverb + participle :
     * a slowly  moving crowds, their closely observed progress 
8    a descriptive or identifying noun :
     *  mountain scenery , the Singapore skyline 
9    a hyphenated string :
    *  blood- red lipstick , crystal- clear water , a three- hour meeting , made- up stories , sun- dried 
       tomatoes ,longer -lasting lather ,an old - clothes shop, a fruit - and -vegetable shop  ,an on- the -
        spot report , a longed- for break 
*    The  hyphenated string can be any of several kinds of phrase or word group , for example :
   *  a noun phrase ( three- hour , old- clothes) 
    * two nouns linked by a conjunction :( fruit- and - vegetable )
    * a phrase based on an adjective ( blood- red ,crystal -clear )
   * a prepositional phrase ( on- the- spot)
   *a phrase using a participle ( longer-lasting , sun- dried)
   * a form derived from a phrasal verb ( made-up , longed for)

NOUN PHRASE AFTER A NOUN OR PRONOUN (POST - MODIFICATION)

1 An adverb or adjective:
    * the route home , something strange , a court martial , people mad about football , a man capable        of murder  the way in
2   a participle  or participial  phrase:
     * the people dancing , those invited , the lady sitting on your left ,the rubbish strewn over the    ground
3   a prepositional phrase :
   * the things in this drawer , a present for my aunt , a box of books , the city of London , no place like home, plays of Shakespeare , the making of the Roman Empire , the matter of pay ,
NOTICE ALSO that  more complex constructions can be added as modification after a noun or pronoun , for example :
* a to- infinitive : the need to hurry ,time to relax , nobody to talk to ,a mat to stand on
* a clause: the reason why we failed , a theory that gets support nowadays , the discovery that the earth goes round the sun
* construction with as : birds such as macaws , cuisine as varied as Singapore
 NOUN PHRASES THAT EXPLAIN :APPOSITION
For example : my sister jill ,her dog Jupiter ,his partner Vicky , the composer Bach
 Noun phrase added with a comma: our new car, Honda