Noun phrases can function as direct objects - Part 3A - determiners, qualifiers, etc.
This information is not meant as a comprehensive study lesson. It is the introduction for a challenge. Click here for the noun phrase challenge.
III. NOUN PHRASES CAN FUNCTION AS DIRECT OBJECTS
A noun phrase functions as the subject of the sentence or object of a verb. Generally a noun phrase can consists of the following elements:
1. a determiner
2. a noun
3. there may or may not be a noun modifier
A determiner is used to modify a noun. The noun follows the determiner.
Subject pronouns ( I , you , he , etc.) and possessive pronouns (mine, yours, his, etc.) cannot be determiners because they can never be followed by a noun.
The determiner function is usually performed by articles, demonstratives, possessive determiners, quantifiers, a numeral or a question word.
1. articles:
definite article - the
indefinite articles - a, an
("a" is used before a consonant sound) and ("an" is used before a vowel sound)
2. demonstratives - this, that, these, those
3. possessives - my, your, his, her, its, our your, their
4. quantifiers - some, any, no, few, a few, many, little, a little, more, much, each, every, both, all, enough, half, little, whole, less, etc.
5. a numeral (one, two, three etc.)
6. a question word (which, whose, how many, etc.)
These are the little words that precede the simple noun. Together they form the noun phrase.
Examples: the teacher, a college, a bit of honey, that person, those people, whatever purpose, either way, your choice, the man, some women, a few dogs, your horse, that car, whose money, how many bottles
'Cars', and 'the cars' are noun phrases, but 'car' is just a single noun.
Examples:
1. Do you like cars?
2. Mary burnt the toast.
