Noun Phrases and Nominalisation

Noun phrases are built round a head noun with determiners, modifiers and complements, and nominalisation turns verbs and clauses into nouns. Short modifiers go before the head noun and long ones after it: a small house with a view of the park.

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CheatsheetB2–C2

Point	Rule	Example
Slots	predeterminer, determiner, number, adjective, noun modifier, head noun	all the other ten new bus drivers	B2
Order	ordinal before cardinal; all, both and half before the determiner	the first three days / all my friends	B2
After the noun	prepositional phrase, to-infinitive, that-clause, of-phrase, apposition	a chance to win / the house on the hill	B2
Before the noun	singular noun modifier, ‑ing or ‑ed adjective; three at most	a bus ticket / a broken window	B2
As the head	an adjective, one or mine can stand for the whole phrase	The injured were treated quickly. / I'll take the red one.	B2
Nominalisation	a noun names the action; its object follows with of	They destroyed the city. → the destruction of the city	C1
Light verb	a general verb carries the action of the noun	make a decision / carry out an analysis	C1
Shell noun	a noun sums up an earlier clause	The company cut prices. This move surprised its rivals.	C1
Register	verbs in speech, nouns in formal and academic writing	We analysed (US: analyzed) the data. ≠ An analysis of the data was performed.	C1
Headline stack	the last noun is the head; the others modify	Government job cuts plan row	C2
Of and a noun	of and an abstract noun do the work of an adjective	a man of means / a matter of urgency	C2
Trap	the unit stays singular before a noun	a five-day course	B2

Form: the slots of a noun phraseB2

Slot	Words	Example
predeterminer	all / both / half / double / such / what / quite	both my brothers / such a big house / quite a long walk	B2
determiner	the / a / this / my / some / no / each / every	both my brothers / such a big house	B2
ordinal and number	first / second / last / next / other / two / ten	the first day / my two sisters	B2
other quantifier	many / few / several / much / little	her many cousins / the few tickets left	B2
adjective	any number, in the usual order	a lovely old house	B2
noun modifier	a noun that classifies the head	a kitchen table	B2
head noun	the noun the verb agrees with	the price of the tickets	B2

Only the head noun is required; the other slots keep this order: all the other ten new bus drivers
The order of several adjectives: Adjectives and Adjective Order.

Order of determiners and numbersB2

Rule	Example
the ordinal comes before the cardinal	the first three days	B2
other, last and next come before a number	the last two weeks / the next three buses	B2
many and few follow the determiner	his many friends / the few people I know	B2
all, both and half come before the determiner	all my friends / both the boys / half the class	B2

Modification after the nounB2

Modifier	Form	Example
prepositional phrase	noun + preposition and noun phrase	the house on the hill	B2
to-infinitive	noun + to + base verb	a chance to win	B2
that-clause	noun + that + clause	the fact that she left	B2
of-phrase	noun + of + noun	a cup of tea / the end of the story	B2
apposition	a second noun phrase, after a comma	my brother, a doctor / Paris, the capital of France	B2

The verb agrees with the head noun, however long the modifier: The price of the tickets has risen.
A relative clause also follows the noun: Relative clauses.

Modification before the nounB2

Modifier	Form	Example
noun modifier	singular noun + noun	a bus ticket / a tennis ball	B2
number and unit	number + hyphen + singular noun + noun	a ten-minute walk / a two-hour drive	B2
‑ing adjective	V-ing + noun	a barking dog / a sleeping baby	B2
‑ed adjective	V-ed + noun	a broken window / a closed door	B2

A noun modifier is singular, even before a plural head noun: two bus tickets
Three modifiers is the practical limit before the head noun; put further detail after it: a small old wooden table with a drawer

Pronouns and adjectives as headsB2

Head	Meaning	Example
the + adjective	a group of people; the verb is plural	The injured were treated quickly.	B2
one / ones	a countable noun already named	I like the blue one. / Which ones are yours?	B2
those who	people who	Those who arrive early get the best seats.	B2
mine / yours / hers / ours	the owner and the thing in one word	This seat is mine.	B2
some / many / none	a quantifier without its noun	Many were late.	B2
the same	something already mentioned	I'll have the same.	B2

Form: nominalisationC1

From	Change	Example
verb	decide → decision	Her decision surprised us.	C1
verb	develop → development	The development of the area took years.	C1
verb	arrive → arrival	Their arrival was a surprise.	C1
verb	fail → failure	The failure of the plan was a shock.	C1
verb	grow → growth	Population growth slowed.	C1
adjective	possible → possibility	There is a possibility of rain.	C1
adjective	able → ability	She has the ability to learn fast.	C1
clause	They destroyed the city. → the destruction of the city	The destruction of the city shocked the world.	C1

Subject and object of a nominalisationC1

Role	Form	Example
the doer, with of	the + noun + of + agent	the arrival of the guests	C1
the doer, as a possessive	agent + 's + noun	the president's decision	C1
the thing affected, with of	the + noun + of + noun	the destruction of the city	C1
the doer after the thing affected, with by	the + noun + of + noun + by + agent	the destruction of the city by the army	C1

Light verb	Noun	Example
make	a decision / a suggestion / a mistake	The board made a decision on Friday.	C1
carry out	an analysis / a survey / a test	Researchers carried out an analysis of the results.	C1
give	consideration to / priority to / an explanation	Please give consideration to my request.	C1
reach	a conclusion / an agreement	The two sides reached an agreement.	C1

A light verb and a noun say what the full verb says: They analysed (US: analyzed) the data. = They carried out an analysis of the data.

Compare: gerund and verbal nounC1

Gerund	Verbal noun
acts like a verb: it takes an object and an adverb	acts like a noun: it takes the or a, of and an adjective	C1
Singing the anthem is a tradition.	The singing of the anthem is a tradition.	C1
Painting portraits quickly takes skill.	Her quick painting of portraits impressed us.	C1

A possessive before the ‑ing form is formal; speech uses the object form: Do you mind my opening the window? ≠ Do you mind me opening the window?
Verbs followed by ‑ing: Gerund vs Infinitive.

Complex noun phrases in academic proseC1

Device	Example
heavy postmodification	the impact of rising prices on the spending of families in rural areas	C1
apposition for definition	Inflation, the general rise in prices, reduces what people can buy.	C1

Find the head noun first, then read each phrase as detail about it.
Break a chain of of-phrases with a noun modifier or a possessive: the analysis of the results of the study of the market ≠ the analysis of the market study results

Summary and shell nounsC1

Type	Form	Example
summary noun	this / that / such a + noun	The council raised parking fees. This decision upset drivers. / She answers every email within an hour. Such an approach builds trust.	C1
shell noun with a clause	noun + that + clause	The fact that prices rose surprised no one.	C1
shell noun with a preposition	the problem + with + noun	The problem with this plan is the cost.	C1
shell noun with a wh-word	the reason + why + clause	The reason why prices rose is unclear.	C1

Shell nouns such as fact, idea, problem, reason and claim get their content from the clause around them.

Compare: verb style and noun styleC1

Verb style	Noun style
speech and plain writing; people act	academic and official writing; processes are things	C1
We analysed (US: analyzed) the data.	An analysis of the data was performed.	C1
Many people worry about the cost.	The cost is a source of widespread concern.	C1
She applied for the job in May.	Her application for the job was received in May.	C1

Dense noun phrases in headlines and specialist proseC2

Device	Reading	Example
noun stack	the last noun is the head; the others modify it	Oil price rise fears	C2
unpacking	turn each noun into a phrase, from the head backwards	City council parking fee plan protest = a protest over the city council's plan for parking fees	C2
hyphen	joins words into one modifier	a little-used car ≠ a little used car	C2
comma	separates modifiers of equal weight	a quiet, reliable engine	C2

Grammatical metaphorC2

Verb style	Noun style
As demand increased, prices rose.	The increase in demand led to a rise in prices.	C2
Because the team trained harder, it improved.	The team's harder training led to its improvement.	C2
If people save more, banks can lend more.	Higher savings allow banks to lend more.	C2

A noun phrase replaces the clause; a verb such as lead to replaces the conjunction.
Revise noun style into verb style when the nouns hide who does what.

Of and an abstract nounC2

Phrase	Meaning	Example
a man of means	wealthy	My grandfather was a man of means.	C2
a woman of few words	quiet	The new manager is a woman of few words.	C2
a thing of beauty	beautiful	The old clock tower is a thing of beauty.	C2
a matter of urgency	urgent	Repairing the roof is a matter of urgency.	C2
the likes of	people or things like	We cannot compete with the likes of big banks.	C2
the likelihood of	the chance of	There is little likelihood of snow tonight.	C2

The abstract noun stands without an article: a matter of urgency

Typical errorsB2–C2

Wrong	Right	Rule
the three first days	the first three days	the ordinal comes before the cardinal	B2
a five-days course	a five-day course	the unit is singular in a modifier	B2
the half price	half the price	half comes before the determiner	B2
The injured was treated quickly.	The injured were treated quickly.	the + adjective takes a plural verb	B2
the destroy of the city	the destruction of the city	after the, the noun destruction replaces the verb	C1
She did a decision.	She made a decision.	decision takes make	C1
the singing the anthem	the singing of the anthem	after the, the object of the ‑ing noun takes of	C1
There is little likelihood to rain.	There is little likelihood of rain.	likelihood takes of	C2

Up next

Personal PronounsA0C1Subject, object and possessive forms of the personal pronouns: I, me, my, mine.

Up next

Personal PronounsA0C1Subject, object and possessive forms of the personal pronouns: I, me, my, mine.

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CheatsheetB2–C2

Form: the slots of a noun phraseB2

Order of determiners and numbersB2

Modification after the nounB2

Modification before the nounB2

Pronouns and adjectives as headsB2

Form: nominalisationC1

Subject and object of a nominalisationC1

Compare: gerund and verbal nounC1

Complex noun phrases in academic proseC1

Summary and shell nounsC1

Compare: verb style and noun styleC1

Dense noun phrases in headlines and specialist proseC2

Grammatical metaphorC2

Of and an abstract nounC2

Typical errorsB2–C2

Contents

English

01Foundations

02Nouns and determiners

03Pronouns

04Verbs

05Tenses

06Modal verbs

07Sentence building

08Adjectives and adverbs

09Prepositions

10Word formation

A0Starter

A1Beginner

A2Elementary

B1Intermediate

B2Upper intermediate

C1Advanced

C2Proficiency

Level