11 NOUN PHRASENOUN PHRASEPostmodificationPostmodification

2 Units functioning as postmodifiers:Units functioning as postmodifiers:Relative clauses: The house Relative clauses: The house that they boughtthat they bought was rather expensive.was rather expensive.NonNon--finite clauses: The girl finite clauses: The girl waiting for youwaiting for you is Maryis Marys sister.s sister.Prepositional phrase: the table Prepositional phrase: the table in the cornerin the cornerAdjective phrase: Adjective phrase: The attorney, The attorney, confident of victoryconfident of victory, sued., sued.Adverb phrase: The meeting Adverb phrase: The meeting yesterdayyesterday was boring.was boring.Noun phrase: William Noun phrase: William the Conquerorthe Conquerormodemode qualifiers: lobster Newburg; steak Napoleon (usually expressionqualifiers: lobster Newburg; steak Napoleon (usually expressions from French s from French cuisine to mark style).cuisine to mark style).

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Relative clausesRelative clauses

Relative clause is a type of embedded clause which modifies a HeRelative clause is a type of embedded clause which modifies a Head Noun in ad Noun in the matrix clause.the matrix clause.

Three types of relative clauses:Three types of relative clauses:Restrictive (PoM): My friend Restrictive (PoM): My friend who works in the librarywho works in the library is here.is here.NonNon--restrictive (PoM): My friend Peter Jones, restrictive (PoM): My friend Peter Jones, who works in the librarywho works in the library, is , is here.here.Sentential (SM): He admires Ms Brown, Sentential (SM): He admires Ms Brown, which is natural.which is natural.

4 Functions of relative markers:Functions of relative markers:Subject: The house Subject: The house whichwhich has long been their home is now empty.has long been their home is now empty.Subject complement: He is not the driver (Subject complement: He is not the driver (thatthat) I thought him to be.) I thought him to be.Direct object: The woman Direct object: The woman thatthat he loves is very attractive.he loves is very attractive.whosewhose as Premodifier or Determiner: This is the book as Premodifier or Determiner: This is the book whosewhose cover is cover is missing.missing.

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Object of preposition: The company for Object of preposition: The company for whichwhich he worked has closed.he worked has closed.Indirect object: The doctor to Indirect object: The doctor to whomwhom she sent her.she sent her.Adverbial: The place Adverbial: The place wherewhere they met was very misterious.they met was very misterious.

6 Gap in relative clauses and omission of relative pronoun:Gap in relative clauses and omission of relative pronoun:Relative clauses always contain a gap, that is why the embedded Relative clauses always contain a gap, that is why the embedded clauses cannot stand clauses cannot stand alone.alone.The gap within the relative clause is known as the The gap within the relative clause is known as the relativizedrelativized position, in English it can position, in English it can be any position that could contain a noun phrase. be any position that could contain a noun phrase. Relative pronoun can be omitted when it is a direct object but nRelative pronoun can be omitted when it is a direct object but not when it is an object of ot when it is an object of preposition, if preposition is fronted.preposition, if preposition is fronted.When relative pronoun is a part of a noun phrase it cannot be deWhen relative pronoun is a part of a noun phrase it cannot be deleted.leted.

7 Appositive clause (nominal clause)Appositive clause (nominal clause)

2It always has an abstract factive noun and it is always the headIt always has an abstract factive noun and it is always the head of a Noun of a Noun phrase.phrase.It explains the head of a Noun phraseIt explains the head of a Noun phraseIt can also be restrictive and nonIt can also be restrictive and non--restrictiverestrictiveE.g.: The fact E.g.: The fact that he came so latethat he came so late doesndoesnt surprise me. (restrictive)t surprise me. (restrictive)That crazy idea of his, That crazy idea of his, that she would returnthat she would return, was funny to everybody. , was funny to everybody.

(non(non--restrictive)restrictive)8

Nominal appositive clauses can be transformed into verb structurNominal appositive clauses can be transformed into verb structures, e.g.es, e.g.-- The belief The belief that no one is perfectthat no one is perfect is widely accepted.is widely accepted.-- People believe that no one is perfect.People believe that no one is perfect.

Difference between Relative and Nom.appositive clauses:Difference between Relative and Nom.appositive clauses:a.a.The fact The fact that you told your mother about itthat you told your mother about it surprised me.surprised me.b.b.The fact The fact that you told your mother aboutthat you told your mother about surprised me.surprised me.

9 NonNon--finite clauses as postmodifiersfinite clauses as postmodifiers1.1.Postmodification by VPostmodification by V--ed clauses, e.g. ed clauses, e.g.

The only car The only car repaired by that mechanicrepaired by that mechanic is mine. (restrictive)is mine. (restrictive)

This substance, This substance, discovered almost by accidentdiscovered almost by accident, revolutionized medicine., revolutionized medicine.(non(non-- restrictive).restrictive).

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2. Postmodification by V2. Postmodification by V--toto--inf. Clauses, e.g. The next train inf. Clauses, e.g. The next train to arriveto arrive is from is from New York.New York.

such clauses may be separately introduced by the such clauses may be separately introduced by the forfor-- devicedevice, e.g. The man , e.g. The man for John to consultfor John to consult is Wilson.s Wilson.nonnon--restrictive postmodification is also possible: This last appeal,restrictive postmodification is also possible: This last appeal, to come to come and visit him,and visit him, was never delivered.was never delivered.

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3. Postmodification by V3. Postmodification by V--ing clauses, e.g. ing clauses, e.g. The girl The girl sitting in the cornersitting in the corner is Mary Smith.is Mary Smith.

some of them cannot be treated as reduced relative clauses as thsome of them cannot be treated as reduced relative clauses as their source is not eir source is not progressive: e.g. He talked to the girl progressive: e.g. He talked to the girl resembling Joanresembling Joan. (who resembles..). (who resembles..)they can also be restrictive and nonthey can also be restrictive and non--restrictiverestrictive

Non restrictive: Robert, Non restrictive: Robert, hoping to finish college in three yearshoping to finish college in three years, worked very hard. , worked very hard.

12 Postmodification by Postmodification by prepositional phrases:prepositional phrases:

A prepositional phrase consists of a preposition followed by a pA prepositional phrase consists of a preposition followed by a prepositional repositional complement or object of preposition.complement or object of preposition. Object of prepositionObject of preposition can be:can be:a) Noun phrase: at the bus stopa) Noun phrase: at the bus stopb) Ving clause: by signing peace treaty..b) Ving clause: by signing peace treaty..c) whc) wh--nominal clause: from what he said...nominal clause: from what he said...

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d) adverb/adjective (mainly in idioms): at once, before long, atd) adverb/adjective (mainly in idioms): at once, before long, at worst, in brief..worst, in brief..

3prepositional phrase can also be an object of preposition: e.g. prepositional phrase can also be an object of preposition: e.g. He crawled He crawled from underfrom under the table.the table.

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apart from simple prepositions which consist of one word, there apart from simple prepositions which consist of one word, there are also are also complex prepositions which can consist of:complex prepositions which can consist of: adverb/preposition + prepositions: adverb/preposition + prepositions: as for, along with.....as for, along with..... verb/adjective/conjunction + preposition: verb/adjective/conjunction + preposition: owing to, due to, because ofowing to, due to, because of.... preposition + noun + preposition: preposition + noun + preposition: by means of, in case of ...by means of, in case of ...

15 Syntactic function of Syntactic function of prepositional phrases:prepositional phrases:

PostmodifiersPostmodifiersAdjunct (adverbial): The people were singing Adjunct (adverbial): The people were singing on the bus.on the bus.Disjunct: Disjunct: To my surpriseTo my surprise, the doctor phoned., the doctor phoned.Conjunct: Conjunct: On the other handOn the other hand, he made no attempt to help the victim., he made no attempt to help the victim.

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Postmodifier in a noun phrase: The people Postmodifier in a noun phrase: The people on the buson the bus were singing.were singing.Complementation of a verb: We depend Complementation of a verb: We depend on youon you..Complementation of an adjective: I am sorry Complementation of an adjective: I am sorry for his parentsfor his parents..Subject: Subject: Between six and sevenBetween six and seven will suit me.will suit me.

17 Exercise:Exercise:Please examine the following sentences, and work out:Please examine the following sentences, and work out:

1.1.what are the head nouns (the nouns being modified in the matrix what are the head nouns (the nouns being modified in the matrix clause)clause)2.2.what are the relative clauseswhat are the relative clauses3.3.where is the relativized position (the gap) in each relative clawhere is the relativized position (the gap) in each relative clauseuse

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a.a.That storm we had last night was amazing.That storm we had last night was amazing.b.b.I wouldnI wouldnt want the job Lee applied for last week.t want the job Lee applied for last week.c.c.The application forms that arrived yesterday look quite hard.The application forms that arrived yesterday look quite hard.d.d.Kim picked up a book Lee had left lying on the stairs.Kim picked up a book Lee had left lying on the stairs.