The document discusses different types of noun phrases. A noun phrase contains a noun as the main part and can have additional information before or after the noun. Information before the noun includes determiners and adjectives. Information after the noun includes prepositional phrases indicating location, past participle clauses expressing passive verbs, present participle (-ing) clauses for active verbs, and to-infinitive clauses showing purpose or intention. Common prepositions in prepositional phrases are of, in, for, on, to, and with. Of is most commonly used to indicate quantity, containers, belonging, or possession. At, in and on are often used to indicate physical location.

1. The Noun Phrase

2. The Noun Phrase
A noun phrase is a group of words with a
noun as its main part.
Information about the noun can come
before the noun or after the noun.

3. The Noun Phrase
Information that comes before the noun in
a noun phrase is usually expressed
through:
• Determiners
this horrible rubbish
• Adjectives and adverbs
a rich habitat

4. The Noun Phrase
Information that comes after a noun is
usually expressed through:
• Prepositional phrases:
an abundance of creatures
• Past participle clauses:
the rubbish contained in the harbor

5. The Noun Phrase
• Present participle (-ing) clauses:
the rubbish lying at the bottom of the
harbor
• To-infinitive clauses:
a decision to expand

6. Noun + Prepositional Phrase
We can add information after a noun by
using a prepositional phrase. Common
prepositions in these phrases are of, in,
for, on, to, with:
possible sites with submerged rubbish
a rich habitat for an abundance of
creatures

7. Noun + Prepositional Phrase
Of is the most common preposition used
in prepositional noun phrases. It is used
after nouns of quantity or containers:
an abundance of fish (quantity)
a packet of biscuits (container)

8. Noun + Prepositional Phrase
We also use of to show belonging or
possession:
the rubble of the past (not the past’s
rubble)
particular areas of the harbor

9. Noun + Prepositional Phrase
We often use at, in and on to talk about
physical location:
this rubbish is lying at the bottom of the
harbour
different species living in Sydney
Harbor

10. Noun + Prepositional Phrase
Prepositional phrases containing with
often express the same information as a
relative clause with the main verb have:
harbor sites with submerged rubbish (=
harbor sites which have submerged
rubbish)

11. Noun + Past Participle Clause
A past participle clause gives the same
information as a relative clause with a
passive verb.
all of the rubbish contained in the harbor
(= rubbish which is contained in the
harbor)

12. Noun + Past Participle Clause
Note
In both spoken and written English
using a noun + past participle is more
common than the equivalent relative
clause because it can express the same
information in fewer words.

13. Noun + Present Participle
(-ing) Clause
A present participle clause can give the
same information as a relative clause with
an active verb, often in the present or
past
continuous:
the other debris lying on the sea floor (=
the other debris which is lying on the
sea floor)

14. Noun + Present Participle
(-ing) Clause
Note
The noun + present participle clause is
also more common than the equivalent
relative clause.

15. Noun + to-infinitive Clause
To-infinite clauses are used to show a
purpose or intention and usually follow
nouns of time, place manner and quantity:
time to go
the place to visit
a way to look at it

16. Noun + to-infinitive Clause
Nouns followed by the to-infinitive are
related to verbs also followed by the to
infinitive (e.g. decide/decision; plan/plan):
a decision to expand (decide to)
our plan to build a new hospital (plan to)

17. Questions?
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