What arenoun phrases?

Grammar Toolkit

Noun phrases

Grammar Toolkit

Noun phrases

A noun phrase is a phrase that acts as a noun.Stacking pet snails is very tricky.

If you ask the question What is?, the answer is the noun phrase stacking pet snails.A noun phrase often begins with a gerund, which is a present participle (verb ending in ing) used as a noun.

feeding pet snails juggling pet snails grooming pet snails

Grammar Toolkit

Noun phrases

A noun phrase can act as the subject or object of a sentence.

Riding skateboards was banned by Mr Tang. Oscar just loves eating fresh snails.Tessa’s job is to bake a cake. Walking the dog is my number one job. subject

object

object

subject

Grammar Toolkit

Noun phrases

Where are the noun phrases? Are they acting as subjects or objects?

Becoming team captain was his goal.

My greatest surprise was seeing you there.

To go alone was Emma’s only concern.

Eating way too much caused his stomach pain.

Meeting guests at the airport became Tina’s

favourite job.

subject

object

subject

subject

subject

Grammar Toolkit

Noun phrases

• A noun phrase is a phrase that acts as a noun. • A noun phrase often begins with a gerund,

which is the present participle of a verb. • A noun phrase can be the subject or object

of a sentence.• In the following sentence, the noun phrase

is red: Tooting my recorder drives Mum crazy.

Grammar Toolkit

Noun phrases

The End