Complex Noun PhrasesSession Objectives

By the end of the session you will have an understanding of ….

1) The structure of academic sentences

2) The construction of complex noun phrases

3) How to “pack” information into complex noun phrases

A group of infants who were given stepping practice for a few minutes several times a day during the first two months of life began walking five to seven weeks earlier than babies who had not had this practice.

A began walking five to seven weeks earlier than B

Sentences in Academic Texts

A group of infants who were given stepping practice for a few minutes several times a day during the first two months of life began walking five to seven weeks earlier than babies who had not had this practice.

A began walking five to seven weeks earlier than B

A - A group of infants who were given stepping practice for a few minutes several times a day during the first two months of life

B - babies who had not had this practice

Sentences in Academic Texts

Sentences in Academic Texts

Daily activity measured using a uni-axial accelerometer worn on a belt at the waist was one of the primary outcome variables they analyzed.

A was B

A - Daily activity measured using a uni-axial accelerometer worn on a belt at the waistB - one of the primary outcome variables they analyzed

Sentences in Academic Texts

Daily activity measured using a uni-axial accelerometer worn on a belt at the waist was one of the primary outcome variables they analyzed.

A was B

Fingerprint matching has been approached using various criteria based on different extracted features.

The use of fingerprints is considered to be one of the most effective methods of personal verification.

The continuing needs of law enforcement agencies and opportunities arising for the developers of civilian applications mean that automated fingerprint matching systems are becoming increasingly widespread.

International policy on climate change started with the adoption of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro in 1992,

U.S. companies faced increased pressure from shareholder groups who asked them to take climate change seriously.

Identifying Complex Noun Phrases1)

2)

3)

4)

5)

SentenceThe use of fingerprints is considered to be one of the most effective methods of personal verification.

Identifying Complex Noun Phrases

SentenceThe use of fingerprints is considered to be one of the most effective methods of personal verification.

Structure

A is considered to be B

Noun PhrasesA - The use of fingerprints B - one of the most effective methods of personal verification.

Identifying Complex Noun Phrases

SentenceFingerprint matching has been approached using various criteria based on different extracted features.

Identifying Complex Noun Phrases

SentenceFingerprint matching has been approached using various criteria based on different extracted features.

Structure

A has been approached using B

Noun PhrasesA - Fingerprint matching B - various criteria based on different extracted features.

Identifying Complex Noun Phrases

SentenceThe continuing needs of law enforcement agencies and opportunities arising for the developers of civilian applications mean that automated fingerprint matching systems are becoming increasingly widespread.

Identifying Complex Noun Phrases

SentenceThe continuing needs of law enforcement agencies and opportunities arising for the developers of civilian applications mean that automated fingerprint matching systems are becoming increasingly widespread.

Structure

A and B mean that C are becoming increasingly widespread

Noun PhrasesA - The continuing needs of law enforcement agencies B - opportunities arising for the developers of civilian applications C - automated fingerprint matching systems

Identifying Complex Noun Phrases

SentenceInternational policy on climate change started with the adoption of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro in 1992

Identifying Complex Noun Phrases

SentenceInternational policy on climate change started with the adoption of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro in 1992

Structure

A started with BNoun PhrasesA - International policy on climate change B - the adoption of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro in 1992

Identifying Complex Noun Phrases

SentenceU.S. companies faced increased pressure from shareholder groups who asked them to take climate change seriously.

Identifying Complex Noun Phrases

SentenceU.S. companies faced increased pressure from shareholder groups who asked them to take climate change seriously.

Structure

A faced B

Noun PhrasesA - U.S. companies B - increased pressure from shareholder groups who asked them to take climate change seriously.

Identifying Complex Noun Phrases

A model for complex noun phrasesA group of infants who were given stepping practice for a few minutes several times a day during the first two months of life

A group of

infants

who were given stepping practice

for a few minutes several times a day

during the first two months of life

Determiner

Noun

Relative Clause

Prepositional phrase

Prepositional phrase

A model for complex noun phrasesDaily activity measured using a uni-axial accelerometer worn on a belt at the waist

Daily

activity

measured using a uni-axial accelerometer

worn on a belt at the waist

Adjective

Noun

Participle Clause

Participle Clause

A model for complex noun phrasesone of the primary outcome variables they analyzed.

one of the

primary

outcome variables

they analyzed

Determiner

Noun

Relative Clause

Adjective

Building Noun Phrases

1) Hamburgers contain fat

2) The fat content of hamburgers is high

3) The high fat content of hamburgers is dangerous

4) The dangerously high fat content of hamburgers should be reduced

5) The reduction in the dangerously high fat content of hamburgers will not be popular

6) The unpopularity of the reduction in the dangerously high fat content of hamburgers should not prevent the government from taking action

Values.They are culturalThey were held by the early settlers of the United States

Building Noun Phrases

The cultural values held by the early settlers of the United States

featureIt is the third.It is about cultural feedback.It is illustrated in the commentsThe comments are in sample 2

aspectIt is her about writingIt is specificIt shows improvementThe improvement is in the present draft

companiesThe are multinationalThey are largeThey operate in international markets

feelingsThey are negative feelingsthey are based on an individual’s poor behaviour

negative feelingsbased on an individual’s poor behaviour

large multinational companies which operate in international markets

The third feature of cultural feedback illustrated in the comments in Sample 2

the specific aspect of her writing that shows improvement in the present draft

Summary

nounnounadjectiveadverbdeterminer

relative / participle clause

preposi-tional

phrase

a lessongrammarinterestingvery given by Joe

about noun

phrases

I attended…..

ReferencesGrammar ReferencesAckles, N.M. (2003) The Grammar Guide. Michigan: University of Michigan Press Swan, M. (1995) Practical English Usage. Oxford: Oxford University Press Yule, G. (2006) Oxford Practice Grammar. Oxford: Oxford University Press

Further PracticeELMO - https://elmo.ncl.ac.uk/Default.aspx → study → search → skill → Grammar

Murphy: English Grammar in Use – Unit 79Yule: Oxford Practice Grammar – Ch 13Willis: Collins Cobuild Students Grammar – Unit 28, 29, 30

Further HelpOne to one advisory session – contact insessional@ncl.ac.uk

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