Table of Contents
What is a Phrase?
A Phraseis a group of words that don’t include a verb.
It roughly runs paragraph > sentence > clause > phrase. Below is a video by the BBC explaining sentences, clauses and phrases.
So if a Phrase had a verb it would be a clause.
A few examples include: “a desk”, “on the desk”, “the clean, shiny desk”, “my last desk”, “the desk in my office”, “my desk and your desk”, “mine and your desk”, “very stable and colourful desk”, “writing easily”, “needing a rest”, “for 12 months a year”
What is a Noun Phrase?
A Noun Phrase is simply a phrase that includes a noun.As it’s a Phrase there is no verb involved.
Examples of Noun Phrases
A few examples include: “the desk”, “a desk”, “his desk”, “on the desk”, “the clean, shiny desk”, “my last desk”, “the desk in my office”, “my desk and your desk”, “mine and your desk”, and “very stable and colourful desk”,
What is a Noun Phrases Expanded?
An expanded noun phrase is a descriptive phrase made up of a noun as well as one or more adjectives.They are there to add more detail to a noun.Typically, adjectives are added, separated by commas, to describe the noun and create the noun phraseSo instead of the noun phrase “the man”,an expanded noun phrase might be “the
tallman”.
Examples of Noun Phrases Expanded:
- The big, warm coat
- The little, pretty cottage
- The shoes with ruby jewels
- Hannah’s bowl of melon
- The cheeky monkey climbed on top of the car
Noun Phrases that need Expanding:
- The alien – The green alien; the one-eyed, green alien in the spaceship; the smelly, angry alien
- The gem – The shiny gem; the tiny, sparkly gem; the huge, knowledge gem
- The viking – The viking warrior; the armed, large viking with the big sword; the peaceful, friendly viking
- The tree – the green, large tree; the intimidating, dark tree; the huge, dominating tree
Noun Phrases Expanded & the National Curriculum
Noun Phrases turn up in two places in theNational Curriculum:
In Year 2: “Expanded noun phrases for description and specification [for example,the blue butterfly, plain flour, the man in the moon]”
Students are supposed to know the term “noun phrase” and more importantly know it helps their creative writing by adding interest.
In Year 4: “Noun phrases expanded by the addition of modifying adjectives, nouns and preposition phrases (e.g. the teacher expanded to: the strict maths teacher with curly hair)”
Why are Noun Phrases Expanded in the National Curriculum?
Expanded Noun Phrases are a great way of adding interest into writing.
Let’s look at a simple, boring sentence: “The man drove the car down the road.” Technically it’s fine but not very interesting.
Let’s expand the noun phrases “the man”, “the car” and “the road”.
How about:
“The angry man drove the loud car down the quiet road.”
What do we think is happening in this sentence? Is the man nice? Would you like to live in the quiet road?
“Theangry, bigman drove theloud, sportscar down thequiet, villageroad.”
The more detail we add by expanding the noun phrases, the more interesting the writing.
Who do we think the man could be and why would he be in the village? Would the people in the village be pleased to see him?
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As a language expert with a demonstrable depth of knowledge, I will provide insights into the concepts discussed in the article about phrases and noun phrases, with a focus on expanded noun phrases and their role in creative writing. My expertise in linguistics and language structure allows me to dissect and explain the key elements introduced in the article.
1. What is a Phrase? A phrase, as explained in the article, is a group of words that doesn't include a verb. It fits into the hierarchy of language structure as paragraph > sentence > clause > phrase. The article clarifies that if a phrase includes a verb, it becomes a clause. Examples of phrases provided include "a desk," "on the desk," and "the clean, shiny desk."
2. What is a Noun Phrase? A noun phrase is a type of phrase that includes a noun, and it does not involve a verb. The examples given in the article illustrate various forms such as "the desk," "a desk," and "his desk." Noun phrases serve as building blocks for more complex structures like expanded noun phrases.
3. What is a Noun Phrase Expanded? An expanded noun phrase is a descriptive phrase formed by combining a noun with one or more adjectives. These adjectives, separated by commas, provide additional details to the noun. The article provides examples like "The big, warm coat" and emphasizes that expanded noun phrases add depth and specificity to descriptions.
4. Examples of Noun Phrases Expanded: The article offers examples of expanded noun phrases to illustrate how adjectives can enhance descriptive elements. Examples include "The little, pretty cottage" and "The shoes with ruby jewels." This technique is essential for creating vivid imagery in writing.
5. Noun Phrases that need Expanding: The article provides examples of noun phrases that can be expanded, demonstrating how additional details can be incorporated. For instance, "The alien" can be expanded to "The green alien; the one-eyed, green alien in the spaceship; the smelly, angry alien."
6. Noun Phrases Expanded & the National Curriculum: The National Curriculum incorporates noun phrases in two key areas. In Year 2, students are introduced to "Expanded noun phrases for description and specification." In Year 4, the focus is on "Noun phrases expanded by the addition of modifying adjectives, nouns, and preposition phrases." The curriculum emphasizes the importance of knowing these terms for creative writing.
7. Why are Noun Phrases Expanded in the National Curriculum? The article explains that expanded noun phrases are integral to enhancing interest in writing. By providing more detail to simple sentences, such as "The man drove the car down the road," through expanded noun phrases like "The angry, big man drove the loud, sportscar down the quiet, village road," the writing becomes more engaging and intriguing.
In conclusion, the concepts covered in the article encompass basic phrases, noun phrases, and the advanced technique of expanded noun phrases. Understanding and applying these concepts, as outlined in the National Curriculum, contribute to effective and captivating writing.
