Introduction
Noun phrases are essential for mastering any language, as they provide agents, patients, and recipients necessary for meaningful communication While a rich vocabulary is valuable, single words often fall short in conveying complex thoughts A comparative analysis of noun phrases in English and Vietnamese is both necessary and intriguing for effective teaching and learning Despite sharing a basic structure, noun phrases in different languages exhibit distinct differences This study aims to examine the internal and external structures of noun phrases in both languages, compare them, and offer teaching implications for educators.
Aims of study
This study aims to explore noun phrases in English and Vietnamese, highlighting their impact on teaching and learning in both languages It seeks to provide comprehensive information about noun phrases, examining their similarities and differences The analysis focuses on the structure of these phrases, including heads, pre-modifications, post-modifications, and their respective positions and functions in English and Vietnamese.
Limitation of study
This thesis focuses on the noun phrase in English, aiming to highlight the differences and similarities between English and Vietnamese noun phrases It addresses common translation errors between the two languages and clearly outlines the structure of noun phrases In English, a noun phrase consists of three components: pre-modification, the head, and post-modification, while in Vietnamese, it is structured as a classifier followed by a noun, verb, or adjective This study not only contrasts the basic structures of noun phrases in both languages but also provides valuable suggestions for teaching and learning them effectively.
Reasons of study
English is a vital language in today's world, serving as a key to various documents, events, and technology Its global popularity has increased the demand for English proficiency, enabling individuals to access a wealth of information, stay updated with trends, and enhance career opportunities However, significant differences between English and Vietnamese present challenges for learners, particularly in phonology, vocabulary, and grammar Understanding these distinctions, especially in noun phrase formation, is essential for effective English study After four years of learning English at university, I aim to share insights that will benefit both myself and readers in their English learning journey.
Methods of study
In my research, I have utilized various books and dedicated time to collaborate with my teacher and friends to deepen my understanding of noun phrases in both English and Vietnamese Additionally, I regularly consult with my supervisor regarding teaching materials This study aims to inform learners about noun phrases in English and Vietnamese by exploring the differences and similarities between the two languages, drawing on various resources, including academic articles and magazines.
This research presents numerous examples of noun phrases, aiming to help learners understand how to construct them within sentences While compiling and writing this study, some shortcomings may have arisen despite significant effort As such, I welcome all suggestions and contributions to enhance the usefulness of this work.
Scope of study
To carry out the thesis I used the combination of the different books for the references
A noun phrase is a headed phrase where the head is the essential component, as described by Aarts and Aarts (1988) The head, defined as the dominant member, allows for recursive construction, enabling the addition of multiple dependents to create simple or complex noun phrases (Gomez, 2009) For example, "the dog" is a simple noun phrase, while "the lovely hairy black dog with a red collar standing at the door of the house" illustrates a complex structure This flexibility in the arrangement of dependents, which can precede or follow the head, results in a variety of structural patterns within noun phrases (Gomez, 2009).
According to Greenbaum & Quirk (2007), a noun phrase consists of three key components: the head noun, pre-modification, and post-modification Pre-modification includes elements such as determiners, adjectives, and nouns that appear before the head noun, while post-modification encompasses items placed after the head, like prepositional phrases, nonfinite clauses, and relative clauses Pre-modifiers typically provide characteristic features of the noun, whereas post-modifiers often present additional information through wh-relative clauses or nonfinite clauses.
According to Johnson (2007), the most common relative pronouns include "which," "who," "whose," "when," "where," "that," and "whom." Additionally, nonfinite clauses can be identified by their use of the –ed and –ing participles, as well as by infinitive "to" clauses.
(Johnson, 2010) It is also possible for a single head noun to contain more than one pre-modifier or post-modifier
According to Gomez (2009), the determiner is the most essential component of a noun phrase, often being mandatory in various contexts (e.g., "the dog," "a dog"), while the noun can stand alone in some cases (e.g., "dog is barking") Gomez also highlights the importance of pre-determiners (e.g., "both these books") and post-determiners (e.g., "the many books you have") in further understanding noun phrase structure In contrast to determiners, pre-modifiers are optional and do not impact the grammaticality of the noun phrase; their role is to identify, classify, and define the head noun Pre-modifiers can take the form of adjective phrases, adverb phrases, or even noun phrases, typically describing the noun's permanent characteristics The syntactic function of a noun phrase is diverse, serving as subjects, objects, predicative complements, or components in prepositional phrases (e.g., "she is in the garden") This syntactic versatility can significantly influence the construction of meaning within discourse.
In my journey of studying noun phrases in English and Vietnamese, I frequently seek advice from my teacher and peers, leveraging their insights to enhance my understanding I greatly value the guidance from my supervisor, which has been instrumental in my research My four years at Phenikaa University have significantly enriched my knowledge of English, providing me with a deeper appreciation of diverse cultures and customs through literature While noun phrases may seem like a minor aspect of English grammar, I believe mastering these foundational elements is crucial for language proficiency Based on my experiences, I would like to propose effective strategies for teaching and learning noun phrases in both English and Vietnamese.
I hope that this paper, to a certain extent, will provide more and more helpful information about it for teachers and learners
What is a noun phrase?
Definition about noun phrase
Le (2002) defined noun phrase (NP) as a groups of words beginning with a noun and functioning appositive This noun phrase often goes right before or right after the noun it expresses
A noun phrase is defined as a group of words centered around a noun or pronoun, which serves as the head of the phrase, according to L.H Nguyen (2004) In "Analyzing English," Jackson elaborates that the presence of a noun or pronoun is the minimal requirement for a noun phrase to exist Whether in its simple form, like "students," or in a more complex structure, such as "the story about the girl who used to live there," a noun phrase must always convey a main idea through its head.
Example: A victim of war, he hated the sight of soldiers
According to Quirk, R (1972): “The noun phrase is the element in the sentences which typically function as subject, object and compliment”
A noun phrase, as defined by Jacob (1995), consists of word phrases that refer to the subjects of conversation, including people, objects, concepts, processes, and various entities This referencing function is essential for effective communication.
Jackson (1989) outlined the components that can be combined in a specific order to create a noun phrase He proposed a structured framework for noun phrases in English, detailing the possible arrangements of these elements.
Pre-modification + Head + Post-modification
Noun phrases are word combinations that convey meaning and refer to specific entities The arrangement of the three components of a common noun phrase varies according to the grammatical rules of each language Nevertheless, the function of modifiers, which enhance and specify the meaning of the head noun, remains consistent across languages.
Noun comparison, noun clause, noun phrase
A noun is a fundamental part of speech that identifies what someone or something is called It can refer to a person (e.g., John, Mary), an occupation (e.g., worker, architect), a thing (e.g., computer, book), a place (e.g., London, New York), a quality (e.g., courage, kindness), or an action (e.g., laughter, writing) Essentially, nouns name entities, including living creatures, objects, and abstract concepts They serve crucial syntactical roles in sentences, primarily functioning as subjects and objects.
E.g.: The student is reading a book (Subject) The teacher helps the student in their studies (Object) Besides, a noun may also be used:
+ As a complement/ or predicative introduced by the verb “be” or other
“be- like” or link verbs
E.g.: He is a good student They are architects
+ As an attribute: The student’s answer was all correct
+ As a part of an adverbial modifier: They are learning in their classroom + In apposition: James Smith, an ABC commentator, asked for an interview
+ When we speak directly to somebody:
E.g.: Jane, turn down the volume, will you?
The noun is associated with the following form-words:
+ The articles or determiners (definite or indefinite): the house, a house + The prepositions: in the house, behind the house, about the house
In the English language, certain words serve exclusively as nouns, such as "desk" and "hat." Others can function as both nouns and verbs, like "work" and "book." Additionally, some words can act as both nouns and adjectives, including "cold" and "white." Importantly, the grammatical role of these words cannot be determined solely by their spelling.
(A grammar of the English Language, Le H Truong, 2015)
Noun phrases are groups of one or two words that function grammatically as nouns within a sentence, typically consisting of a noun and its modifiers While some grammarians consider a single word to qualify as a noun phrase, traditional grammar requires at least two words These phrases can serve various roles in a sentence, including acting as subjects, objects, and prepositional objects Additionally, noun phrases can also function as adjectives, participles, infinitives, and in prepositional or absolute phrases.
Modifiers can be positioned before or after a noun, with those preceding the noun typically being articles, possessive nouns, possessive pronouns, adjectives, or participles Conversely, modifiers that follow the noun include prepositional phrases, adjective clauses, participle phrases, and infinitives To better understand these concepts, examining examples of noun phrases in context is essential.
The spotted puppy is up for adoption
The bohemian house was brightly decorated for the holidays
At the zoo, I saw a striped zebra
(Noun phrase as an object to the verb “saw”)
I want a cute puppy for Christmas
(Noun phrase as an object to the verb “want”)
Mary lives in an electric household
(Noun phrase as a prepositional object; Preposition= “in”)
Jose drives to an awful job every morning
(Noun phrase as a prepositional object; Preposition= “to”)
The car wash was out of order
(Noun phrase with “car” acting as an adjective for the noun “wash”)
The Delta Airlines flight to New York is ready to board
(Noun phrase with “Delta Airlines” acting as an adjective for the noun “flight”)
She kindly offered water to the gardener working in the hot sun
Having been a police officer, he knew how to defend himself
The ability to give to others is an important character trait
(Noun phrase as a “to-infinitive”)
Our decision to get married was celebrated by all our friends
(Noun phrase as a “to-infinitive”)
She crawled through the dark and musty attic
(Noun phrase as a prepositional phrase; Preposition= “through”)
He had to sit beside the horribly angry girl
(Noun phrase as a prepositional phrase; Preposition= “beside”)
Her red face with embarrassment, she took her seat beside the man she had tripped
(Noun phrase as an absolute phrase to the subject “she”)
They walked into the sunset, their laughter carrying on the breeze (Noun phrase as an absolute phrase to the subject “they”)
Noun clauses are groups of words functioning as nouns, typically starting with words like if, what, or why These clauses contain both a subject and a predicate, similar to complete sentences, but they cannot stand alone Instead, they contribute to the meaning of longer, more complex sentences.
In a mathematics class, if you encounter a question you can't answer, you might think, “I wonder if my teacher knows the answer.” This sentence illustrates a main clause, “I wonder,” followed by an if-noun clause, “if my teacher knows the answer.”
Many individuals understand the concept of a noun, yet they often struggle with noun clauses A noun clause is a collection of words that functions as a noun, and it is always a dependent clause, meaning it cannot stand alone as a complete sentence To better grasp noun clauses, examining sample sentences that illustrate their usage can be very helpful.
We can spot a noun clause based on its function within the sentence Let’s take a look at some of the most prominent roles of noun clauses
+ A noun clause can act as the subject of a verb For example:
What Alicia said made her friends cry
What Megan wrote surprised her family
How the boy behaved was not very polite
To identify the subject of a sentence with a verb, ask questions related to the action For example, in the sentence "What made her friends cry?" the subject is "what Alicia said." Similarly, in "What surprised her family?" the subject is "what Megan wrote." Lastly, in "What was not very polite?" the subject is "how the boy behaved." Understanding these structures helps clarify the relationship between subjects and verbs in sentences.
+ In the same vein, noun clause can also act as the direct object of a verb:
She didn’t realize that the directions were wrong
He didn’t know why the stove wasn’t working
They now understand that you should not cheat on a test
Once again, you can use the method of questioning to demonstrate how the noun clause is being used
She failed to realize that the directions were incorrect, which ultimately led to confusion and misdirection.
In the second sentence, we can ask, “What he didn’t he know?” and the answer is “why the stove wasn’t working.”
In the third sentence, we can ask, “What do they understand?” and the answer is “that you should not cheat on a test.”
+ A noun clause can also serve as a subject complement A subject complement will always modify, describe, or complete the subject of a clause
Carlie’s problem was that she didn’t practice enough
Harry’s crowning achievement at school was when he became class president
Darla’s excuse for being late was that she forgot to set her alarm
Do you see what questions these noun clauses answer and how they relate to the subject?
What was Carlie’s problem? She didn’t practice enough
What was Harry’s crowning achievement? It was when he became class president
What was Darla’s excuse for being late? It was that she forgot to set her alarm
Noun clauses are essential for completing sentences, as they can serve as the object of a preposition In the following examples, the prepositions "of" and "for" demonstrate how noun clauses function within a sentence.
Harry is not the best provider of what Margie needs
Josephine is not responsible for what Alex decided to do
Allie is the owner of that blue car parked outside
Again, the best way to understand this concept is asking the appropriate question
In the first sentence, we can ask, “Harry is not the best provider of what?” The answer is “what Margie needs”
In the second sentence, we can ask, “Josephine is not responsible for what?” The answer is “what Alex decided to do”
In the third sentence, we can ask, “Allie is the owner of what?” The answer is “that blue car parked outside”
Prepositions enhance sentences by adding detail, while noun clauses serve as the objects of these prepositions, enriching the overall meaning Each sentence stands alone but gains depth with the inclusion of these grammatical elements.
+ Last but not least, a noun clause can also function as an adjective complement, modifying a verb, adjective, or adverb
Jerry knows why Elaine went to the store
They’re perfectly happy where they live now
Geoffrey runs so quickly that he can outrun his dog
The adjective complement is providing more information about the verb, adjective or adverb that precedes it
In the first sentence, we can ask, “What does Jerry know?” In this case,
“know” is the verb being modified The thing that he knows is “why Elaine went to the store”
In the second sentence, we can inquire, “What brings them happiness?” Here, "happy" serves as the modifying adjective, and the source of their happiness is identified as "their current place of residence."
In the third sentence, we can ask, “How quickly does Geoffrey run?” Here, “quickly” is the adverb being modified He runs so quickly “that he can outrun his dog”
Each sentence, like those with prepositions, can be completed with conjunctions such as "why," "where," and "that." The adjective complements enhance the detail, and in these cases, they function as noun clauses.
Classification noun phrase
A noun phrase, also known as a nominal phrase, consists of a noun or an indefinite pronoun and functions as a cohesive unit It typically includes a person, place, or thing, along with modifiers that provide additional identification This type of phrase is quite prevalent in the English language.
However, a noun phrase can be a subject or object or complement
Example: That dog, that dog on the sofa, the aunt’s dog, the neighbor’s dog, a dog etc
However, modifiers can be placed before or after the noun If it comes before the noun, then it can be articles, possessive nouns, adjectives, possessive pronouns, participles
Article: Raghu’s father has bought a dog
Possessive noun: The neighbor’s dog is well-trained
Possessive pronoun: She has kept her dog alone in the flat
Adjective: The spotted dog runs fast
Modifiers that come after the noun includes prepositional phrases or adjective clauses or participle phrases or infinitives
Prepositional phrase: The dog behind the door is waiting for the food
Adjective clause: The dog that chases cats can run fast
Participle phrase: The dog walked daily in the morning is suffering from disease
Infinitive: Mai bought the dog to train
More examples of Noun Phrases:
A noun phrase can be a noun or a pronoun
E.g + People like to have property
E.g those dresses are very expensive
E.g my close friend went to Delhi
Noun phrase starts with a quantifier
E.g these two suitcases are packed with the clothes
Quantifier + Determiner + Noun = Noun Phrase
E.g all these children are staying in the hotel
Quantifier + Determiner + Adjective = Noun Phrase
E.g both of my younger brothers are adopted
The function of a Noun Phrase
Noun phrase can be used as a noun phrase head
E.g the big blue ball was lost yesterday
Noun phrase functions as a subject in a sentence
E.g the small baby was crying
Noun phrase can be used as a subject complement
E.g the lady whom you are looking for is an actress
Noun phrase can be a direct object An object can be a word, phrase or clause and usually it comes after a transitive verb
E.g the children ate all the chocolate
A noun phrase can be an indirect object
E.g my brother bought me gifts
Noun phrase can be used as an object complement
E.g we consider our dog our family member
Sometime, noun phrase acts as a noun phrase modifier
E.g the child actor performed well in the movie
Noun phrase can be used as a prepositional object
E.g my father bought gifts for me
Noun phrase can be used as determinative
E.g my sister’s flat is a small 2 BHK
Noun phrase function as an adjust adverbial
Noun phrase can be used as an appositive
E.g my uncle, a flutist, is composing background music for movies
Noun phrases are essential for effective writing, as they condense complex ideas into concise expressions, making them invaluable for meeting word counts and enhancing clarity Recognizing noun phrases as cohesive units allows readers to grasp chunks of information more efficiently, transforming their reading experience from focusing on individual words to understanding broader concepts.
The general structure of a noun phrase
The structure of noun phrase in English
According to George Yule (2006), a noun phrase is defined as a phrase where the main word is a noun, serving as either a subject or an object (p.269) In his analysis of noun phrase structure, Baker (1995) focuses on individual modifiers and complements that follow the main noun He specifically examines elementary noun phrases introduced by quantity words and by articles such as "a" or "an," highlighting his approach of analyzing modifiers in isolation rather than in a structured order.
In 1989, Jackson proposed a comprehensive framework for understanding the elements that can form a single noun phrase This paper builds upon Jackson's perspective, outlining his formula for constructing English noun phrases.
Pre-modification + Head + Post-modification
A noun phrase is composed of three essential components: pre-modification, the head, and post-modification While the head noun is mandatory, both pre-modification and post-modification are optional elements that serve to elaborate or refine the meaning of the head noun The term "noun phrase" derives from the head word, which is the core of the phrase In the following section, I will discuss key information regarding the head in a noun phrase.
A noun phrase typically centers around a noun, which serves as its head word In addition to nouns, pronouns can also function as the core element of a noun phrase There are four types of pronouns that can act as heads in these phrases.
For example: a ‘he’ in he is a doctor b ‘someone’ in someone in the house c ‘his’ in his is large d ‘this’ in this happens every two years
Dependent word(s) head Dependent word(s) love him
The moon a gold ring the red one
Good food my own personal website
That house there the longest river in the world
A feeling of isolation the tall, blonde woman we met at Joanna’s house
The determiners: Nouns rarely stand alone, they are usually accompanied by modifiers If we omit all of the noun phrase’s modifiers, the sentence can still be interpreted:
All the beautiful dresses have already been sold
Dresses have already been sold
However, if we strip of the head, it will be out of the question to understand the meaning of the sentence:
All the beautiful dresses have already been sold
*All the beautiful have already been sold
The most popular noun modifiers in English are the determiners Lynn
According to 1999, while adjectives are not essential for grammaticality in noun phrases, determiners frequently are necessary For instance, the phrase "Child put book on shelf" is grammatically understandable in English, yet it would not be used by native speakers in everyday conversation Determiners, which include articles, possessives, and demonstratives, always come before the noun and any adjectives that modify it Additionally, a noun can be modified by only one determiner at a time.
E.g this book, our house (we don’t say this book or our a house)
According to Lynn (1999), determiners article generally include:
E.g - She is dating a handsome doctor
- Daisy was bought a new piano last week The piano is very big and expensive
- The woman who is talking to my father is my teacher
Some is usually regarded as the plural indefinite article:
E.g - Some people walk in the park every morning
Generally speaking, singular nouns hardly appear without a determiner accompanied For example, “cat is in the house” and “girl is beautiful” are ungrammatical
Demonstratives: this, that, these, those
Demonstratives are another type of determiner, whose function is to point items out- this man, that woman, these guys, those books (Lynn, 1999)
Quantifying determiners: each, every, no, any, either, neither, another…
E.g - They gave each team a tent
- Every student who joins the party must have a ticket
- No food was found on the ship
- She doesn’t want any milk
- You can have either milk or coffee
- Neither Tom nor Pete has arrived
Genitive determiners: my, our, her, his, its, your, their
- Our boss is very strict
- The cat waves its tail whenever it sees me
In fact, genitive case not only consists of the possessive adjectives above but it also expands into noun phrase genitive
Interrogative determiners: which, whose, what
E.g – Which book do you want to borrow?
- What time does the meeting start?
The initial element of a noun phrase is known as pre-modification or pre-modifiers, which are modifiers positioned before the head noun Pre-modifiers can be categorized as either closed-system or open-class items, both of which are optional within noun phrases Open-class pre-modifiers follow closed-system ones and come before the head noun.
All these young beautiful girls
Pre-modifying adjectives serve to enhance nouns by providing specific descriptions, such as general attributes (beautiful, intelligent), age (young, old), size (big, small), shape (square, round), color (red, blue), material (silk, metal), resemblance (silken in silken hair), and style (British, Parisian) These adjectives can function as both attributes and complements Additionally, intensifying adjectives, which heighten or lower the impact of the noun, include terms like ‘real’ (a real hero), ‘definite’ (a definite loss), and ‘close’ (a close friend), and they typically serve as attributes only Restrictive adjectives, such as ‘certain’ (a certain person) and ‘exact’ (the exact answer), limit the noun's reference and are also attribute-only Some adjectives, like faint, ill, or able, cannot pre-modify the head noun but can be used predicatively Furthermore, pre-modifying adjectives can appear in predicate positions, particularly when they follow a determiner.
His really quite unbelievably happy family
Indefinite determiners interact differently with certain intensifiers, particularly the word 'so.' In these cases, 'so' can be substituted with 'such,' which comes before the determiners Alternatively, 'so' followed by an adjective can be placed before the determiners.
In "Analyzing English," Howard notes that post-modification in noun phrases is typically achieved through phrases or clauses rather than specific word classes This concept is illustrated through various examples of phrasal and clausal post-modification.
The examples of each one are given in the following table 2:
Relative clauses The house where I live
Non-finite clauses It’s a movie to see (infinite clause)
The man talking to the teacher (cling) The text chosen by the teacher (past participle phrase)
Someone brave Preposition phrase The man with long hair
Adverb phrase The bus runs behind the building
Howard introduced a unique type of relative clause that involves comparison For instance, in the sentence "she buys more clothes in a month than I buy in a year," the than-clause functions as a relative clause In this context, "than" acts as a relative pronoun, highlighting the comparative relationship between the two clauses.
The similar case is for superlative comparison In the example: the most expressive clothes that she can afford, relative clause is introduced by that
Howard identified three types of non-finite clauses, which will be exemplified in Table 3 These include post-modifiers, relative clauses, and prepositional phrases, as well as the use of adjectives and adverbs.
In English grammar, an infinitive clause, such as "the man to answer this question," differs from present participle clauses like "the car coming down the road" and past participle constructions like "the woman expected to arrive at any moment." Howard notes that present participle clauses do not always indicate a progressive form; instead, they relate to an active sense, as seen in the example where "someone knowing the circumstances" does not translate to "someone is knowing the circumstances." He explains that in present participle and past participle clauses, the implied subject is the head of the noun phrase, exemplified by "the car (head, subject) coming down the road." Conversely, in an infinitive clause, the implied subject is not necessarily the head of the noun phrase, as illustrated by the need to ask "the man to answer this question."
The structure of noun phrase in Vietnamese
In Vietnamese, noun phrases also have three components which are:
However, the elements in each components have a little difference from the components of the English noun phrases Below is table 4:
Pre-modification Head Post-modification
Prep ositional phrase/ posse ssive
Cả hai cuốn từ điển Trung Việt này của anh ta
Totality is ‘cả’, ‘hai’ is quantifier, ‘từ điển’ is noun, attributive is ‘Trung
Việt’, ‘này’ is demonstrative and ‘của anh ta’ is prepositional phrase
The head of a noun phrase is always a noun, determining the permissible modifiers and carrying significant semantic weight In Vietnamese noun phrases, the head can consist of either a single noun or a combination of a classifier and a noun Classifiers, such as 'cái', 'con', and 'người', have specific uses, with 'cái' typically preceding inanimate objects.
In Vietnamese, the word 'cái' is used with inanimate objects like 'cái bàn' (table) and 'cái ghế' (chair), while 'con' is used for animate beings, such as 'con gà' (chicken) and 'con trâu' (buffalo) For humans, the term 'người' is applied, as seen in phrases like 'người bạn' (friend) and 'người thân' (relative).
There are some more common classifiers:
Cái: used for most inanimate objects
Chiếc: almost similar to Cái, usually more connotative (e.g When referring to a cute object, chiếc might be more suitable than Cái)
Con: usually for animals and children, but can be used to describe some inanimate objects (con dao = knife, con đường = street, cái vít screw)
Bài: used for compositions like songs, drawings, poems, essays, etc
Câu: sentence constructs (verses, lyrics, statements, quotes, etc)
Cây: used for stick-like objects (plants, guns, canes, etc)
Tòa: buildings of authority (courts, halls, ‘ivory towers’)
Quả/ trái: used for globular objects (the Earth, fruits)
Quyển/ cuốn: used for book-like objects (books, journals, etc)
Tờ: sheets and other thin objects made of paper (newspapers, papers, calendars, etc)
Lá: smaller sheets of paper (letters, plating cards)
Việc: an event or an ongoing process
Chuyện: a general topic, matter or business
The classifier ‘Cái’ has a special role in that it can extend all other classifiers, e.g Cái con, Cái chiếc
In Vietnamese noun phrases, certain special instances allow for the omission of classifiers, as seen in examples like 'một cà phê' and 'một sinh tố,' where the classifier 'ly' is not included The typical structure of a Vietnamese noun phrase consists of a head noun that can be preceded by quantifiers, articles, numerals, the particle 'cái,' and classifiers, followed by post-modifiers such as noun adjuncts, adjective phrases, prepositional phrases, demonstratives, relative clauses, and possessive phrases.
According to T.H Nguyen (2004), the structure of the Vietnamese noun phrase consists of various elements, including pre-nominal modifiers such as quantifiers, articles, numerals, the particle "Cái," classifiers, and measure phrases Additionally, it features post-nominal modifiers like noun adjuncts, adjective phrases, prepositional phrases, relative clauses, demonstratives, and possessives, all of which accompany the head noun.
In Vietnamese, classifiers form a closed lexical class and serve as optional elements in noun phrases, appearing directly before the noun, such as in "cuốn sách" (book) or "cái bàn" (table) When a numeral is present in a noun phrase, the classifier must follow it, making expressions like "gà" (chicken), "con gà" (a chicken), or "hai con gà" (two chickens) grammatically correct, while "hai gà" is not Classifiers cannot function independently in noun phrases, as seen with "con" or "cuốn," and they are essential for specifying individual nouns, thus making them countable.
Hai ghế, hai cái ghế
In this case, there is a demonstrative, an adjective or relative clause, which functions as an explicit specifying modifier, the head noun can be omitted as bellows,
Bạn muốn mua cái ghế nào?
Cái vàng hay cái xanh?
In English grammar, classifiers precede nouns, and their selection is influenced by the semantic characteristics of the nouns they accompany Specifically, classifiers like Cái, con, and người align with a three-way distinction based on animacy, categorizing nouns into inanimate objects, animals, and people, respectively.
Vietnamese classifiers, such as cái, chiếc, con, bài, câu, cây, tòa, quả/trái, quyển/cuốn, tờ, lá, việc, and chuyện, play a crucial role in language structure When there is a mismatch between classifiers and their corresponding head nouns, it leads to grammatical errors Additionally, it is important to note that two classifiers cannot appear together within the same noun phrase.
- Grammatical: cái bàn, con gà, người hàng xóm
- Ungrammatical: con bàn, cái gà, cái hàng xóm
- Ungrammatical: cái con bàn, con cái nhà
- Ungrammatical: con cái bàn, con cái gà
As I mentioned above, classifiers can individuate nouns, making it countable as a unit They are called unit-classifiers (Cái, con) There are also others types of classifier denoting kinds or events called kind-classifiers as in (a) and event-classifiers as in (b)
The three types of classifiers belong to the same category and share common characteristics regarding their distribution restrictions and positioning within a noun phrase They are unable to coexist with other classifiers of the same type, as illustrated in (c), and they also cannot appear alongside different types of classifiers, as shown in (d).
Vietnamese nouns lack explicit markers for number, allowing a single noun to convey meanings that can be singular, plural, definite, or indefinite However, when a classifier is placed before a noun, the noun phrase is typically interpreted as singular, regardless of whether it is definite or indefinite.
Or ‘tôi mua chiếc xe đạp’
In Vietnamese, a classifier noun indicates a singular noun phrase with an indefinite meaning, as seen in the sentence "tôi đã mua một cuốn sách" (I bought a book) To create a plural noun phrase, it is essential to include "các" or "những" before the classifier noun, exemplified by "những con gà" (the chickens) and "các cuốn sách" (the books).
Many researchers argue that Vietnamese lacks lexical articles; however, T.H Nguyen (2004) and Nguyen T.C (1975) assert that Vietnamese does possess a lexical article slot that appears before quantifiers These lexical articles, such as "những" and "các," precede classifiers and nouns The article "một" is an optional component in Vietnamese noun phrases, appearing before the head noun and conveying a singular and indefinite meaning, as demonstrated in the phrase "tôi mua một con gà." This article is typically used in Vietnamese noun phrases for the initial mention of referents.
In this example, the phrase "I sell a book and a pen" illustrates the use of "one" to introduce references into discourse, with the book priced at 30,000 dong and the pen at 5,000 dong It is important to note that "one" is not used when the reference has already been mentioned, nor can it appear in definite contexts that indicate a unique reference, such as "the only bicycle."
In Vietnamese, "những" and "các" serve as lexical articles within noun phrases, both indicating plurality but with distinct semantic nuances "Các" emphasizes the entirety of a specific set of entities, while "những" suggests reference to only certain members of a larger group Additionally, "các" is used exclusively in contexts requiring definite noun phrases, whereas "những" is reserved for indefinite noun phrases.
(e) tôi có rất nhiều sách Những cuốn sách cũ rất hay
(f) cầm các cuốn sách cũ ra đây
(g) mời các chị vào nhà chơi
(h) có những cuốn sách cũ rất hay
In Vietnamese, the words ‘các’ and ‘những’ do not carry phonological stress and cannot function independently in a noun phrase The indefinite term ‘những’ is often employed for initial references or in contexts that require unique identification For instance, one might say, "I have many books The old books are what I often read," or "My mother enjoys rainy weather The rain brings her happiness."
‘tôi thích sách của em Những quyển sách đã cũ mang nhiều kỉ niệm’
Vietnamese quantifiers are words that can occur within a noun phrase before a head noun (with or without a classifier) Quantifiers include a class of lexical word which indicates some quantity and distribution
Estimated quantity: mấy, dăm, vài, mươi lăm
Distribution: mỗi, mọi, từng, tất cả, toàn bộ…
Here are the table 5 of Vietnamese quantifiers and their equivalence in
Dăm/ dăm bảy Several, few
Mấy Few, how much/ many
Bao nhiêu How much/ many
Bấy nhiêu This much/ many
Comparison between noun phrases in English and Vietnamese
Similarities
3.1.1 Three main parts in the structure of two languages
In examining the noun phrase structure in English and Vietnamese, it is evident that both languages share a common framework consisting of three key components: pre-modification, head, and post-modification The most critical element within this structure is the head, which serves as the core of the noun phrase In both English and Vietnamese, the head is represented by a noun, which can take the form of a common noun denoting an object, a proper noun, or even a pronoun.
There are some examples about noun phrases in English and Vietnamese: E.g The man answer the question
The man talks to teacher the answer
I love a man who can be my shelter and to whom I can share every of my feeling
Vài ba vị khách hàng
Mấy cái con gà này
Những người bác sĩ này
Cả hai cuốn từ điển này của nó
Sáu bông hoa hồng kia
Anh mua mấy cân thịt?
Hai cái con chó mực này
3.1.2 Both English and Vietnamese noun phrases, quantifiers, numerals, fractions before the head noun
In both Vietnamese and English noun phrases, quantity modifiers consistently precede the head noun This shared characteristic highlights a significant aspect of pre-modification in these languages, showcasing the structural similarities in their grammatical frameworks.
Three cats ba con mèo
All the oranges on the table tất cả những quả cam trên bàn
All the people tất cả mọi người
Half of the bread một nửa cái bánh mì
Several thousand people vài ngàn người
B một ngôi nhà trên đồi
In both examples, the term "house" is accompanied by a pre-modifier, the article "a," and a post-modifier, the prepositional phrase "on the hill." Similarly, the Vietnamese equivalent "ngôi nhà" is structured with a pre-modifier, the numeral "một," and a post-modifier, the prepositional phrase "ở trên đồi."
Now, I give some examples about quantifiers, numerals and fractions before the head noun in both noun phrases in two languages
1/4 diện tích Việt Nam là núi đồi
Hai con gà và hai con vịt
Một quyển sách trên bàn
Vài ngàn người trong hội trường
A lot of bird on the tree
Several thousand people in the concert
Differences
3.2.1 The difference in the head noun phrase in Vietnamese
Identifying the head noun in an English noun phrase is straightforward; however, in Vietnamese, this task is more complex In Vietnamese, the head of a noun phrase often consists of two elements: a classifier and a noun, rather than a single noun.
From the example, we can see that N1 often functions grammatically while functions lexically The head noun can also appear in three forms:
+ full form: N1 + N2 e.g con chó (này)
In the examples provided, N1 is referred to as a classifier Semantically, a classifier serves dual purposes: it signifies the meaning of a unit while also generalizing the noun that follows it This dual functionality allows classifiers to create countable capabilities and provide a broader context for the subsequent noun.
3.2.2 The adjectives before the head noun in English but after the head noun in Vietnamese
In comparing English and Vietnamese noun phrases, a key difference lies in the placement of modifiers In English, adjectives are positioned before the noun they modify, whereas in Vietnamese, adjectives follow the noun This distinction highlights the unique structure of each language's noun phrase formation.
A beautiful girl một cô gái đẹp
A lovely small garden một khu vườn nhỏ xinh xắn
Some handsome guys những anh chàng đẹp trai
In Vietnamese, the order of adjective modifiers in noun phrases is flexible and can be adjusted based on the speaker's intention and emphasis In contrast, English has a fixed order for adjectives For instance, the English phrase "a pretty new green dress" can be translated into Vietnamese in various ways, including "một cái đầm mới xinh xắn màu xanh," "một cái đầm mới màu xanh xinh xắn," and "một cái đầm màu xanh mới xinh xắn."
Some errors by the Vietnamese learners in using English noun
Analyzing the structure of English and Vietnamese noun phrases is essential for identifying common errors made by Vietnamese learners in English This comparative study not only enhances our understanding of both languages but also serves a meaningful purpose in improving language acquisition.
Vietnamese nouns differ significantly from English nouns in their pluralization, leading many Vietnamese speakers to omit the English plural morphemes ‘-s’ or ‘-es’ For instance, they might say "two book" instead of "two books," as their native language allows for singular and plural forms, such as một quyển sách (one book) and hai quyển sách (two books), without requiring a change in the noun itself.
Vietnamese nouns do not change form with plurality, leading to the use of plural markers like những and các to indicate multiple items This linguistic structure can result in Vietnamese speakers producing ungrammatical English phrases, particularly due to their unfamiliarity with countable and uncountable nouns They may mistakenly apply plural rules to uncountable nouns, using terms like "an advice" or "an information," not realizing that "advice" and "information" are uncountable This issue highlights the interference of the Vietnamese language in English learning, emphasizing the need to address the distinctions between singular/plural and countable/uncountable nouns.
Vietnamese learners often struggle to identify the head noun in complex noun phrases, such as "a beautiful young girl who is standing by the window." This difficulty can hinder their ability to form correct sentences, as recognizing the head noun is crucial for matching it with the main verb Since subjects and verbs are fundamental components of a sentence, mastering subject-verb agreement is essential for effective communication To address this challenge, instructors should provide guidance on the structure of English noun phrases By helping learners identify the head noun, they can avoid common mistakes in subject-verb agreement.
Adjectives play a crucial role in modifying head nouns in English, typically appearing before them However, English learners often struggle with the correct order when using multiple adjectives While native speakers can effortlessly string together a series of descriptors, such as in the phrase "a charming small round old brown French oaken writing desk," learners may find this challenging Jackson (1982) proposed a helpful guideline for ordering adjectives: Epithet (charming), Size (small), Shape (round), Age (old), Color (brown), Origin (French), Substance (oaken), and Present Participle (writing desk) Although such lengthy sequences are rare in everyday speech, they are common in writing Therefore, it is essential for teachers to guide students on the proper use of adjectives to enhance the detail and accuracy of their descriptions, particularly in written communication.
Vietnamese learners often encounter difficulties with English noun phrases, particularly in distinguishing between singular and plural nouns, as well as countable and uncountable nouns Countable nouns refer to items that can be counted individually, such as "apple" or "book." To address these challenges, it is essential to understand the rules governing the use of these nouns in English.
My cousin, my two cousins
A book, a box full of books
Countable nouns can be singular or plural They can be used with a/an and with numbers and many other determiners e.g these, a few, the, my, some, this:
She’s got two sisters and a younger brother
Most people buy things like cameras and MP3-players online these days
These shoes look old now
I’ll take a few magazine with me for the flight
In English grammar, some things are seen as a whole or mass These are called uncountable nouns, because they cannot be separate or counted
Some examples of uncountable nouns are:
Ideas and experiences: advice, information, progress, news, luck, fun, work
Materials and substances: water, rice, cement, gold, milk
Weather words: weather, thunder, lightning, rain, snow
Names of groups or collections of things: furniture, equipment, rubbish, luggage
Other common uncountable nouns include: accommodation, baggage, homework, knowledge, money, permission, research, traffic, travel
These nouns are not used with a/an or numbers and are not used in the plural
We’re going to get new furniture for the living room
Not: We’re going to get a new furniture for the living room, or, we’re going to get new furniture for the living room
We had terrible weather last week
Not: We had a terrible weather last week
We need rice next time we go shopping
Some nouns always have plural form but they are uncountable because we cannot use numbers with them
I bought two pairs of trousers
Other nouns of this type are: shorts, pants, pyjamas, glasses (for the eyes), binoculars, and scissors
Some nouns which are uncountable in English are countable in other languages e.g accommodation, advice, furniture, information
They can give you some information about accommodation at the tourist office
Not: they can give you some informations about accommodations at the tourist office
Can you give me some advice about buying a second-hand car?
Not: Can you give some advices about buying a second-hand car?
A head noun is the primary noun in a phrase that is modified by other elements Identifying head nouns is crucial, as it helps determine if a phrase can use an indefinite article; for instance, uncountable head nouns cannot be preceded by 'a' or 'an' Additionally, knowing the position of the head noun ensures proper subject-verb agreement In English grammar, the head serves as the key word that defines the phrase, distinguishing it from any modifiers For example, in the noun phrase "a tiny sandwich," "sandwich" is the head noun.
In language structure, an adjective phrase is defined by its head, which is an adjective, such as 'completely inadequate,' while an adverb phrase features an adverb as its head, like 'quite clearly.' The term 'head' may also refer to a headword, but it is important not to confuse this with its use in glossaries or dictionaries Noun phrases inherently require a head, typically a noun or pronoun, though it can also be an adjective or determiner in certain cases To identify the heads of noun phrases, three specific tests can be employed.
2 They can usually be replaced by a pronoun
3 They can usually be made plural or singular (this may not be possible with proper names)
Only test 1 holds good for all heads: the results for 2 and 3 depend on the type of head (Jonathan Hope, Shakespeare’s Grammar Bloomsbury, 2003)
Adjectives play a crucial role in modifying the head noun within English noun phrases Typically, adjectives precede the head noun, and multiple adjectives can be used together However, English learners often struggle with the correct order of adjectives To assist with this, Jackson (1982) proposed a helpful guideline for adjective arrangement: 1 Epithet 2 Size 3 Shape 4 Age 5 Color 6 Origin 7 Substance 8 Present participle Following this rule can greatly aid learners in organizing adjectives correctly in various contexts.
English and Vietnamese noun phrases share a similar structure, yet they exhibit significant differences influenced by distinct thinking and speaking habits in each language This assignment has allowed me to deepen my understanding of both languages while discovering valuable insights Noun phrases, along with other phrases, are crucial for mastering any language, as they denote agents, patients, and recipients While many languages feature noun phrases, their characteristics can vary greatly Although there are some similarities in the internal and external structures of noun phrases in English and Vietnamese, important differences remain I hope this research serves as a useful resource for learners seeking to understand noun phrases in both languages.
1, Look at the following sentences, and put the noun phrases in brackets into the correct order:
A, (mobile my small phone annoyingly orange) was stolen yesterday
B, Many people think that (giant the in panda China) is (a gentle beautifully animal)
C, (longest river in world the) is (Nile river the Africa in)
D, (technological in society advances modern) have revolutionized the world
E, (the famous race mythical women most warrior of) is the Amazons
2, Complete the following sentences by supplying suitable noun phrases
3, Identify the noun phrases in the following sentences
A, I hope to win the first prize
B, I tried to solve the puzzle
C, Did you enjoy reading this book?
D, The boy wants to go home
E, Horses prefer living in dark stables
F, The accused refused to answer the question
G, The boy denied stealing the money
H, To write such rubbish is disgraceful
I, I dislike having to punish my kids
J, I will hate to do such a thing
4, Put the words into the right order
A, wedding/ dress/ she/ long/ wore/ while/ a
B, woman/ English/ is/ an/ young/ intelligent/ it
C, is/ bag/ this/ sleeping/ black/ a/ new
D, pink/ he/ house/ bought/ big/ beautiful/ a
E, gave/ wallet/ him/ she/ brown/ small/ leather/ a
1 A, a pair of sport new French shoes
B, a pair of new sport French shoes
C, a pair of new French sport shoes
D, a pair of French new sport shoes
3 A, an old wooden thick table
B, an English new interesting book
C, an interesting English new book
D, an interesting new English book
6, Complete the following sentences using an appropriate noun or noun phrase
A, The teacher asked the students to learn……
B, The last time we met we had a good……
7, Most of the following sentences contain errors that are often made Correct the sentences that are wrong
A, My father’s country house, which you visited about two year ago, has recently been sold
B, Here are the money I owe you
C, This is my brother’s in law cap
D, My brother-in-law has more than 200 sheeps
A, There was/were plenty of fish in the river
B, Physics is/are my favorite subject
C, The police has/have not caught the girl yet
D, Every man and woman has/have got the right to be in love
E, Measles is/are infectious and so is/are mumps
F, The family has/have always been known for the intelligence of its members
9, Fill in the blanks with the correct forms of the given nouns for the following exercise luggage furniture information chairs hair
A, I don’t have much…… just two small bags
B, They are going to tell you all you want to know They are going to give you a lot of…
C, We have no……… not even a bed or a table
D, There is room for everybody to sit down There are a lot of…
E, ‘What does Alan look like?’ He’s got a long beard and very short…
10, Complete the sentences with a noun phrases
B, The number of…………after retirement is increasing
C, The percentage of people……….about the service fell in October
D, An offer………by a big business was rejected
E, NASA has satellites…………other planets in our solar system
11, In each of the following sentences replace the words in italics by suitable noun clauses
A, No one can guess the time of his arrival
B, I predict a change in the weather
D, Nobody knows the reason of his failure
E, I know him to be trustworthy
F, He is confident of winning the match
12, Pick out the noun phrases in the following sentences:
A, I wished to speak to the Principal
B, He loves to talk to you
D, He dislikes having to go there
E, Horses prefer living in dark room
F, I should hate having to punish him
G, Have you ever tried using butter instead of oil?
13, Form one basic noun phrase (pre-modifiers + head noun) from these items
A, Two chairs/made of oak/beautifully/carved
B, Your blue/old/scarf/the silk one that you bought in Japan
C, This pot/round/small/made of iron/used for cooking
14, Choose the correct determine for the following:
A, Do……of your friends speak Dutch? o those o any o the o other
B, Why don’t listen to…….song? o its o another o which o any
C, I haven’t seen…… brother in ages I should give him a call o a o my o this o the
D, Which one of………cities did you say you’d visited? o these o another o that
15, Identify the post-modifiers in the following texts
A, an extreme example of this kind of distortion
B, for flights going to as part of the fifth freedom
C, in a ward with less emphasis on the differences between night and day
D, Another major problem that we must consider is…
E, the solution to the problem of inflation
A, My annoyingly small orange mobile phone was stolen yesterday
B, Many people think that the giant panda in China is a beautifully gentle animal
C, The longest river in the world is the River Nile in Africa
D, Technological advances in modern society have revolutionized the world
E, The most famous race of mythical warrior women was the Amazons
A, I want to become a great writer
B, I don’t expect to finish the work today
C, We all hope to succeed in life
D, His winning the first prize surprised me
E, Do you wish to go home?
F, My father hates having dinner so late
G, Having so many children to look after gives me no pleasure
A, to win the first prize
I, having to punish my kids
A, She wore a long white wedding dress
B, it is an intelligent young English woman
C, This is a new black sleeping bag
D, He bought a beautiful big pink house
E, She gave him a small brown leather wallet
A, year->years B, are->is C, brother’s in law->brother-in- law’s
A, were B, is C, have D, has E, is - is
A, luggage B, information C, furniture D, chairs E, hair
B, people who continue to work
A, No one can guess when he will arrive
B, I predict that the weather will change
C, I heard that he has succeeded
D, I know that he is trustworthy
E, He is confident that he will win the match
A, to speak to the Principal
G, using butter instead of oil
A, two beautifully carved oak chairs
B, your old blue Japanese silk scarf
C, this small round icon cooking pot
A, of this kind of distortion
B, going on as part of the fifth freedom
C, on the differences between night and day
E, to the problem of inflation