Noun Phrases

A noun phrase is either a single noun or pronoun or any group of words containing a noun or a pronoun that function together as a noun or pronoun, as the subject or object of a verb.

For example, ‘they’, ‘books’, and ‘the books’ are noun phrases, but ‘book’ is just a noun.

Noun phrases normally consist of a head noun, which is optionally modified ("pre-modified" If the modifier is placed before the noun; "post modified" if the modifier is placed after the noun). Possible modifiers include:

*           Determiners: articles (the, a), demonstratives (this, that), numerals (two, five, etc.), possessives (my, their, etc.), and quantifiers (some, many, etc.). In English, determiners are usually placed before the noun;

*           Adjectives (the red ball); or

*           Complements, in the form of a prepositional phrase (such as: the student of physics), or a That-clause (the claim that the earth is round);

*           Modifiers; pre-modifiers if placed before the noun and usually either as nouns (the university student) or adjectives (the beautiful lady), or post-modifiers if placed after the noun. A post modifier may be either a prepositional phrase (the man with long hair) or a relative clause (the house where i live). The difference between modifiers and complements is that complements complete the meaning of the noun; complements are necessary, whereas modifiers are optional because they just give additional information about the noun.

Noun phrases can make use of an apposition structure. This means that the elements in the noun phrase are not in a head-modifier relationship, but in a relation of equality. An example of this is I, Caesar, declare ..., where "Caesar" and "I" do not modify each other.

The head of a noun phrase can be implied, as in "The Bold and the Beautiful" or Robin Hood's "rob from the rich and give to the poor"; an implied noun phrase is most commonly used as a generic plural referring to human beings. Another example of noun phrase with implied head is I choose the cheaper of the two.

That noun phrases can be headed by elements other than nouns—for instance, pronouns (They came) or determiners (I'll take these)—has given rise to the postulation of a determiner phrase instead of a noun phrase. The English language is not as permissive as some other languages, with regard to possible heads of noun phrases. German, for instance, allows adjectives as heads of noun phrases, as in Gib mir die Alten for Give me the olds (i.e. old ones).

Grammatical function

Noun phrases are prototypically used for acts of reference as in "The blonde girl shouts" or "She kissed the man". Also possible, but found less often, is the use of noun phrases for predication, as in "Suzy is a blonde girl". Note that in English the use of the copula is indicates the use of a noun phrase as predicate, but other languages may not require the use of the copula. Finally, noun phrases are used for identifications like "The murderer was the butler", where no ascription is taking place. The possibility for a noun phrase to play the role of subject and predicate leads to the constructions of syllogisms.

News item

News item is to inform the readers about events of the day which are considered newsworthy or important. Is structure is:
• Newsworthy Event(s): recounts the events in summary form
• Background Event(s): elaborate what happened, to WHOM, in WHAT circumstances.
• Sources: comments by participants in, witnesses to and authorities’ expert on the event.
Significant Grammar Features:

• Short, telegraphic information about story captured in headline
• Generally using Simple Past Tense
• Use of Material Processes to retell the event
• Using Action Verbs, e.g.: were, run, go, kill, etc.
• Using Saying Verbs, e.g.: say, tell
• Focus on Circumstances
• Use of projecting Verbal Processes in Sources stages

There are some rules that can help to make newspaper headlines more comprehensible.

1. The passive voice is used without the appropriate form of “be”.
2. It is unusual to find complex forms, generally the simple present form is used
3. The present progressive tense is used, usually to describe something that is changing or developing, but the auxiliary verb is usually left out.
4. To refer to the future, headlines often use the infinitive.
5. Headlines are not always complete sentences

Gratitude, Compliment and Congratulation

• Gratitude
Gratitude is an expression that we show or say to express grateful feeling to other people, when speaking English, you say “thanks” very often please say “thank you” when people give you something and give you compliment, etc.

Kinds of gratitude expressions are :
- Thank you very much
- Thank you for you help
- I’m really very grateful to you
- You’re welcome
- Don’t mention it
- I want to express my gratitude to (my teacher, my father, etc)

Respond of expressing :
-You are welcome
-Don't mention it
-It was nothing at all
-No problem
- I am glad I could help

• Compliment
Compliment is an expression that we show or say to express/give praise. Some people use compliment to “butter up” somebody or to flatter in order to increase good will, for example :
- On his/her general appearance
- If you notice something new about the person’s appearance
- When you visit someone’s house for the first time
- When other people do their best

Kinds of compliment expressions are :
- What a nice dress!
- You look great
- I really must express my admiration for you dance
- Excellent!
- Nice work
- Good Job

• Congratulation
Congratulation is an expression that we use the give the congratulation utterance when he/she succeeds in doing something

Kinds of Congratulations are :
- Congratulation
- Congratulations
- Congratulations on your succeeds
- Happy Birthday
- Merry Christmas
- Happy New Your
- Happy Valentine
- Happy Anniversary

A. Giving The Congratulation
- Let me congratulate you
- Good
- That’s great!
- How fortunate
- Pretty Good

B. Replying To The Congratulations
- Thank You
- Thank, I needed that
- That’s very kind of you

C. Surprising
- Oh, it was very interesting! I want to the sea world
- It was fun! Went out with my classmate

Read carefully the dialogue below then practice with your friends
Rosa : How was your school party, Zenny?
Alia : It was fun! We sony song and danced

Invitation (written)

In making a written invitation, you must be careful to include the following information:
1. your full address;
2. the date, time, and place;
3. any necessary explanation regarding the kind of event or programme  

Examples :
Invitation of Wedding Anniversary

Mr. and Mrs. Lukman Arifyanto request the company of Mr. and Mrs. Adi Priyadi at the marriage of their daughter Retno Lisyanti with Candra Aditya in Gedung Wanita, Jl. Cut Nyak Dien 99 Semarang on Sunday, 10th August, 2009 at 09.00 A.M. R.S.V.P.*

RSVP* the French phrase “Respondez s’il vous plait” or “Please reply”. It means the host expects a response as to whether you will attend the party, dinner, or invitation. Otherwise, if someone doesn’t respond to the invitation, it means that he will not come.  

Invitation to Dinner Formal

Mr. and Mrs. Kusno Raharjo Request the pleasure of Mr. and Mrs. Wiryo Subroto for dinner on Wednesday, the third of October at seven o’clock Jl. Merapi no. 78 RSVP Jl. Merapi no. 78 Boyolali 0276-356789

Invitation of Birth day
Jl. A. Yani 202 Semarang June 16th,2009

Hi, Friends. Please come and join to my birthday party of the 17th anniversary, on:
Date : June 24th, 2009
Time : 03:00 p.m.
Place : Kampung Laut Resto Jl. Marina Semarang
you and have fun with me
Best regards: Suci
Code dress : blue and black

Asking for Information

Here are some sample phrases and sentences for asking information in English.

1. What is this? 2. What is that? 3. What's this? 4. What's that? 5. What are these? 6. What are those? 7. Where is Mr. King? 8. Where is Ms. Knight? 9. Where's Johnny? 10. When's the movie? 11. When's lunch? 12. How is the food?  Here are some of the most common: * Could you tell me...? * Do you know...? * Do you happen to know...? * I'd like to know... * Could you find out...? * I'm interested in... * I'm looking for.. These two forms are used for asking for information on the telephone: * I'm calling to find out... * I'm calling about... Asking for Information Information about company What does your company do? What is your specialty? What do you specialize in? What is your main line of business? We produce marketing materials. We specialize in art and design. What are your major products? What services do you provide? We produce office machines. We design software. We provide technical support. Information about products Could you give me some (more) information on this? What can you tell me about this (product)? Tell me about this one/model. This is one of our top brands. It's our best selling refrigerator. This one is the best in its class. We're really pleased with its performance. It's an excellent computer. I highly recommend this one. This model comes with several features. This particular one has two components. Information about Price What are you asking for this? What does this sell for? How much is it? How much does it run? This (one) sells for $5900. This one goes for $2900. This one is priced at $9695. Construction Formula Question Word Example Finish Could you tell me when the next train leaves? Do you know how much that vase costs? Do you happen to know where Tom lives? I'd like to know what you think about the new project. Could you find out when she is going to arrive? Formula Gerund (-ing) Example Finish I'm interested in buying a boat Formula Noun Example Finish I'm looking for information on holidays in Spain. Formula used only on the telphone Question Word Example Finish I'm calling to find out... if flight AZ098 will leave on time today. Formula used only on the telphone Noun Example Finish I'm calling about... the offer published in today's newspaper.

This is a table. That is a chair. It's a pen. It's an apple. These are pencils. Those are books. He is over there. She's (right) here. He's in the house. It's at 9:00. Lunch is at noon. It's delicious.

Surprise or Disbeliefs

Surprise or disbeliefs is an expression that we show/say when know/hear/see something that rather difficult to believe.

Example :

Dina : " Look ; I got "
Dysa : " That`s very surprising "
Dina : " I don`t know why "

Dysa : " Perhaps you did the wrong number "

When get a surprising fact, you can say those to tell other people :

• Do you know what ?
• Believe it or not ?
• You may not believe it, but ...
• Can you believe it ?

Respons :

• Really ?
• Are you joking ?
• Where ? show me

There are some ways to express surprise :

• Never !
• Oh, no!
• No, is, i don`t believe it !
• You`re kidding
• What a surprise
• Good heavens
• My goodness