Noun Phrases

Find the Complete Subject

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Find the finite verb. Then circle one head noun, bracket its core phrase, and extend to the complete subject.

The final report arrived.

Head noun: report · Core noun phrase and complete subject: The final report

A box of spare radios was missing.

Head noun: box · Complete subject: A box of spare radios · singular was follows box

Three boxes of spare radios were missing.

Head noun: boxes · Complete subject: Three boxes of spare radios · plural were follows boxes

The mechanics’ detailed report identified the problem.

Head noun: report · Complete subject: The mechanics’ detailed report · mechanics’ is a possessive modifier

HEAD → MODIFIERS → COMPLETE SUBJECT

Slide 28

Tips

Find the Complete Subject

  1. No escojas el noun más cercano al verbo. En a box of radios, el head es box.
  2. El phrase con of añade información sin reemplazar el head.
  3. Reconstruye: pregunta/meaning → head → modifiers → number/form → verb check.