Level 09 – Step 03 : Complex Noun Phrase Modifiers (The red book on the table is mine. The man with a hat smiled.)
/Level 09 – Step 03 : Complex Noun Phrase Modifiers (The red book on the table is mine. The man with a hat smiled.)
🚪 Let’s Begin
/🚪 Let’s Begin
🦉Professor Owl: Today we will learn how to make noun phrases longer and clearer by adding extra information.
/🦉Professor Owl: Today we will learn how to make noun phrases longer and clearer by adding extra information.
🐧Igupen: Do you mean like “the red book on the table”?
/🐧Igupen: Do you mean like “the red book on the table”?
It has many parts that tell us more.
/It has many parts that tell us more.
🦉Professor Owl: Ho ho.
/🦉Professor Owl: Ho ho.
Yes — adjectives, prepositional phrases, and clauses can join together to describe one noun.
/Yes — adjectives, prepositional phrases, and clauses can join together to describe one noun.
That helps your listener picture exactly what you mean.
/That helps your listener picture exactly what you mean.
🐧Igupen: I want to be precise when I describe things.
/🐧Igupen: I want to be precise when I describe things.
🦉Professor Owl: Good.
/🦉Professor Owl: Good.
Look at the pieces and try putting them together.
/Look at the pieces and try putting them together.
📚 Lesson
/📚 Lesson
What is a complex noun phrase?
/What is a complex noun phrase?
A noun phrase is a group of words built around a noun.
/A noun phrase is a group of words built around a noun.
A complex noun phrase adds words that describe or limit that noun.
/A complex noun phrase adds words that describe or limit that noun.
These added parts can be adjectives, adjective phrases, prepositional phrases, relative clauses, or participle phrases.
/These added parts can be adjectives, adjective phrases, prepositional phrases, relative clauses, or participle phrases.
Common types of modifiers
/Common types of modifiers
Adjective before the noun: the red book; a tall man.
/Adjective before the noun: the red book; a tall man.
Adjective phrase after the noun (less common, more formal): the president elect.
/Adjective phrase after the noun (less common, more formal): the president elect.
Prepositional phrase: the book on the table; the man with a hat.
/Prepositional phrase: the book on the table; the man with a hat.
Relative clause (who/which/that): the girl who sings; the car that broke down.
/Relative clause (who/which/that): the girl who sings; the car that broke down.
Participle phrase (-ing / -ed): the child playing in the park; the letter written yesterday.
/Participle phrase (-ing / -ed): the child playing in the park; the letter written yesterday.
Order and clarity tips
/Order and clarity tips
Short descriptive adjectives usually come before the noun.
/Short descriptive adjectives usually come before the noun.
Use prepositional phrases or relative clauses after the noun to add location, possession, or extra information.
/Use prepositional phrases or relative clauses after the noun to add location, possession, or extra information.
Keep modifiers close to the noun they describe to avoid confusion.
/Keep modifiers close to the noun they describe to avoid confusion.
Why use complex noun phrases?
/Why use complex noun phrases?
To give clear, specific information in one phrase.
/To give clear, specific information in one phrase.
To combine details such as color, size, owner, location, and action in one phrase.
/To combine details such as color, size, owner, location, and action in one phrase.
🦉Professor Owl’s one-point tip
/🦉Professor Owl’s one-point tip
Build noun phrases step by step: start with noun + one modifier, then add one more if needed.
/Build noun phrases step by step: start with noun + one modifier, then add one more if needed.
Check meaning after each addition.
/Check meaning after each addition.
Quick checks inside the lesson
/Quick checks inside the lesson
The red book on the table is mine.
/The red book on the table is mine.
red is an adjective and on the table is a prepositional phrase.
/red is an adjective and on the table is a prepositional phrase.
The man with a hat smiled.
/The man with a hat smiled.
with a hat is a prepositional phrase that gives more detail.
/with a hat is a prepositional phrase that gives more detail.
Avoid placing modifiers far from the noun they describe.
/Avoid placing modifiers far from the noun they describe.
🌼 Sample Sentences
/🌼 Sample Sentences
No.01 The red book on the table is mine.
/No.01 The red book on the table is mine.
No.02 The man with a hat smiled.
/No.02 The man with a hat smiled.
No.03 A small brown dog barking loudly ran past us.
/No.03 A small brown dog barking loudly ran past us.
No.04 The girl who sits next to me is from Canada.
/No.04 The girl who sits next to me is from Canada.
No.05 The cake made by my mother tastes delicious.
/No.05 The cake made by my mother tastes delicious.
No.06 The students in the back row listened carefully.
/No.06 The students in the back row listened carefully.
No.07 The old house near the river needs repairs.
/No.07 The old house near the river needs repairs.
No.08 The boy wearing glasses answered the question.
/No.08 The boy wearing glasses answered the question.
No.09 The painting on the wall above the sofa is very old.
/No.09 The painting on the wall above the sofa is very old.
No.10 The letter written last week finally arrived.
/No.10 The letter written last week finally arrived.
🎓 Practice exercises
/🎓 Practice exercises
Note: Think first, then check the answers.
/Note: Think first, then check the answers.
Q1: Identify the noun and the modifier: The red book on the table is mine.
/Q1: Identify the noun and the modifier: The red book on the table is mine.
Q2: Choose the correct modifier placement: A) The girl with blue hair danced. B) The girl danced with blue hair.
/Q2: Choose the correct modifier placement: A) The girl with blue hair danced. B) The girl danced with blue hair.
Q3: Fill in the blank with a prepositional phrase: The cat _____ the roof saw the bird. (on / in front of / under)
/Q3: Fill in the blank with a prepositional phrase: The cat _____ the roof saw the bird. (on / in front of / under)
Q4: Identify the relative clause: The boy who solved the puzzle smiled.
/Q4: Identify the relative clause: The boy who solved the puzzle smiled.
Q5: True or False: “The teacher speaking loudly corrected the mistake.” — “speaking loudly” is a participle phrase modifying “teacher.”
/Q5: True or False: “The teacher speaking loudly corrected the mistake.” — “speaking loudly” is a participle phrase modifying “teacher.”
Q6: Choose the best modifier to complete the sentence: The house _____ is for sale. (near the park / blue / quickly)
/Q6: Choose the best modifier to complete the sentence: The house _____ is for sale. (near the park / blue / quickly)
Q7: Rewrite simply by adding one adjective: The book on the table is mine.
/Q7: Rewrite simply by adding one adjective: The book on the table is mine.
Q8: Identify the head noun and the prepositional modifier: The students in the back row listened carefully.
/Q8: Identify the head noun and the prepositional modifier: The students in the back row listened carefully.
Q9: Fill the blank with a correct relative clause: I know the girl _____ won the prize. (who / when / where)
/Q9: Fill the blank with a correct relative clause: I know the girl _____ won the prize. (who / when / where)
Q10: Choose the correct sentence (clear meaning): A) The dog chased the boy with a stick. B) The dog with a stick chased the boy.
/Q10: Choose the correct sentence (clear meaning): A) The dog chased the boy with a stick. B) The dog with a stick chased the boy.
◆ Answers
/◆ Answers
A1: Noun = book; Modifiers = red, on the table.
/A1: Noun = book; Modifiers = red, on the table.
A2: A) The girl with blue hair danced.
/A2: A) The girl with blue hair danced.
A3: on the roof → The cat on the roof saw the bird.
/A3: on the roof → The cat on the roof saw the bird.
A4: who solved the puzzle → relative clause describing “the boy.”
/A4: who solved the puzzle → relative clause describing “the boy.”
A5: True.
/A5: True.
A6: near the park → The house near the park is for sale.
/A6: near the park → The house near the park is for sale.
A7: The old book on the table is mine.
/A7: The old book on the table is mine.
A8: Head noun = students; Prepositional modifier = in the back row.
/A8: Head noun = students; Prepositional modifier = in the back row.
A9: who → I know the girl who won the prize.
/A9: who → I know the girl who won the prize.
A10: B) The dog with a stick chased the boy.
/A10: B) The dog with a stick chased the boy.
🦉 Closing
/🦉 Closing
🦉Professor Owl: Very good.
/🦉Professor Owl: Very good.
Complex noun phrases help you give more information in one clear phrase.
/Complex noun phrases help you give more information in one clear phrase.
Build them slowly and check that each modifier describes the right noun.
/Build them slowly and check that each modifier describes the right noun.
🐧Igupen: I will make three sentences using a prepositional phrase and a relative clause for practice.
/🐧Igupen: I will make three sentences using a prepositional phrase and a relative clause for practice.
🦉Professor Owl: Wonderful plan.
/🦉Professor Owl: Wonderful plan.
Keep practicing by describing things around you — soon your descriptions will be precise and natural.
/Keep practicing by describing things around you — soon your descriptions will be precise and natural.
