discontinuous noun phrase

[Fame]

Could you please explain the term discontinuous noun phrase ?

Can I say this sentence consist of a discontinuous noun phrase?

The lawyer had a brief discussion about the legal fees.

[competence]

Could you please explain the term discontinuous noun phrase ?

Can I say this sentence consist of a discontinuous noun phrase?

The lawyer had a brief discussion about the legal fees.

Hi Fame,

You have a very technical question! As I'm sure you know, a noun phrase is made up of a noun and it's modifiers, and usually the words that compose the noun phrase are all continuous. However, occasionally we break the normal word order, often to bring some of the noun phrase to the end of a sentence, to add extra weight to that information. Usually what gets moved is a prepositional or participle phrase.

For example:

Continuous: Many problems involving software infected by a virus have been reported.
Discontinuous: Many problems have been reported involving software infected by a virus.

Continuous: Lawyers representing poor clients don't get rich
Discontinuous: Lawyers don't get rich representing poor clients

What do you think? Is The lawyer had a brief discussion about the legal fees discontinuous?

I hope that helps.

Matthew Balson
Competence home

[Fame]

Hi Fame,

You have a very technical question! As I'm sure you know, a noun phrase is made up of a noun and it's modifiers, and usually the words that compose the noun phrase are all continuous. However, occasionally we break the normal word order, often to bring some of the noun phrase to the end of a sentence, to add extra weight to that information. Usually what gets moved is a prepositional or participle phrase.

For example:

Continuous: Many problems involving software infected by a virus have been reported.
Discontinuous: Many problems have been reported involving software infected by a virus.

Continuous: Lawyers representing poor clients don't get rich
Discontinuous: Lawyers don't get rich representing poor clients

What do you think? Is The lawyer had a brief discussion about the legal fees discontinuous?

I hope that helps.

Matthew Balson
Competence home

Dear Matthew,

Thanks for yor reply. According to my understand and your definition, I thing it is correct to say:

The lawyer had a brief discussion about the legal fees

since the preposition phrase about the legal fees is at the back of the sentence.

[RonBee]

As I'm sure you know, a noun phrase is made up of a noun and its modifiers,

[Fame]

[RonBee]

[Fame]

I'm confused. I don't understand.

[RonBee]

it's = it is
its = belonging to it

[sio]

Sir,

What is participle phrase (I refer to Competence's response) ? Thank you.

[RonBee]

Sir,

What is participle phrase (I refer to Competence's response)?

Participle Phrases
How to Use Participle Phrases as Modifiers | eHow.com
Participle Phrase Recognition Practice