analysis of noun phrases

[questforgrammar]

Hi! I would like to clear a few doubts.

1) "They reached the banks of a small stream."

If I were to analyze the underlined portion as a Noun Phrase,
premodifier = the
head noun = banks
postmodifier = of a small stream

Is this correct? Can I say that "of a small stream" is a post modifier (prepositional phrase)?

2) Betty thought to herself, "How I wish I could go for a sail on the beautiful smooth water."

If I were to analyze the underlined portion as a Noun Phrase,
premodifier = a (determiner)
head noun = sail
postmodifier = on the beautiful smooth water

Is this correct? Can I say that "on the beautiful smooth water" is a post modifier (prepositional phrase)? Or, is it an adverbial(of place) instead?

3) One day when Peter and the little dog were out walking, they found a big bird sitting on a mound of earth.

If I were to analyze the first underlined portion as a Noun Phrase,
premodifier = one (determiner)
head noun = day
postmodifier = when Peter and the little dog were out walking (relative clause)

If I were to analyze the second underlined portion as a Noun Phrase,
premodifier = a (determiner) big (adjective)
head noun = bird
postmodifier = sitting on a mound of earth (non-finite clause)

Is the analysis correct?

4) She had a thorn in her hand.

If I were to analyze the underlined portion as a Noun Phrase,
premodifier = a (determiner)
head noun = thorn
postmodifier = in her hand (prepositional phrase)

Is the analysis of the post modifier correct?


Thanks

 

[charliedeut]

Hi and welcome, questforgrammar :hi:,

As you see, you are not getting answers to your questions. I suggest that you post each question in different threads. That way, people reading each of them may feel less baffled than they are now, reading such a long post with different questions. Besides, the answers given, since related to different questions, will mess the thread up a bit.

charliedeut

 

[questforgrammar]

Yes, I realized that too. Thanks for your advice.

 

[TheParser]

"How I wish I could go for a sail on the beautiful smooth water."



Is this correct? Can I say that "on the beautiful smooth water" is a post modifier (prepositional phrase)? Or, is it an adverbial(of place) instead?

***** NOT A TEACHER *****


Hello,

I really like your question. I thought about it all last night. This morning, I have a few opinions to share with you.

*****

1. I feel that "on the beautiful smooth water" modifies the noun "sail" (voyage). Therefore, it is adjectival.
2. I feel that it could not modify the verb "could go."
3. If we delete "on the beautiful smooth water," we get "How I wish (that) I could go for a sail." I feel that such a sentence makes perfect sense.
4. But if we delete "for a sail," we get: "How I wish I could go on the beautiful smooth water." In my opinion, that does not make sense. (It would make sense, however, in "How I wish I could go skiing on the beautiful smooth water.")
5. Furthermore, I believe that "go for" in your sentence is similar to a phrasal verb. That is, it seems to mean "take."
Compare:

How I wish I could go for a ride to the moon./ How I wish I could take a ride to the moon.
6. If you agree with me, then this sentence would be absurd:

How I wish I could take on the beautiful smooth water.

I rest my case.


James