[Grammar] Noun Phrase Problems

[sunisshining]

Dear all,

I have got some questions concerning Noun Phrase Modification.

1. What are the NPs in this passage and what is head, determiner and modifier?


14 per cent only had a single night a year together.

[In my opinion, a first NP is "14 per cent", which is head at the same time. Or is there a determiner in it? Next NPs might be "a single night" and "a year". I am not sure if they belong together.]



2. What are the NPs in this passage and what is head, determiner and modifier?


Almost half of people who took part in the research claimed having children made them less close.

[I am totally lost here. People could be head of the first noun phrase, but what is "Almost" in this context?]


3. And the last one:

Having children is the biggest problem area.

[Having childres is a NP and a gerund in my opinion. But is it possible to divide it into head and maybe premodifier? Meaning that children=head and Having=premod?


Thanks a lot for your answers and have a nice day!

 

[Finicky]

Dear all,

I have got some questions concerning Noun Phrase Modification.

1. What are the NPs in this passage and what is head, determiner and modifier?


14 per cent only had a single night a year together.

[In my opinion, a first NP is "14 per cent", which is head at the same time. Or is there a determiner in it? Next NPs might be "a single night" and "a year". I am not sure if they belong together.]

The NPs are: 14 per cent, a single night.
Heads are: percent, night.
Determiners are: 14, a (you may follow a different nomenclature).
Modifiers are: determiners and 'single'.

2. What are the NPs in this passage and what is head, determiner and modifier?


Almost half of people who took part in the research claimed having children made them less close.

[I am totally lost here. People could be head of the first noun phrase, but what is "Almost" in this context?]

The heads are in bold below.

NP1: half of people who took part in the research
NP2: having children
NP3: them

 

[sunisshining]

Thank you very much, you really helped me a lot

I was wondering if fractions always must have a form like one third, one quarter or half of...
May it be possible to declare "Two out of five" or "One in 100" as determiners, too?
(As in: "Two out of five parents responding to the poll" or "Only one in 100 parents now spends quality time together")