本書正文

▲Introduction to the noun group

1.1 At its simplest, we use language to talk about people and things. We do this by using words in a variety of ways, for example to make statements, to ask questions, and to give orders. The words we choose are arranged into groups, either around a noun or around a verb. They are called noun groups and verb groups.

Noun groups tell us which people or things are being talked about. Verb groups tell us what is being said about them, for example what they are doing.

Chapters 1 and 2 of this grammar deal with noun groups. For information about verb groups, see chapter 3.

▲position in clause

1.2 A noun group can be the subject, object, or complement of a clause. Or the object of a preposition.

Women tend not to have as much money as men.

I couldn’t feel anger against him.

They were teachers.

Let us work together in peace.

▲common nouns and proper nouns

1.3 You can use a noun group to refer to someone or something by naming them. You do this by using a general name, called a noun or common noun, or by using a specific name, called a proper noun.

Proper nouns are mainly used for people, places, and events.

Mary likes strawberries.

I went to Glasgow University and then I went down to London to work for a psychiatrist.

I worked in Woolworths at Christmas one year.

See paragraphs 1.53 to 1.59 for more information about proper nouns.

▲determiners with common nouns

1.4 If you use a common noun, you are saying that the person or thing you are talking about can be put in a set with others that are similar in some way.

If you just want to say that the person or thing is in that set, you use a general determiner with the common noun.

I met a girl who was a student there.

Have you got any comment to make about that?

There are some diseases that are clearly inherited.

If you want to show which member of a set you are talking about, you use a specific determiner with a common noun.

I put my arm round her shoulders.

... the destruction of their city.

She came in to see me this morning.

See paragraphs 1.161 to 1.236 for more information about determiners, and paragraphs 1.14 to 1.93 for more information about nouns.

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