Expanding the noun group: qualifiers

Expanding the noun group: qualifiers

289 This section deals with structures which can be used to qualify headwords; that is, structures which can be used after headwords to add further information about the person or thing referred to. These are can qualifiers or qualifying structures. The headword is usually a noun but can be an indefinite pronoun or 'those'.

290 Qualifiers can consist of one or more words. The qualifiers which are dealt with in this section are

prepositional phrases

a girl with red hair.

the man in the dark glasses.

The use of prepositional phrases as qualifiers is explained in paragraphs 292 to 307.

adjectives followed by phrases or clauses

machinery capable of clearing rubble off the main roads.

the sort of weapons likely to be deployed against it.

a concept inconceivable a hundred years earlier.

The use of adjectives followed by phrases or clauses as qualifiers is explained in paragraphs 308 to 309.

non-finite clauses

a simple device to test lung function.

two of the problems mentioned above.

He gestured towards the three cards lying on the table.

The use of non-finite clauses as qualifiers is explained in paragraphs 310 to 318.

noun groups giving further information about other noun groups. This is explained in paragraphs 319 to 320.

291 Some other structures can also be used as qualifiers. These are explained fully in other sections. They include

one word qualifiers such as 'galore' and 'concerned' which are explained in paragraphs 62 to 66.

relative clauses

Shortly after the shooting, the man who had done it was arrested.

Mooresville is the town that John Dillinger came from.

Relative clauses are explained in paragraphs 8.83 to 8.116.

place adverbs and time adverbs

down in the dungeon beneath.

a reflection of life today in England.

Adverbs of time are explained in paragraphs 5.7 to 5.83 and adverbs of place are explained in paragraphs 6.82 to 6.100.

Nouns with prepositional phrases

292 In general, any prepositional phrase which describes or classifies something can be used directly after a noun or pronoun to qualify it.

the man in charge.

a film about four men on holiday.

She reached into the room behind her.

293 In particular, there are several kinds of prepositional phrase which are usually only used as qualifiers. Of these, prepositional phrases beginning with 'of' are the most numerous. Others include uses of 'with', 'in' and 'by'.

'of' 294 Many nouns referring to things and actions can be expanded by using prepositional phrases beginning with 'of' as qualifiers after them. This allows the noun to be expanded with a wide range of meanings. You can use 'of' with nouns referring to feelings such as 'love' and 'fear' to indicate what the feeling relates to; for example, 'fear of flying' and 'love of animals'. Further meanings are described m the following paragraphs.

WARNING 295 Personal pronouns are not usually put after 'of'. For example, you cannot say 'Joyce was the daughter of him' or 'the pages of it'. Possessive determiners are used instead to indicate possession. These are explained in paragraphs 1.192 to 1.207.

296 Prepositional phrases beginning with 'of' can be used to indicate what something consists of.

gifts of olive oil.

strong feelings of jealousy.

They can also be used to indicate what the subject matter of something is.

a picture of a house.

Gretchen's account of her interview with Nichols.

the idea of death.

297 Prepositional phrases beginning with 'of' can be used to say that something belongs to or is associated with someone or something.

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No.28 was the town house of Sir Winston Churchill.

Joyce was the daughter of the village cobbler.

The acting ability of the pupils is admirable.

the beauty of the Welsh landscape.

Four boys sat on the floor of the living room.

Ellen aimlessly turned the pages of her magazine.

Note that apostrophe s ('s) structures are much more frequently used to say that something belongs to someone or something. Apostrophe s ('s) is explained in paragraphs 180 to 19

298 Prepositional phrases beginning with 'of' can be used to say that someone or something has a particular quality.

a woman of energy and ambition.

problems of varying complexity.

a flower of monstrous proportions.

A household of this size inevitably has problems.

'Of' can also used in front of a number to indicate someone's age.

a woman of twenty-two.

a child of six.

Other ways of indicating age are explained in paragraphs 275 to 280.

299 Prepositional phrases beginning with 'of' can be used with nouns referring to an action to indicate who or what is performing the action.

the arrival of the police.

the growth of modern industry.

They can also be used to show who or what someone does something to. For example, if you are talking about people who support a scheme, you can call them 'the supporters of the scheme'.

supporters of the hunger strike.

critics of the Trade Union Movement.

the creator of the universe.

a student of English.

the cause of the tragedy.

'Of' structures are also used to indicate the thing affected by an action.

the destruction of their city.

the appointment of Robert Courtney Smith as the official receiver.

300 Prepositional phrases beginning with 'of' and containing measurement are used to indicate how great an area, speed, distance, or temperature is.

There were fires burning over a total area of about 600 square miles.

It can barely maintain a speed of 25 kilometres an hour.

an average annual temperature of 20.

Ways of measuring things are explained in paragraphs 267 to 274.

301 Prepositional phrases beginning with 'with' can be used to say that someone or something has a particular characteristic, feature, or possession.

a girl with red hair.

a girl with a foreign accent.

a big car with reclining seats.

a man with a violent temper.

the man with the gun.

those with large families.

They can also be used to indicate what something has on or in it.

a sheet of paper with writing on it.

a round box with some buttons in it.

a white, plain envelope with her name printed on it.

fragments of wrapping paper with bits of sticky tape still adhering to them.

302 Prepositional phrases beginning with 'in' can be used to indicate what someone is wearing.

a grey-haired man in a raincoat.

the man in the dark glasses.

little groups of people in black.

303 Prepositional phrases beginning with 'by' can be used after a noun referring to an action to indicate who or what is performing it.

his appointment by the King.

the compression of air by the piston.

304 Some nouns, especially abstract nouns, need to be followed by a prepositional phrase to show what they relate to. There is often little or no choice about which preposition to use after a particular noun.

I demanded access to a telephone.

his authority over them.

the solution to our energy problem.

the bond between mother and child.

305 Here is a list of nouns which usually or often have 'to' after them:

Here is a list of nouns which usually or often have 'for' after them:

Here is a list of nouns which usually or often have 'on' after them:

Here is a list of nouns which usually or often have 'with' after them:

Here is a list of nouns which are usually followed by one of two prepositions. The list indicates the choice of prepositions available:

Here is a list of other nouns usually followed by a prepositions.

As you can see from the lists and examples given above, it is often the case that words with a similar meaning are typically followed by the same preposition. For example, 'appetite', 'craving', 'desire', 'hunger', and 'thirst' are all followed by 'for'.

306 Some nouns are related to verbs which are always or often followed by a particular preposition. These nouns are followed by the same preposition as their related verbs, and they are used to indicate the thing that is affected by the action. For example, 'to' is used after both the verb 'refer' and the related noun 'reference'.

We have already referred to this phenomenon.

reverent references to the importance of home.

They swim about busily searching for food.

the search for food.

I want to escape from here.

an escape from reality.

307 Some nouns referring to a feeling or state are related to an adjective which is usually followed by a preposition. These nouns are followed by the same preposition as their related adjectives. For example, 'of' is used after the adjective 'aware' and the related noun 'awareness'.

She was quite aware of her current situation.

the public's increasing awareness of the problems.

He was angry at Sally Gardner for accusing him.

her anger at the kids.

I am, of course, familiar with your work.

familiarity with western ideas.

It is clean and free from pollutants and infections.

freedom from oppression.

Nouns with adjectives

308 When adjectives are used in qualifying clauses after nouns or pronouns they can be followed by

prepositional phrases

machinery capable of clearing rubble off the main roads.

a warning to people eager for a quick cure.

those responsible for the project.

the vicious poverty cycle so common in single-parent families.

'to'-infinitive clauses

the sort of weapons likely to be deployed against it.

It has been directed against those least able to retaliate.

adjuncts of time or place

a concept inconceivable a hundred years earlier.

For the facilities available here, I must ask for a fee.

Unfortunately, the work visible in this location is late-nineteenth-century restoration.

Note that you can use adjectives as qualifiers when they are preceded by adjuncts of time or measurement.

those still alive.

a small hill about 400 feet high.'

Note also that a few adjectives, such as 'present' and 'responsible', can be used on their own after a noun or pronoun. The use of these adjectives is explained in paragraphs 62 to 66.

other qualifying structures 309 There are some other structures, especially those which indicate comparison, degree, or result, which often involve a qualifier. In particular, some kinds of submodifiers of adjectives often have a qualifier to complete their meaning.

Peter came in, more excited than anyone had seen him before.

Ralph was too angry to think clearly.

steel cylinders strong enough to survive a nuclear catastrophe.

a grand piano as big as two coffins.

The winter has been so bitter that the stream was low.

Technology has made such spectacular advances that it is difficult to keep up.

The use of comparative adjectives plus 'than' after noun groups is explained in paragraphs 111 to 113. Other ways of comparing things are explained in paragraphs 128 to 144. The use of 'sothat' and 'suchthat' is explained in paragraphs 8.58 to 8.63.

Nouns with non-finite clauses

310 There are three types of non-finite clauses which can be used as qualifiers. These are 'to'-infinitive clauses (see paragraphs 311 to 316), past participle clauses (see paragraph 317), and present participle clauses (see paragraph 318).

with 'to'-infinitive clauses 311 A 'to'-infinitive clause is often put after nouns in order to show what the thing referred to is intended to do.

The government of Mexico set up a programme to develop new varieties of wheat.

a simple device to test lung function.

They need people to work in the factories.

312 You can refer to something or someone that should or can have something done to them by using a clause containing a 'to'-infinitive after a noun or indefinite pronoun.

I make notes in the back of my diary of things to be mended or replaced.

when I've had something to eat.

You can also use a clause consisting of a 'to'-infinitive followed by a preposition.

a room with nothing in it except a string cot to sleep on, a lectern to write on and two wooden shelves.

He remembered he had nothing to write with.

313 You can also use a 'to'-infinitive clause when you want to say that you are talking about, for example, the first, oldest, or only person who did something.

the first woman to be elected to the council.

the next person to speak.

the oldest person to be chosen.

314 A clause containing a 'to'-infinitive is used after some abstract nouns to show what action they relate to.

people who didn't have the opportunity to go to university.

trying to think of a way to stop him.

315 Many of these nouns are related to verbs or adjectives which are also often followed by 'to'-infinitive clauses. For example, a 'to'-infinitive clause is used after both the verb 'need' and the noun 'need', and after both the adjective 'able' and the related noun 'ability'.

I need to borrow five thousand dollars.

the need to preserve secrecy about their intentions.

I may be able to help you.

the ability to read.

It failed to grow.

our failure to adapt ourselves to modem life.

316 Here is a list of nouns which usually or often have a 'to'-infinitive clause after them:

317 A past participle clause can be used directly after a noun to show that something has been produced or affected by an action.

a girt called Patricia.

dresses made of paper.

two of the problems mentioned above.

the machine already mentioned.

a minister appointed by the Prime Minister.

a story written by a nine-year-old girl.

instruments designed to extend the range of our senses.

318 A present participle clause can be used directly after a noun to indicate that something is doing something.

He gestured towards the three cards lying on the table.

a wicker shopping-basket containing groceries.

those still working.

the scream of a man dying in torment.

319 When you want to give further information about someone or something by using a noun group which describes them or identifies them, you can put this noun group after the headword. This is often called apposition. The use of noun groups in apposition is closely associated with defining and non-defining relative clauses which are explained in paragraphs 8.83 to 8.111.

320 If you put this noun group after the main noun group, a comma is almost always put after the main noun group because the second noun group is separate from it, not part of it.

the sifaka, a beautiful creature with pure white fur.

Orville Wright, the first man to fly.

Dan Melnick, the head of MGM.

Steve Race, the musician and broadcaster.

Her mother, a Canadian, died when she was six.

a book by a distinguished Scotsman, Ramsey Weir.

If you put this noun group before the main noun group, you can sometimes choose whether to use a comma to separate the two noun groups or not.

the American writer Alvin Toffler.

Joan's husband, Jim Inglis.

my husband George.