Noun phrases

A noun phrase consists of a noun or pronoun, which is called the head, and any dependent words before or after the head. Dependent words give specific information about the head.

Examples of noun phrases:

dependent word(s)	head	dependent word(s)
	*love*
	*him*
the	*moon*
a gold	*ring*
the red	*one*
good	*food*
my own personal	*website*
that	*house*	there
the longest	*river*	in the world
a	*feeling*	of isolation
the tall, blonde	*woman*	we met at Joanna’s house

Noun phrases can refer to a particular example of something or to a whole class of people or things.

Compare

particular example	whole class
my mother	women
the red star in the southern sky	the stars
New York	a big city