Multiple Modification of the Noun Phrase

Table of contents

Introduction................................................................................................1
Multiple premodification.........................................................................2
With single head..................................................................................................3
With multiple head...............................................................................................3
With modified modifier.........................................................................................4
Other complexities.................................................................................................4
Multiple postmodification........................................................................5
Ambiguity and constraints on multiple modification........................................................................................................6
References....................................................................................................7

Introduction

Noun phrase, as a unit of language structure, is comprised of the following constituent parts: (A) The HEAD, around which (for the most part) the other constituents cluster and which dictates concord with other parts of the sentence;
(B) The DETERMINATIVE which includes
(a) predeterminers, i.e. all items which can precede any central determiner
(including zero article) in a noun phrase; (b) central determiners; e.g. the articles, this, some;
(c) postdeterminers, which follow central determiners but precede premodifiers, e.g. adjectives

(C) The PREMODIFICATION, which comprises all the items placed before the head other than determinatives, notably adjectives (or, rather, adjective phrases,) and nouns;