Noun phrase
A grammatical unit consisting of a noun and any modifying words (determiners, adjectives, prepositional phrases). The noun phrase functions as a single unit in a sentence.
Real World
In the opening of Charles Dickens' 'A Tale of Two Cities', the heavy pre- and post-modification in noun phrases like "the best of times" creates a rhythmic, rhetorical parallel structure.
Exam Focus
Analyse the complexity of noun phrases — heavy modification often signals descriptive or persuasive purpose; minimal noun phrases suggest urgency.
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