Concepts
What is a noun phrase (NP)?
a) A phrase that always contains a verb.
b) A phrase centered on a noun and its modifiers.
c) A phrase made only of adjectives.
d) A complete sentence.
Answer: b)
Explanation: An NP has a noun as its head (e.g., the big dog).
In "The red car is fast", what is the Noun Phrase?
The red car
Explanation: Head = car, modified by the red.
In They are playing soccer, the VP is:
are playing soccer.
Explanation: Head = playing with auxiliary are.
The little puppy
a) NP
b) VP
Answer: a)
Explanation: Head = puppy.
In The big house, the head is:
a) The
b) big
c) house
d) big house
Answer: c)
Explanation: The noun house is the head.
What is the head of a verb phrase (VP)?
a) A noun
b) An adjective
c) A verb
d) An adverb
Answer: c)
Explanation: The verb is the head of the VP (e.g., is running fast).
In "My best friend lives in London", what is the NP?
My best friend.
Explanation: Head = friend, with modifiers my best.
In "The dog barked loudly", the VP is:
barked loudly.
Explanation: Head = barked + modifier loudly.
Is singing a song
a) NP
b) VP
Answer: b)
Explanation: Head = singing.
In She is running fast, the head of the VP is:
Answer: is running
Explanation: is running is the main verb.
Which of the following is a verb phrase?
a) The little cat
b) Eating ice cream
c) Very tall building
d) A book on the table
Answer: b)
Explanation: Eating ice cream has the verb eating as its head.
Which is the Noun Phrase in "The tall boy with a hat smiled"?
The tall boy with a hat.
Explanation: Includes head boy + complement with a hat.
In "She has been studying English", the VP is:
has been studying English.
Explanation: Head = studying, auxiliaries = has been.
A big black car with tinted windows.
a) NP
b) VP
Answer: a)
Explanation: Head = car, with modifiers.
In The tall boy with brown hair, the head of the NP is:
a) boy
b) tall
c) hair
d) with brown hair
Answer: a)
Explanation: boy is the head; the rest are modifiers.
What is the key difference between NP and VP?
a) NP always has a verb, VP always has a noun.
b) NP centers on a noun, VP centers on a verb.
c) There is no real difference.
d) They always appear together.
Answer: b)
Explanation: The difference is the head word (noun vs. verb).
In "She bought a beautiful house near the beach", the NP is:
A beautiful house near the beach.
Explanation: Head = house + modifiers.
In "They might have finished the project", the VP is:
might have finished the project.
Explanation: Head = finished + auxiliaries might have.
Will have been waiting for hours.
a) NP
b) VP
Answer: b)
Explanation: Head = waiting, auxiliaries = will have been.
In They might have been working hard, the head of the VP is:
a) might
b) have
c) been
d) working
Answer: d)
Explanation: working is the main verb, auxiliaries support it.
Which sentence contains both a NP and a VP?
a) Walking quickly
b) The tall boy runs fast
c) An intelligent teacher
d) To eat a cake
Answer: b)
Explanation: The tall boy = NP, runs fast = VP.
In "The new student from Spain with curly hair smiled", the NP is:
The new student from Spain with curly hair.
Explanation: Head = student, expanded by modifiers.
In "The children could have been playing outside all day", the VP is:
could have been playing outside all day.
Explanation: Head = playing, auxiliaries = could have been.
Her decision to leave so suddenly.
a) NP
b) VP
Answer: a)
Explanation: Head = decision, with complement to leave so suddenly.
In The new teacher from Italy with curly hair, the head of the NP is:
a) new
b) teacher
c) Italy
d) curly hair
Answer: b)
Explanation: teacher is the head, everything else modifies it.