In each sentence in the following exercises, first identify all noun phrases and then identify adnominals in each noun phrase. Here is a sample question answered for you (head noun is in bold):
Q. She admired the beautiful painting on the wall.
A. Noun phrase: the beautiful painting. Adnominals: the (determiner) and beautiful (adjective)
Noun phrase: the wall. Adnominals: the (determiner)
If you don’t understand how to identify adnominals, refer to the post on adnominal.
Exercise 1
1. Our neighborhood has a beautiful garden.
2. The large, ornate chandelier hung from the ceiling, casting a warm glow.
3. A small group of students gathered in the library for a study session.
4. You’ll find instructions for treasure hunt in the box within.
5. An old man with a grey beard sat quietly on the park bench.
1. Noun phrase: Our neighborhood. Adnominals: Our (determiner)
Noun phrase: a beautiful garden. Adnominals: a (determiner) and beautiful (adjective)
2. Noun phrase: The large, ornate chandelier. Adnominals: The (determiner), large (adjective), and ornate (adjective)
Noun phrase: the ceiling. Adnominals: the (determiner)
Noun phrase: a warm glow. Adnominals: a (determiner) and warm (adjective)
3. Noun phrase: A small group of students. Adnominals: A (determiner), small (adjective), and of students (prepositional phrase)
Noun phrase: the library. Adnominals: the (determiner)
Noun phrase: a study session. Adnominals: a (determiner) and study (noun)
4. Noun phrase: treasure hunt. Adnominals: treasure (noun)
Noun phrase: the box within. Adnominals: the (determiner) and within (adverb)
5. Noun phrase: An old man with a grey beard. Adnominals: An (determiner), old (adjective), and with a grey beard (prepositional phrase)
Noun phrase: a grey beard. Adnominals: a (determiner) and grey (adjective)
Noun phrase: the park bench. Adnominals: the (determiner) and park (noun)
Exercise 2
1. A delicious meal prepared by the chef was served to the guests.
2. The teacher handed a stack of papers that needed grading to the students.
3. The new policy introduced by the government aims to reduce carbon emissions.
4. Several interesting articles about space exploration have been published recently.
5. They transformed the dark, cluttered room downstairs into an inviting guest bedroom.
1. Noun phrase: A delicious meal prepared by the chef. Adnominals: A (determiner), delicious (adjective), and prepared by the chef (participial phrase)
Note that by the chef doesn’t modify meal, and hence is not an adnominal. It modifies prepared.
Noun phrase: the chef. Adnominals: the (determiner)
Noun phrase: the guests. Adnominals: the (determiner)
2. Noun phrase: The teacher. Adnominals: The (determiner)
Noun phrase: a stack of papers that needed grading. Adnominals: a (determiner) and of papers that needed grading (prepositional phrase)
Note that that needed grading doesn’t modify stack, and hence is not an adnominal. It modifies papers.
Noun phrase: papers that needed grading. Adnominals: that needed grading (Relative clause)
Noun phrase: the students. Adnominals: the (determiner)
3. Noun phrase: The new policy. Adnominals: The (determiner) and new (adjective)
Noun phrase: the government. Adnominals: the (determiner)
Noun phrase: carbon emissions. Adnominals: carbon (noun)
4. Noun phrase: Several interesting articles about space exploration. Adnominals: Several (determiner), interesting (adjective), and about space exploration (prepositional phrase)
Noun phrase: space exploration. Adnominals: space (noun)
5. Noun phrase: the dark, cluttered room downstairs. Adnominals: the (determiner), dark (adjective), cluttered (adjective), and downstairs (adverb)
Noun phrase: an inviting guest bedroom. Adnominals: an (determiner), inviting (adjective), guest (noun)
