Aims
to understand how complex noun phrases are used in sentences
to consider, in particular, the form general noun + of + specific noun
Material
Examples of long noun phrases in sentences, particularly those which contain the form
general noun + of + specific noun. Additional practice tasks can be produced using noun
phrases from texts students are reading.
Tasksheet: Controlling nouns in noun phrases
Procedure
1 Remind students of the basic structure of noun phrases. Students read the introduction on
the tasksheet and study the examples which show subject–verb agreement.
2 Students choose which of two alternative verb forms agrees with the highlighted
controlling noun. The exercises become progressively more difficult. Students have to
determine which noun controls the noun phrase in the sentence and then choose the
correct verb, or supply the correct form of the verb themselves.
Follow-up
Students think about the difference between their own language and English in this area
of grammar. You can ask students to translate some of the noun phrases into their first
language and ‘back translate’ (i.e., provide a word-by-word translation back into English) in
order to compare the organization and order of elements.
Before students begin a piece of writing they can do some pre-writing activities in which
they identify noun phrases they will need to use and attempt to write these accurately.
KEY
The correct verb to follow the noun phrase is circled.
1 Vast sums of money was / were spent on the new football stadium.
2 A series of relatively simple steps is / are needed to send an e-mail.
3 Fewer students in the classroom seems / seem to translate into less noise and
disruptive behaviour.
The controlling nouns are highlighted and the correct verb is given in the gap.
These nouns control the verbs which follow them because the verbs which follow the noun have
to agree with the noun. You need to be able to recognize the controlling noun so that you can
choose the correct form of the verb which follows it.