Noun as Modifiers: modifying a noun with a noun

Nouns as Modifiers

Modifying a noun with a noun

Phrase or Clause Modifiers vs. Noun Modifiers

NOUN + MODIFYING PHRASE OR CLAUSE	MODIFYING NOUN — NOUN
A noun can be modified by a phrase or clause placed after the noun.	The same meaning can be expressed with a noun placed before the noun.
It is a chair for an office. (prep phrase)	It is an office chair. (a chair for an office)
May I have a spoon that is for soup. (clause)	May I have a soup spoon. (a spoon for soup)
Ring the bell that is next to the door. (clause)	Ring the door bell. (a bell for a door)
It is a table for picnics. (prep phrase)	It is a picnic table. (a table for a picnic)
He rides a bike that was designed for the mountains. (clause)	He rides a mountain bike. (a bike for mountains)
He is an agent from the Internal Revenue Service. a tax man (prep phrase)	He is an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) agent.
He is a man from Kyoto. (prep phrase with proper noun)	*He is a Kyoto man. (a Kyotan, Kyoto-ite?)

*Yellow highlighted words are examples of incorrect usage.

Modifier Word Form

PLURAL NOUN MODIFIER	SINGULAR NOUN MODIFIER
Occasionally, a plural noun modifies a noun.	More commonly, a singular noun modifies a noun.
It is a sports magazine / car. (Indicates variety.)	I bought a sport-utility vehicle. (other "sport" words)
We attended a jobs fair. (Indicates variety.)	I have a job interview today.
*We went to a vegetables market.	We went to a vegetable market.

Hyphens

NOUN MODIFIER	DOUBLE-NOUN MODIFIER
A hyphen is not used when one noun is a modifier to another noun .	Two modifiers are linked with a hyphen if they are of equal importance, or if it is unclear which word is being modified.
He applied for a director position.	FOR EQUAL IMPORTANCE (noun–noun → noun) He applied for a producer-director position.
The train station is closed. train (n.) modifies station (n.)	The Menlo-Atherton train station is closed.
The Nevada border is nearby. Nevada (n.) modifies border (n.)	The California-Nevada border is nearby.
FOR CLARITY (noun → noun–noun) We bought two foot stools. two (det.) modifies [foot(n.) modifies stools (n.)]	FOR CLARITY (noun–noun → noun) We bought two-foot stools. See Hyphens.

*In linguistic description, two is a determiner "two chairs", or a noun "They came in twos." (CaGEL 5.7.6)

Grammar Notes

Traditional Grammar vs. Linguistic Description

TRADITIONAL GRAMMAR	LINGUISTIC DESCRIPTION
In traditional grammar, the examples above are described as "noun used as adjectives". "When a noun is used as an adjective, it is in its singular form…. When a noun used as a modifier is combined with a number expression, the noun is singular and a hyphen is used." Nouns as Adjectives (Azar 7-3)	Current study in linguistics analyzes the examples above as "nouns used as attributive modifiers". That is to say, a "noun" cannot be an "adjective" (a grammatical class) but it can be a "modifier" (a grammatical function). Because it occurs before the noun it modifies, it is called a "pre-head modifier" (the noun being the head of the noun phrase). "Attributive nouns fail to qualify as adjectives by virtue of the grading and adverbial dependents criteria. They don't take very or too or the analytic comparative marker more as modifier." — Nouns as Attributive Modifiers (CaGEL 16.2.4.1)

TRADITIONAL GRAMMAR

LINGUISTIC DESCRIPTION

In traditional grammar, the examples above are described as "noun used as adjectives".

"When a noun is used as an adjective, it is in its singular form…. When a noun used as a modifier is combined with a number expression, the noun is singular and a hyphen is used."

Nouns as Adjectives (Azar 7-3)

Current study in linguistics analyzes the examples above as "nouns used as attributive modifiers". That is to say, a "noun" cannot be an "adjective" (a grammatical class) but it can be a "modifier" (a grammatical function). Because it occurs before the noun it modifies, it is called a "pre-head modifier" (the noun being the head of the noun phrase).

"Attributive nouns fail to qualify as adjectives by virtue of the grading and adverbial dependents criteria. They don't take very or too or the analytic comparative marker more as modifier." — Nouns as Attributive Modifiers (CaGEL 16.2.4.1)

Practice 1

Noun as Modifier: Word Forms

Select the noun modifier word form.

Select the word form that best completes the sentence.
Use the check button to compare your response to the correct answer.

#	YOUR RESPONSE	CHECK ANSWER
1.	It is a bridge that is made of rope. It is a bridge.
2.	It is a bat for baseballs . It is a bat.
3.	It is a cloth that goes on top of the dining table. It is a cloth.
4.	It is a key for my car. It is my key.
5.	We bought a bone for dogs. We gave Zak a bone.
6.	We need a trap for mice. We need a trap.
7.	We built a house in the trees. We built a house.
8.	These are my slippers that I wear in the house . They are my slippers.
9.	This is a ladder that reaches seven feet. It is a ladder.	Modifiers to Adj
10.	My grandmother gave me a plate that is used for serving desserts. It is a plate.
11.	In the summer, a trucks that is filled with watermelons comes to our town. We wait for for the truck to come to town.
12.	There are four bedrooms in my house. It is a house.
13.	This is the plan that shows the floors in my house house It is the plan for my house.
14.	This is a handbook for students . It is a handbook.
15.	Five courses will be served at dinner. It is a dinner. course (n.) – separate part or dish of a meal

Practice 2

Noun as Modifier: Word Order

Select the word order for the noun modifier and the noun.

Select the word form that best completes the sentence.
Use the check button to compare your response to the correct answer.

#	YOUR RESPONSE	CHECK ANSWER
16.	This is a park for playing baseball. It is a .
17.	This is a lamp for the street. It is a .
18.	These are laces for shoes. They are .
19.	This is a clip for hair. It is a .
20.	These are lines for telephone use / data. They are .
21.	These are shoes for walking. They are .
22.	This pole is for fishing. It is a .
23.	She chose a dress for her wedding. It is her .
24.	He was a victim of drowning. He was a . (A death resulting from being under-water.)
25.	It was a gallery for shooting. It was a . (A game at a carnival where people shoot targets to win prizes.)