oxford_guide_to_english_grammar

17 NOUNS AND NOUN PHRASES PAGE 178
3 Here are some more details about the structure of a noun phrase.
a
b
c
A quantifier can be more than one word.
a lot of money two hundred and fifty passengers
We sometimes use both a quantifier and a determiner.
all that whisky both the doors
We can do this with all, both and half.
We can also use a determiner after a quantifier + of.
each of the doors a lot of my time one of these magazines
For more about quantifiers and determiners together, • 178(f b, 1c).
Sometimes a quantifier comes after a determiner. We can use many, few or a
number after the, these, those or a possessive.
the many rooms of the house those few people left the three brothers
NOTE
We cannot use a lot of or a few in this pattern.
NOT the a lot of rooms of the house
d
e
f
g
h
A possessive form (e.g. Susan's, the man's) functions as a determiner.
a lot of Susan's friends (Compare: a lot of her friends)
the man's seat all the passengers' meals
There can be more than one adjective or noun modifier.
a lovely hot meal china soup dishes
For the order of adjectives, • 202.
The modifier can be a gerund or participle.
Gerund: some cooking oil a flying lesson • 283(2)
Participle: a ticking clock some stolen bottles of whisky •137
After a noun we can use a clause as a modifier.
a plan to catch a thief
a clock hidden inside the drinks cabinet
the stewardess who was serving drinks
Next, last and first, second, third etc come after a determiner, not before it.
your next job most of the second week this third anniversary
But they usually go before one, two, three etc.
my next two jobs the first six weeks
NOTE
a Compare these examples.
The first three prizes were £50, £25 and £10.
There were three first prizes, one for each age group.
b For another two jobs and two more jobs, • 180(3b).
i
We can use an adverb before a quantifier or an adjective.
Adverb + quantifier •212(8)
almost all the time quite a lot of money very many bottles
Adverb + adjective •212(1)
a very expensive trap some really nice soup dishes