• Adjective phrase (ADJP)
  • Head of ADJP
  • Complement of ADJ
  • Modifier of ADJ
  • Movement out of ADJP (see Clause-level constituents)
  • Treatment of individual words
    • LEAST
    • LESS
    • MORE
    • MOST
    • MUCH
    • SUCH
• Adverb phrase (ADVP)
  • Complement of ADV
  • Modifier of ADV
  • Treatment of individual words
    • AGO
• Conjunction phrase (CONJP) (see Conjunction)
• Fragment (FRAG)
• Interjection phrase (INTJP)
• Noun phrase (NP)
  • Head of NP
  • Complement of N
  • Modifier of N
  • Nominal versus mixed gerund
  • Treatment of individual words
    • (THE) WHILE
• Number phrase (NUMP)
  • Special cases (UP TO FIVE, BETWEEN TWO AND THREE, THREE TIMES FIVE)
• Prepositional phrase (PP)
  • Complement of P
  • Modifier of P
  • Specifier of P
    • Movement to Spec(PP)
    • Dative of possession (NP-DPS)
  • Treatment of individual words
    • BECAUSE
    • FOR (preposition)
    • FORASMUCH (also INASMUCH, INSOMUCH)
    • SO THAT
• Quantifier phrase (QP) (see also Floated quantifier, Measure phrase)
  • Complement of Q
  • Modifier of Q
  • Treatment of individual words
    • (THE) LESS
    • (THE) MORE
• Wh- phrase
  • WADJP
  • WADVP
  • WNP
  • WPP
  • WQP
• Nonstructural labels
  • CODE
  • Foreign language passage (LATIN, FOREIGN)
  • List marker (LS)
  • META
  • Quotation phrase (QTP)
  • Reference (REF)

This section of the documentation focuses on the internal structure of phrasal constituents. Phrases at the clausal level (= daughters of IP) are often labeled with dash tags and extended tags encoding additional information, as described in Clause-level constituents. This section also covers certain nonstructural tags used to label foreign language passages, quotations, references, and similar material.

• Head of ADJP
  • Silent head of ADJP
  • Comparative adjective as head of ADJP
  • Superlative adjective as head of ADJP
• Complement of ADJ
  • NP complement of ADJ
    • ALRE plus superlative
  • PP complement of ADJ
  • Clausal complement of ADJ
• Modifier of ADJ
• Movement out of ADJP (see Clause-level constituents)
• Treatment of individual words
  • LEAST
  • LESS
  • MORE
  • MOST
  • MUCH
  • SUCH

Adjective phrases (ADJP) consist of an adjectival head, possibly accompanied by complements and/or modifiers.

( (ADJP (ADJ true)))

( (ADJP (ADV very) (ADJ true)))

( (ADJP (ADJR fairer)
	(PP (P than)
	    (NP (D the) (OTHERS others)))))

( (ADJP (ADJS worst)
	(PP (P of)
	    (NP (Q all)))))

Complements and/or modifiers can either precede or follow the head. See also Movement out of ADJP.

( (ADJP (ADJ worth)
        (NP (Q nothing))))

( (ADJP (NP (Q nocht))		    ← worth nothing
        (ADJ wur+d)))

Comparative adjective as head of ADJP

When (THE) LESS and (THE) MORE are treated as comparative adjectives in the PPCME2, as they sometimes are, the discussion below extends to them.

At the clausal level, comparative adjectives accompanied by a determiner are daughters of either ADJP or NP, depending on whether they are functioning as predicates or referring expressions. The containing phrase is labeled ADJP in the elided correlative comparatives (THE MORE THE MERRIER), in small clauses, or generally when it is the complement of a copular verb. However, even then, it is labeled NP if it picks out a particular entity; see Comparative adjective as modifier of elided noun.

( (IP-MAT (CONJ and)
          (NP-SBJ *con*)
          (BED was)
          (ADVP-TMP (ADV neuer))
          (ADJP-PRD (D +te) (ADJR wors))
          (PUNC ,))
  (ID CMMIRK-M34,31.882))

( (IP-MAT (NP-SBJ (D the) (ADJ first)
		  (CP-REL (WNP-1 0)
			  (C that)
			  (IP-SUB (NP-SBJ (PRO I))
				  (VBD cam)
				  (PP (P over)
				      (NP *T*-1)))))
	  (BED was)
	  (NP-PRD (D the) (ADJR greatter))     	      ← referring expression
          (PUNC ,))
  (ID LELAND-1539-E1-P1,89.238))

Superlative adjective as head of ADJP

When LEAST and MOST are treated as superlative adjectives in the PPCME2, as they sometimes are, the discussion below extends to them.

At the clausal level, superlative adjectives are generally labeled NP. But a superlative adjective projects an ADJP if it meets all of the following conditions:

• It occurs alone (without a determiner, possessive, or modifier).
• It is the complement of a copular verb.
• It functions as a predicate rather than as a referring expression (that is, it does not pick out a particular entity).

( (IP-SUB (NP-SBJ (D +te) (N day))
          (BEP is)
          (ADJP-PRD (ADJS schortest)))
  (ID CMPOLYCH-M3,VI,107.734))

( (IP-SUB (NP-SBJ (PRO he))
          (BED was)
          (ADJP-PRD (ADJS eldest)))
  (ID CMBRUT3-M3,14.408))

( (IP-SUB (NP-SBJ (D +te) (N +tyng)
                  (CP-REL (WNP-1 0)
                          (C +tat)
                          (IP-SUB (NP-OB1 *T*-1)
                                  (NP-SBJ (PRO +tai))
                                  (VBP (VBP sai) (CONJ or) (DOP do)))))
          (BEP es)
          (ADJP-PRD (ADJS best)))
  (ID CMROLLEP-M24,86.367))

See also Superlative adjective as modifier of elided noun and Superlative adjective plus genitive.

Adjectives can take NP, PP, or clausal complements.

NP complement of ADJ

( (ADJP (NP (Q$ alre))
        (ADJS hest))
  (ID CMANCRIW-1-M1,II.208.2978))

( (ADVP (NP (Q$ alre))
        (ADV earest))		    ← FIRST/LAST not tagged superlative
  (ID CMANCRIW-1-M1,II.43.380))

( (QP (NP (Q$ alre))
      (QS meast))
  (ID CMKATHE-M1,50.490))

The few cases in this period of ALRE written together with MOST are treated as compounds (Q$+QS).

( (QP (Q$+QS alremest))
  (ID CMLAMBX1-MX1,49.636))

In the later periods of Middle English, ALRE is treated as a prefix (see MED, s.v. alder-) forming part of a unitary word that is tagged as a superlative (ADJS, ADVS, QS).

( (NP-VOC (ADJS aldermy+gtfullichest))      ← later Middle English texts
  (ID CMEARLPS-M2,54.2353))

( (ADJP (ADJS althirhegeste))
  (ID CMROLLTR-M24,1.19))

( (ADJP (ADJS al+tire-beste))
  (ID CMEDTHOR-M34,33.429))

( (ADJP (ADJS al+ter_best))
  (ID CMCLOUD-M3,79.362))

( (ADJP-LOC (ADJS al+ter_next)
            (NP (D +te) (N kyng)))
  (ID CMBRUT3-M3,66.1971))

• THAT complement (CP-THT)

  ( (ADJP (ADJ glad)
          (CP-THT (C that)
                  (IP-SUB (NP-SBJ (PRO$ hys) (NS knyghtes))
                          (BED were)
                          (ADJP-PRD (ADJ horsed))
                          (ADVP (ADV agayne)))))
    (ID CMMALORY-M4,23.724))
  
  ( (ADJP (ADJ sory)
          (CP-THT (C 0)
                  (IP-SUB (NP-SBJ (PRO he))
                          (HVD had)
                          (VBN displeased)
                          (NP-OB1 (NPR kynge) (NPR Arthure)))))
    (ID CMMALORY-M4,49.1633))
  

• Comparative clause (CP-CMP)

  ( (ADJP (D +te) (ADJR schorter)
          (CP-CMP (WADJP-1 0)
                  (C 0)
                  (IP-SUB (ADJP-PRD *T*-1)
                          (NP-SBJ (PRO it))
                          (BEP is))))
    (ID CMCLOUD-M3,28.228))
  
  ( (ADJP (D the) (ADJR richer)
          (CP-CMP (WADJP-1 0)
                  (C that)
                  (IP-SUB (ADJP-PRD *T*-1)
                          (NP-SBJ (PRO he))
                          (BEP is))))
    (ID CMCTMELI-M3,235.C1.680))
  
  ( (ADJP (D the) (ADJR hyer)
          (CP-CMP (WADJP-1 0)
                  (C that)
                  (IP-SUB (ADJP-PRD *T*-1)
                          (NP-SBJ (PRO they))
                          (BED were)
                          (PP (P in)
                              (NP (D this) (ADJ present) (N lyf))))))
    (ID CMCTPARS-M3,292.C1.153))
  

• Tough movement complement (CP-TMC)

  ( (ADJP (ADJ easie)
  	(CP-TMC (WNP-1 0)
  		(IP-INF (IP-INF (NP-OB1 *T*-1)
  			  	(TO to)
  				(VB mount))
  			(CONJP (CONJ and)
  			       (IP-INF (TO *)
  				       (VB get)
  				       (PP (RP vp)
  					   (P vpon)
  					   (NP *T*-1))))))
  	(PUNC ;))
    (ID MARKHAM-1615-E2-H,1,71.11))
  

• Infinitival complement (IP-INF)

  ( (ADJP (ADJ redy)
          (IP-INF (PP (P with)
                      (NP (Q many) (NS knyghtes)))
                  (TO to)
                  (VB ryde)
                  (PP (P on)
                      (NP (N huntynge)))))
    (ID CMMALORY-M4,33.1036))
  
  ( (ADJP (ADJ able)
          (IP-INF (TO to)
                  (HV have)
                  (VBN macched)
                  (NP-OB1 (PRO us))))
    (ID CMMALORY-M4,57.1908))
  
  ( (ADJP (ADJ worthy)
          (IP-INF (TO to)
                  (VB lye)
                  (PP (P within)
                      (NP (D thys) (N+N chyrcheyarde)))))
    (ID CMMALORY-M4,643.4030))
  

( (ADJP (ADV quite) (ADJ wise)))

( (ADJP (ADV well) (ADJ aware)))

( (ADJP (ADVR as) (ADJ longe)))

( (ADJP (ADVR so) (ADJ noble)))

( (ADJP (QR more) (ADJ hardy))

( (ADJP (QS moste) (ADJS shamefullyste))
  (ID CMMALORY-M4,43.1448))

( (ADJP (NP-MSR (FP but) (Q halff) (D a) (N foote))
        (ADJ brode))
  (ID CMMALORY-M4,70.2381))

( (ADJP (NP-MSR (NP (D a) (N fote))
                (CONJP (CONJ &)
                       (NP (D an) (NUM half))))
        (ADJ long))
  (ID CMMANDEV-M3,6.95))

( (ADJP (ADV wonderly) (ADJ wrothe))
  (ID CMMALORY-M4,2.20))

( (ADJP (ADV wood) (ADJ wrothe))
  (ID CMMALORY-M4,26.798))

( (ADJP (ADVP (ADV passynge) (ADV sore))
        (ADJ seke))
  (ID CMMALORY-M4,6.172))

( (ADJP (ADVP (ADV ful) (ADV wel))
        (ADJ worthy))
  (ID CMCAPCHR-M4,249.4171))

( (ADJP (ADVP (ADVR se) (ADV freoliche))
        (ADJ feire))
  (ID CMMARGA-M1,76.351))

( (ADJP (NP-MSR (NUM a_+tousend)
                (NS zy+te))			← times
	(ADJR worse))
  (ID CMAYENBI-M2,265.2557))

• Complement of ADV
  • PP complement of ADV
  • Clausal complement of ADV
• Modifier of ADV
• Treatment of individual words
  • AGO

Adverb phrases (ADVP) consist of an adverb head, possibly accompanied by complements and/or modifiers. We distinguish different types of adverb phrase (directional, locative, temporal), but only at the clausal level; see Clause-level constituents for details.

( (ADVP (ADV suddenly)))

( (ADVP (ADV wel))
  (ID CMMALORY-M4,2.12))

( (ADVP-DIR (ADV hither)))

( (ADVP-LOC (ADV then)))

( (ADVP-TMP (ADV then)))

( (ADVP (ADVR as)
	(ADV soon)
	(PP (P as)                                ← complement of AS, not SOON
	    (CP-CMP (WADVP-1 0)
		    (IP-SUB (ADVP-TMP *T*-1)
			    (NP-SBJ (PRO we))
			    (MD can))))))

( (ADVP (ADVR so)
	(ADV well)
        (PP (P as)                                ← complement of SO, not WELL
            (NP (PRO he))))
  (ID CMMALORY-M4,17.535))

( (ADVP (QR more)                                 ← complement of MORE, not OPENLY
        (ADV opynly)
        (PP (P than)
            (CP-CMP (WADVP-1 0)
                    (C 0)
                    (IP-SUB (ADVP *T*-1)
                            (NP-SBJ (PRO hit))
                            (HVP hath)
                            (BEN bene)
                            (VAN shewed)
                            (ADVP-LOC (ADV here))))))
  (ID CMMALORY-M4,635.3781))

( (ADVP (ADVR so)             
	(ADV fersely)
        (CP-DEG (C that)                                   ← complement of SO, not FIERCELY
                (IP-SUB (NP-SBJ (D the) (NS strokis))
                        (VBD $redounded)
                        (ADVP (ADV agayne))
                        (PP (P fro)
                            (NP (NP (D the) (N woode))
                                (CONJP (CONJ and)
                                       (NP (D the) (N watir))))))))
  (ID CMMALORY-M4,25.789))

( (ADVP (ADV full) (ADV well))
  (ID CMMALORY-M4,16.511))

( (ADVP (ADV passyinge) (ADV sore))
  (ID CMMALORY-M4,6.172))

( (ADVP (ADV ryght) (ADV so))
  (ID CMMALORY-M4,15.449))

( (ADVP (ADVR so) (ADV sodenly))
  (ID CMMALORY-M4,2.20))

( (ADVP (QR more) (ADV esily))
  (ID CMMANDEV-M3,35.859))

( (ADVP (QP (D +te) (QR more))
        (ADV ble+telaker))
  (ID CMAYENBI-M2,69.1284))

( (ADVP (Q all) (ADV togydirs))
  (ID CMMALORY-M4,27.837))

( (ADVP (Q all) (ADV uttirly))
  (ID CMMALORY-M4,191.2819))

( (ADVP-TMP (ADV euermore) (ADV after))
  (ID CMBRUT3-M3,65.1948))

( (ADVP-TMP (NP-MSR (NUM ij) (NS dayes))
            (ADV aftyr))
  (ID CMGREGOR-M4,186.1353))

( (ADVP (NP-MSR (NUM x) (N myle))
        (ADV thens))
  (ID CMKEMPE-M4,114.2626))

( (ADVP (NP-MSR (NUM halffe))
	(ADVR so)
	(ADV sore))
  (ID CMMALORY-M4,46.1511))

Fragments that are direct speech are labeled QTP rather than FRAG.

( (FRAG (INTJ No)
	(PUNC ,)
	(ADVP (ADV certainly))
	(NP-TMP (NEG not) (N today))
	(NP-ADV (D the) (N way)
		(CP-REL (WADVP-1 0)
			(C that)
			(IP-SUB (ADVP *T*-1)
				(NP-SBJ (PRO it@))
				(BEP @'s)
				(VAG pouring))))
	(PUNC !)))

( (IP-MAT (NP-SBJ (Q many))
	  (PP (P if)
	      (FRAG (NEG not)
		    (NP (QS most))))
	  (MD would)
	  (VB agree)
	  (PUNC .)))

( (FRAG (CONJ And)
        (NP (Q no) (N wonder))
        (PUNC ;))
  (ID CMAELR3-M23,52.812))

( (FRAG (INTJ Nay)
        (PUNC ,)
        (ADVP (ADV dredeles))
        (PUNC ;))
  (ID CMAELR3-M23,36.303))

( (FRAG (PP (P In)
            (NP (NPR Lente)))
        (NP (ONE o) (N manere)
            (PP (P of)
                (NP (N potage))))
        (NP-TMP (Q euery) (N day))
        (PUNC ,)
        (PP (P but)
            (CP-ADV (C 0)
                    (IP-SUB (NP-SBJ (N siknesse))
                            (NP-OB1 (PRO it))
                            (VBP make))))
        (PUNC ;))
  (ID CMAELR4-M4,9.211))

( (FRAG (NP (NPR Aue))
        (PUNC ;)
        (LATIN (FW In) (FW conyertendo))
        (PUNC ;)
        (NP-MSR (NUM fif) (NS si+d+den))	← five times
        (PUNC .))
  (ID CMANCRIW-1-M1,I.70.271))

• When an interjection makes up a separate token, as is commonly the case with the word AMEN at the end of sermons

  ( (INTJP (INTJ Amen)
           (PUNC .))
    (ID CMAELR3-M23,60.1033))
  

• With consecutive interjections

  ( (INTJP (INTJ A) (INTJ ha)))
  
  ( (INTJP (INTJ weila) (INTJ wei)))
  

• When an interjection is a complement

  ( (PP (PP (P by)
            (INTJP (INTJ yea)))
        (CONJP (CONJ and)
               (PP (P by)
                   (INTJP (INTJ nay)))))
    (ID PENNY-1686-E3-H,150.268))
  

• When a word that is not tagged INTJ at the word level (see Interjection) is used as an interjection, either alone or as part of a phrase

  PPs that are used as interjections (BY MY FAITH, etc.) are labeled as ordinary PPs and not surrounded by INTJP brackets, at least not consistently.

  ( (CP-QUE-MAT (INTJP (WPRO What))
  	      (PUNC ,)
  	      (IP-SUB (BEP is)
  		      (NP-SBJ (PRO it))
  		      (ADJP-PRD (ADJ possible)))
  	      (PUNC ?)))
  
  ( (IP-MAT (INTJP (WADV Why))
  	  (PUNC ,)
  	  (NP-SBJ (D that))
  	  (BEP is)
  	  (NEG not)
  	  (ADJP-PRD (ADJ possible))
  	  (PUNC !)))
  
  ( (IP-MAT (QTP (INTJP (WD what) (D the) (NPR devil)))		← WHAT forms part of interjection
            (NP-SBJ (PRO he))
  	  (VBD exclaimed)
  	  (PUNC .)))
  
  ( (CP-QUE-MAT (WNP-1 (WPRO what)				← WHAT functions as ordinary wh- phrase
                       (INTJP (D the) (NPR devil)))
                (IP-SUB (NP-OB1 *T-1*)
                        (DOD did)
                        (NP-SBJ (PRO he))
      	  	      (VB say))
                (PUNC ?)))
  

  ( (IP-IMP-SPE (INTJP (WPRO what) (ADJ good) (N lord))        ← not a true vocative
                (VBI late)
                (IP-SMC (NP-SBJ (PRO it))
                        (ADJP-PRD (ADJ allone))))
    (ID CMREYNAR-M4,12.215))
  
  ( (IP-MAT (INTJP (INTJ O) (ADJ goode) (NPR God))             ← not a true vocative
            (PUNC ,)
            (ADVP (ADV wel))
            (MD oghte)
            (NP-SBJ (MAN man))
            (HV have)
            (NP-OB1 (N desdayn)
                    (PP (P of)
                        (NP (N synne)))))
    (ID CMCTPARS-M3,290.C2.100))
  

• When an interjection takes a complement, which can be an NP, PP, or clause (mostly restricted in Middle English)

  ( (INTJP (INTJ Alas)
           (PP (P to)
               (NP (PRO me))))
    (ID CMEARLPS-M2,156.6965))
  
  ( (INTJP (INTJ Allas)
           (NP (D +te) (N sorwe))
           (PUNC !))
    (ID CMBRUT3-M3,219.3922))
  
  ( (INTJP (INTJ allas)
           (CP-THT (C +tat)
                   (IP-SUB (ADVP-TMP (ADV euer))
                           (NP-SBJ (PRO he))
                           (VBD come)
                           (PP (P into)
                               (NP (D +tat) (N Lande))))))
    (ID CMBRUT3-M3,18.541))
  
  ( (INTJP (INTJ Amen)
           (PP (P for)
               (NP (N cheryte)))
           (PUNC .))
    (ID CMGREGOR-M4,232.2429))
  
  ( (INTJP (INTJ Farewel)
           (PUNC ,)
           (NP-VOC (ADJ goostly) (N freende))
           (PUNC ,)
           (PP (P in)
               (NP (NP (NPR$ Goddes) (N blessing))
                   (CONJP (CONJ &)
                          (NP (PRO$ myne)))))
           (PUNC !))
    (ID CMCLOUD-M3,133.823))
  
  ( (INTJP (INTJ fye)
           (PP (P for)
               (NP (N shame))))
    (ID CMMALORY-M4,207.3407))
  
  ( (INTJP (INTJ Fye)
           (PP (P on)
               (NP (PRO the))))
    (ID CMMALORY-M4,207.3437))
  
  ( (INTJP (INTJ Lo)
           (NP (D +tis))
           (PUNC ,))
    (ID CMANCRIW-1-M1,I.50.102))
  
  ( (INTJP (NP-VOC (N Womman))
           (PUNC ,)
           (INTJ lo)
           (NP (PRO$ thy) (N sone)))
    (ID CMAELR4-M4,21.643))
  
  ( (INTJP (INTJ lo)
           (ADVP-LOC (ADV her))
           (NP (N preoue)
               (PP (P of)
                   (NP (Q ba+de))))
           (PUNC .))
    (ID CMANCRIW-1-M1,II.179.2497))
  
  ( (INTJP (PP (P a+gein)
               (NP (N misdede) (CONJ o+der) (N mis_sa+ge)))
           (PUNC .)
           (INTJ lo)
           (ADVP-LOC (ADV her))
           (ADVP-TMP (ADV anonden))
           (NP (D +te) (ADJS beste) (N remedie)))
    (ID CMANCRIW-1-M1,II.101.1215))
  
  ( (INTJP (INTJ loo)
           (PUNC ,)
           (CP-QUE-SUB (WNP-1 (WPRO what))
                       (C 0)
                       (IP-SUB (NP-OB1 *T*-1)
                               (VBP seith)
                               (NP-SBJ (NPR Seint) (NPR Augustyn))))
           (PUNC :))
    (ID CMCTPARS-M3,308.C2.866))
  
  ( (INTJP (INTJ Lo)
           (CP-QUE-SUB (WADVP-1 (WADV howe) (ADV sone))
                       (C 0)
                       (IP-SUB (ADVP *T*-1)
                               (NP-SBJ (PRO they))
                               (MD couthe)
                               (VB play)
                               (NP-OB1 (D the) (NS nygardys))))
           (PUNC !))
    (ID CMGREGOR-M4,238.2601))
  
  ( (INTJP (INTJ Walawa)
           (NP (NP (D +tessere) (N lare))
               (CONJP (CONJ and)
                      (NP (D +desere) (N dade))))
           (PUNC !))
    (ID CMVICES1-M1,127.1568))
  
  ( (IP-MAT (QTP (INTJP (INTJ wumme)
  		      (CP-THT-SPE (C +tt)
  				  (IP-SUB-SPE (NP-SBJ (PRO ich))
  					      (VBP libbe)))))
  	  (VBD q+d)
            (NP-SBJ (PRO he))
            (PUNC .))
    (ID CMJULIA-M1,124.503))
  

• Head of NP
  • Noun or pronoun as head of NP
  • ONE and OTHER as head of NP
  • Compound noun
  • NP with elided head (e.g., THE POOR, THE RICH)
    • Comparative adjective as modifier of elided noun
    • Superlative adjective as modifier of elided noun
• Complement of N
  • NP complement of N (NP-COM)
    • COUPLE, HALF, MANNER, MIDDLE, NEED, SIDE, WOE
    • KIND
    • Superlative adjective plus genitive
  • PP complement of N (see PP modifier of N)
  • Clausal complement of N
• Modifier of N
  • Adjectival modifier of N
  • Number modifier of N
  • Quantifier modifier of N
  • PP modifier of N
  • Genitive/possessive modifier of N
  • Measure phrase modifier of N
  • Relative clause
  • Reduced relative clause
  • Appositive or parenthetical
• Nominal versus mixed gerund
• Treatment of individual words
  • (THE) WHILE

For forms of address like SIR KNIGHT and for names (UTHER PENDRAGON, KING ARTHUR), see Common noun or proper noun?, particularly the section on noun-noun sequences.

Strings of two or more nouns making up a noun phrase can also be conjunction structures without an overt conjunction (FRIENDS, ROMANS, COUNTRYMEN).

NP with elided head

( (IP-MAT (PP (P When)
              (CP-ADV (C 0)
                      (IP-SUB (NP-SBJ (ONE ane))
                              (VBP metis)
                              (NP-OB1 (D+OTHER a-no+tir)))))
          (PUNC ,)
          (NP-SBJ (D +te) (ADJR yunger))
          (MD sal)
          (NEG noht)
          (VB sitte)
          (PP (P bi)
              (NP (PRO hir)))
  (ID CMBENRUL-M3,41.1312))

( (IP-MAT (CONJ and)
          (NP-SBJ (D +te) (ADJR stronggyr))
          (VBD eete)
          (NP-OB1 (D +te) (CODE <P_85>) (ADJR wekir))
          (PUNC .))
  (ID CMSIEGE-M4,85.447))

( (IP-SUB (NP-SBJ *T*-1)
          (BED was)
          (NP-PRD (D +te) (ADJR +gongyr)))		← referring expression, not predicate
  (ID CMMIRK-M34,93.2510))

Context: When Esau was away, Jacob, who was the younger
brother, by his mother's cunning advice, received his father's
blessing.

At the clausal level, superlative adjectives accompanied by a determiner are generally daughters of NP. Under certain narrow conditions, they project ADJP (see Superlative adjective as head of ADJP).

Superlative adjectives with apparent complements generally function as referential expressions and are labeled NP at the phrasal label. The complement is treated as a complement of the (elided) noun.

( (IP-MAT-SPE (NP-SBJ (D that))
	      (BEP is)
	      (NP-PRD (D the) (ADJS foulest))
	      (PUNC ,))
  (ID ARMIN-1608-E2-H,45.375))

( (IP-MAT (NP-SBJ (PRO he))
          (BEP is)
          (NP-PRD (ADJS worst)			← parallel to THE WORST ONE OF ALL
                  (PP (P of)
                      (NP (Q all))))))

( (IP-MAT (CONJ and)
          (ADVP (ADV so))
          (NP-SBJ (D +tis) (N secte))
          (BEP is)
          (NP-PRD (ADJS best)			← no determiner, but modified and referential
                  (CP-REL (WNP-1 0)
                          (C +tat)
                          (IP-SUB (NP-OB1 *T*-1)
                                  (NP-SBJ (Q any) (N man))
                                  (MD may)
                                  (HV haue)))))
  (ID CMWYCSER-M3,265.698))

Bare NP complements of nouns are labeled NP-COM. This includes cases where a genitive NP in early texts corresponds to an OF phrase in later English. The complement may precede or follow the head and consist of one word or several.

NP-COM continues to occur into Modern English, especially with ABOARD, AMID, HALF, and SIDE.

( (NP (N gewittnysse)
      (NP-COM (NP (PRO$ hire) (N$ m+age+dhades))
              (CONJP (CONJ &)
                     (NP (PRO$ hire) (N$ eadmodnysse)))))
  (ID CMKENTHO-M1,135.29))

( (NP (N m+aigne)
      (NP-COM (ADJ unw+ammes) (N$ m+age+dhades)))
  (ID CMKENTHO-M1,134.22))

( (NP (N moder)
      (NP-COM (NP-COM (D +te) (ADJ ilke) (N$ zodes))
              (PUNC /)
              (CONJP (CONJ and)
                     (NP-COM (PRO$ oure) (NPR$ lhordes)
                             (NP-PRN (NPR iesu) (NPR$ cristes))))))
  (ID CMAYENBI-M2,266.2603))

( (NP (Q sum) (N d+al)
      (NP-COM (PRO$ heora) (N$ gewilles)))
  (ID CMKENTHO-M1,143.224))

( (NP-TMP (D +t+as) (ADJ formeste) (N d+a+ges)
          (NP-COM (D +t+are) (N$ wuca)))
  (ID CMKENTHO-M1,144.258))

COUPLE, HALF, MANNER, MID (and variants), NEED, SIDE, WOE

( (NP (NUM thirty) (N coupyl)
      (NP-COM (NS houndes)))
  (ID CMMALORY-M4,33.1049))

( (NP (D this) (N half)
      (NP-COM (D the) (N see)))
  (ID CMMANDEV-M3,13.268))

( (NP (Q no) (N maner)
      (NP-COM (N harm)))
  (ID CMMANDEV-M3,15.331))

( (NP (N myddis)
      (NP-COM (D the) (N shelde)))
  (ID CMMALORY-M4,39.1287))

( (NP (Q nan) (N neod)
      (NP-COM (N medicine)))
  (ID CMANCRIW-1-M1,II.136.1803))

( (NP (D this) (N syde)
      (NP-COM (NPR Trente) (N watir)))
  (ID CMMALORY-M4,19.579))

( (IP-SUB (NP-SBJ (N wa)				← WOE
                  (NP-COM *ICH*-1))
          (BEP bi+d)
          (NP-OB1 (PRO him))
          (NP-COM-1 (PRO$ hise) (N$ liues)))
  (ID CMANCRIW-1-M1,II.142.1903))

For the treatment of offices containing adjectives (ATTORNEY GENERAL, LORD CHIEF JUSTICE, LORD HIGH ADMIRAL, and the like), see Proper nouns, especially the sections on N + N sequences and offices.

( (NP (ADJ solitarye) (N lyf))
  (ID CMAELR3-M23,26.5))

( (NP (D a)
      (ADJP (ADV passyng) (ADJ good))
      (N woman))
  (ID CMMALORY-M4,2.15))

( (NP (NPR God)
      (ADJP (ADJ almyghty)))		← posthead modifier treated as phrase
  (ID CMMIRK-M34,126.3381))

( (NP (D +te) (NUM fyue) (NS wondys)
      (ADJP (ADJ principale))
      (PP (P of)
          (NP (PRO$ hys) (N body))))
  (ID CMMIRK-M34,126.3390))

( (NP (D the) (NUM four) (NS Evangelistes))
  (ID CMMALORY-M4,4.73))

( (NP (NS lotess)
      (NUMP (NUM fowwre_&_twennti+g)))		← posthead modifier treated as phrase
  (ID CMORM-M1,I,14.239))

( (NP (Q all) (NPR Englond))
  (ID CMMALORY-M4,2.6))

( (NP (QP (ADV ny) (Q al))
      (D +te)
      (N cuntre)
      (PP (P aboute)
          (NP (NPR Rome))))
  (ID CMCAPCHR-M4,85.1599))

( (NP (QP (ADVR to) (Q mech))
      (N wyn))
  (ID CMKEMPE-M4,69.1564))

( (NP (PRO hem)
      (QP (Q alle)))			← posthead modifier treated as phrase
  (ID CMAELR3-M23,42.459))

( (NP (N fruyt)
      (QP (ADVR as)
	  (Q mony)			← no NP-MSR; PP is complement of Q
          (PP (P as)
              (CP-CMP (WQP-1 0)
                      (C 0)
                      (IP-SUB (NP-SBJ-2 *exp*)
                              (BED wer)
                              (NP-2 (QP *T*-1)
                                    (NS sterres)
                                    (PP (P of)
                                        (NP (NPR Heuen)))))))))
  (ID CMMIRK-M34,77.2054))

Genitive/possessive modifier of N

Not all genitive/possessive dependents of N are treated as modifiers. See Complements of N for details.

( (NP (PRO$ his) (N wife)))

( (NP (NPR$ God's) (N voice))

( (NP (NP-POS (D a) (N$ beggars))
      (N array)))

( (NP (NP-POS (NPR King) (NPR$ Uthers))
      (NS men)))

( (NP (NS men)
      (PP (P of)
          (NP (PRO$ his)))))                               ← one-word possessive doesn't project NP-POS

( (NP (NS men)
      (PP (P of)
          (NP (NP-POS (NPR King) (NPR$ Uthers))))))        ← multi-word possessive projects NP-POS

It is possible for a genitive to form a compound noun with a following noun (rather than forming a constituent with preceding material). As in the case of ordinary compound nouns, the constituent structure is not explicitly indicated in the annotation in these cases.

( (NP (Q euch) (N$ worldes) (N sauur))			← each taste of the world, NOT the taste of each world
  (ID CMANCRIW-1-M1,II.82.979))			          

( (NP (D +Teose) (N$ heorte) (NS wunden))		← these wounds of the heart
  (ID CMANCRIW-1-M1,II.201.2868))		          

( (NP (SUCH such) (N$ worldys) (N murthe))	        ← such worldly mirth
  (ID CMMIRK-M34,64.1739))

( (NP (Q alle) (OTHER o+ture) (N$ monnes) (NS wittes))	← all other human wits
  (ID CMEDVERN-M3,260.877))

Note the difference between the following two structures:

( (NP (PRO$ hire) (N$ meidene) (N wombe))		← her [maiden's womb] (= her virgin womb)
  (ID CMANCRIW-1-M1,II.62.634))

( (NP (NP-POS (PRO$ hire) (N$ meidene))		        ← [her maiden's] womb (= the womb of her maiden)
      (N wombe)))

The following examples illustrate our treatment of cases with the possessive clitic ('S, S). See Dollar tag for the conventions governing the splitting of the dollar tag.

( (NP (NP-POS (NPR Peter)
              ($ his))
      (N peny)))

( (NP (NP-POS (D the) (N Lord)
              (PP (P of)
                  (NP (NPR Bodmin)))
              ($ his))                                  ← clitic HIS
      (N hat)))

( (NP (NP-POS (D the) (N Lord)
              (PP (P of)
                  (NP (NPR Bodmin@)))
              ($ @'s / @s))                             ← clitic with or without apostrophe
      (N hat)))

( (NP (NP-POS (D the) (N Lord)
              (PP (P of)
                  (NP (NPR Bodmin@)))
              ($ @ys))                                  ← variant spelling
      (N hat)))

( (NP (NP-POS (NPR God)
              (ADJP (ADJ almighty@))
              ($ @'s / @s))                             ← clitic with or without apostrophe
      (N mercy)))

( (NP (NP-MSR (NUM fyftene) (NS dayes))
      (N journey))
  (ID CMMALORY-M4,62.2091))

( (NP-TMP (NUM twice)
          (NP-MSR (D a) (N week))))

( (NP (NUM fifty_thousand)
      (NS pounds)
      (NP-MSR (D a) (N year))))

( (NP (N sugar)
      (NP-MSR (NUM five) (NS pounds))))

( (NP (NUM five) (NS pounds)			← NP-COM with inverse word order
      (NP-COM (N sugar))))

( (NP (D the) (ADJS byggest) (N castell)
      (CP-REL (WNP-1 0)
              (C that)
              (IP-SUB (NP-OB1 *T*-1)
                      (NP-SBJ (PRO he))
                      (HVP hath))))
  (ID CMMALORY-M4,2.32))

( (NP (PRO he)
      (CP-REL (WNP-3 0)
              (C that)
              (IP-SUB (NP-SBJ *T*-3)
                      (MD shal)
                      (BE be)
                      (NP-PRD (ADJ rightwys) (N kyng)
                              (PP (P of)
                                  (NP (D this) (N land)))))))
  (ID CMMALORY-M4,9.253))

( (NP (D the) (N castel)
      (PP (P of)
          (NP (NPR Terrabyl)))
      (PUNC ,)
      (CP-REL (WNP-1 (D the) (WPRO whiche))
              (C 0)
              (IP-SUB (NP-SBJ *T*-1)
                      (HVD had)
                      (NP-OB1 (Q many) (NS yssues)
                              (CONJP (CONJ and)
                                     (NX (NS posternes)))
			      (RP oute)))))
  (ID CMMALORY-M4,3.36))

( (NP (Q all) (D the) (NS lordes)
      (CONJP (CONJ and)
             (NX (NS comyns)))
      (CP-REL (WNP-1 0)
              (C that)
              (IP-SUB (NP-SBJ *T*-1)
                      (BED were)
                      (ADVP-LOC (ADV there)))))
  (ID CMMALORY-M4,11.303))

( (NP (NP (D the) (N Knyght)
          (PP (P with)
              (NP (D the) (NUM Two) (NS Swerdis))))
      (CONJP (CONJ and)
             (NP (PRO$ hys) (N brothir)))
      (PUNC ,)
      (CP-REL (WNP-1 (WPRO which))
     	      (C 0)
              (IP-SUB (NP-SBJ *T*-1)
                      (BEP ar)
                      (NP-PRD (NUM two) (ADJ mervayles) (NS knyghtes)
                              (PP (P of)
                                  (NP (N prouesse)))))))
  (ID CMMALORY-M4,56.1873))

Reduced relatives (RRC) headed by participles are not always easy to distinguish from participial clauses (IP-PPL). It is wise in searches for one category to include the other.

( (NP (D the) (N child)
      (RRC (VAN bound)
           (PP (P in)
               (NP (D a) (N cloth)
                   (PP (P of)
                       (NP (N gold)))))))
  (ID CMMALORY-M4,6.149))

( (NP (D a) (N boye)
      (RRC (PP (P of)
               (NP (Q no) (ADJ hyghe) (N blood)))
           (VAN borne)))
  (ID CMMALORY-M4,10.284))

( (NP-OB1 (NS messyngers)
          (PP (P unto)
              (NP (NPR kyng) (NPR Ban)
                  (CONJP (CONJ and)
                         (NX (NPR Bors)))))
          (RRC (VAN isente)
               (PP (P frome)
                   (NP (NPR kynge) (NPR Arthure)))))
  (ID CMMALORY-M4,15.459))

Noun phrases of the type THE LORD DAWKINS, MILADY DELAWARE are treated by default as appositive structures.

For examples of ordinary appositives and parentheticals in NP, see the section on clause-level appositives and parentheticals.

Nominal versus mixed gerund

When gerunds take complements, these are originally PPs, in keeping with the nominal origin of the construction. Over time, English develops mixed gerunds, with characteristics of both noun phrases (they are introduced by a determiner or possessive pronoun and can be modified by adjectives) and participial clauses (the gerund takes an NP rather than a PP complement). The following examples illustrate the difference between nominal and mixed gerunds. In doubtful cases (for instance, when the gerund takes a PP complement), the default is nominal. For purely verbal gerunds, see Participial clause.

Nominal					Mixed

(NP (D the)				(NP (D the)
    (N hunting)				    (IP-PPL (VAG hunting)
    (PP (P of)					    (NP-OB1 (NS deer))))
        (NP (NS deer))))

(NP (PRO$ their)			(NP (PRO$ their)
    (ADJ joyous)			    (ADJ joyous)
    (N singing)				    (IP-PPL (VAG singing)
    (PP (P of)					    (NP-OB1 (NS hymns))))
        (NP (NS hymns))))

					(NP (PRO$ their)
					    (IP-PPL (ADVP (ADV joyously))
						    (VAG singing)
						    (NP-OB1 (NS hymns))))

(NP (PRO$ his)
    (N speaking)			← nominal by default
    (PP (P to)
        (NP (D the) (N lady))))

Ordinary numbers are treated as unitary items. NUMP is added only if the number is modified or conjoined.

( (NP (NUM five_hundred)
      (NS cases)))

( (NP (NUM a_thousand)
      (NS cases)))

( (NP (NUM a_two)
      (NS miles)))

( (NP (NUMP (NEG not) (ADV quite) (NUM sixty_five))
      (NS cases)))

( (NP (NUMP (ADV fully) (NUM five_and_sixty))
      (NS cases)))

( (NUMP (PP (P at)
  	    (QP (QS least)))
        (NUM a_thousand)))

( (NUMP (NUM two) (CONJ or) (NUM three)))

( (NUMP (NUM two) (CONJ or) (NUM three_hundred)))     ← elision

( (NUMP (ADV approximately) (NUM fifty)
	(CONJP (CONJ or)
	       (NUMX (NUM sixty)))))

( (NUMP (QP (ADVR swo (Q mani+ge))
	(NUM hundred))
  (ID CMVICES1-M1,115.1394))

( (NUMP (NUM fowr_+tusent)
	(ADVP (ADV fulle)))	
  (ID CMKATHE-M1,45.403))	

When directly modifying numbers, the following words are tagged ADV:

ABOUT, ABOVE, NEAR, NIGH, OVER, PASSING, PAST

( (NUMP (ADV about) (NUM five)))

( (NUMP (ADV over) (NUM six)))

For the TIMES construction (THREE TIMES FIVE), see TIMES.

In special cases, NUMP is added around phrases that function as number phrases even though the phrase is not headed by NUM. As far as possible, such exocentric phrases receive their normal structure, around which NUMP is then added. (This is analogous to our treatment of free relative clauses.) The following examples further include containing NPs for clarity.

( (NP (NUMP (ADJP (ADJR better)
		  (PP (P then)
		      (NP (NUM forty)))))
      (NS instances)))                          ← noun attaches high

( (NP (NUMP (ADJP (ADJ nigh)			← ADJ (not ADV) because NIGH 
		  (PP (P upon)                    does not directly modify NUM
		      (NP (NUM a_thousand)))))
      (NS workers)))

( (NP (NUMP (PP (P above)
 		(NP (D the) (N number)
		    (PP (P of)
			(NP (NUM two_thousand))))))
      (NS sheep)))

( (NP (NUMP (PP (P betwene)
                (NP (NUMP (NUM thirty) (CONJ and) (NUM forty)))))
      (NS persons)))

( (NP (NUMP (PP (P between)
		(NP (NUMP (NUM 4) (CONJ and) (NUM 5_100@)))))
      (NS @=li=)
      (ADVP (ADV yearly))))

( (NP (NUMP (PP (P from)
		(NP (NUM thirty)))
            (PP (P to)
                (NP (NUM forty))))
      (NS persons)))

( (NP (NUMP (NP (NUM thirty))
            (PP (P to)
                (NP (NUM forty))))
      (NS persons)))

( (NP (NUMP (PP (P toward)
                (NP (NUM 1500@))))
      (NS @=li=)))

Potential cases with comparative quantifiers (QR) are not treated as exocentric. The comparative quantifier is treated as modifying a silent noun.

( (NP (QR more)                              ← like this
      (PP (P than)
	  (NP (NUM fifty) (NS pounds)))))    ← noun attaches low

( (NP (QP (QR more)                          ← not like this
	  (PP (P than)
	      (NP (NUM fifty))))
      (NS pounds)))

( (NP (NUMP (QP (QR more)                    ← also not like this
	        (PP (P than)
   		    (NP (NUM fifty)))))
      (NS pounds)))

( (NP (QR more)
      (PP (P than)
	  (NP (NUM twise)                   ← TWICE modifies SEVEN
	      (NUM seven)))))

( (NP (QP (Q no)                            ← QP because NO modifies FEWER
	  (QR fewer))
      (PP (P than)
          (NP (NUM 280)))))

• Complement of P
  • NP complement of P
    • Pre-head complement of P
  • Clausal complement of P
    • FORTHAN, FORTHI and the like plus clause or NP
    • FORWHI plus clause
  • ADJP complement of P
  • ADVP complement of P
  • PP complement of P
• Modifier of P
• Specifier of P
  • Movement to Spec(PP)
  • Dative of possession (NP-DPS)