The headis the most important word in a phrase. All the other words in a phrase depend on the head. Words which are part of the phrase and which come before the head are called the pre-head. Words which are part of the phrase and which come after the head are called the post-head.
In a noun phrase, the head is a noun, and there may be pre-head and post-head items, also called premodifiersand postmodifiers.
← – – – – – – – – – – – – – – noun phrase – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – → | ||
pre-head | noun head | post-head |
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In a verb phrase, the head is a verb. There may be pre-head items such as modal or auxiliary verbsand post-head items such as particles.
← – – – – – – – – – – verb phrase – – – – – – – – – – – → | |||
pre-head | verb head | post-head | |
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In an adjective phrase, the head is an adjective, and there may be pre-head and post-head items, also called premodifiers and postmodifiers.
← – – – – – – adjective phrase – – – – – – – → | ||||
pre-head | adjective head | post-head | ||
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In an adverb phrase, the head is an adverb, and there may be pre-head and post-head items, also called premodifiersand postmodifiers.
← – – – – – – – – adverb phrase – – – – – – – – – → | |||
pre-head | adverb head | post-head | |
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In a prepositional phrase, the head is a preposition, and there may be pre-head items, also called premodifiers. The post-head item, which is a noun phrase, or a verb phrase with a verb in the -ingform, is always present.
← – – – – – – – prepositional phrase – – – – – – – – – → | |||
pre-head | preposition head | post-head | |
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