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ZBH Posted 10 years ago
Grammar

Noun groups

Is "Genetic engineering" a noun group?
  

Top answer

It's not "a group of nouns", if that's what you mean, because "genetic" is not a noun. It is, however, a "noun phrase ", which is a head noun ( engineering ) together with its modifiers, of which there is only one in this case ( genetic ). Speaking informally, you might say "noun group", but that's not the proper term.

— CalifJim

  • It's not "a group of nouns", if that's what you mean, because "genetic" is not a noun.
  • It is, however, a "noun phrase ", which is a head noun ( engineering ) together with its modifiers, of which there is only one in this case ( genetic ).
  • Speaking informally, you might say "noun group", but that's not the proper term.
  • CJ
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12 Answers
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It's not "a group of nouns", if that's what you mean, because "genetic" is not a noun.

It is, however, a "noun phrase", which is a head noun (engineering) together with its modifiers, of which there is only one in this case (genetic).

Speaking informally, you might say "noun group", but that's not the proper term.

CJ
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Thank you CJ
So my head noun would be engineering and genetic would be my describer or classifier? I can never tell the difference between them!
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ZBHSo my head noun would be engineering
Yes.
ZBHgenetic would be my describer or classifier?
Yes, but the proper term is 'modifier'.
ZBHI can never tell the difference between them!
You need to meditate on these things.
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ZBHSo my head noun would be engineering and genetic would be my describer or classifier?
Yes. A noun is a person, place or thing.
"Engineering" is a noun. It is a subject you can study.

There are different kinds of engineering.

Civil Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Petroleum
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ahh thank you! We've learnt that pre-modifiers are classified either as describers or classifiers. Makes my head hurt! lol
If I said, "The earth's biological diversity"
Diversity is my head noun? biological is my classifier, but what would that make earth?
Thanks for your help! xx
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Yes, I thought so! It answers "What type is it?"
Thank you AlpheccaStars
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ZBHwhat would that make earth?
"the earth's" is a possessive, so it's a determiner.

Actually, that breaks down into its two parts: the determiner "the" and the possessive "earth's".

CJ
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Wow, I never thought of it like that!
Thanks CJ! xx
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So would that be the same if I said,
Endangered animals' genetic information
endangered animals' = determiner
genetic= classifier
information=head noun
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ZBHendangered animals' genetic information
[[[endangered] animals'] [genetic] information]
[[[modifier......] possessive] [classifier] noun=head noun]
[[......determiner ................][ ..............]...........................]

I'm not familiar with the terminology that divides modifiers into classifiers and describers. The only definiti
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