0
Tolerance Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

Trouble with noun clusters

Good morning folks!

Every time i come across those noun clusters most of them halt my brain.. could anyone please provide me with a very useful rule on how to "beat" those "beasts"

Here they go:
1) customer satisfaction measurement trend
2) additional product training support
3) statistical control charts
and many more...

How should i parse them? The rule to start parsing a cluster from its end not always works..  Usually i find, in my opinion, the main noun in a noun cluster and add those adjectives and nouns that surround the noun until it makes a sense in overall.

This is how i do it:
1) trend+measurement+customer satisfaction, sounds as "trend of measurement of customer satisfaction"..
2) additional+support+product training, sounds as "additional support on product training"..
3) charts+control+statistical, sounds as "charts of control; and those charts are statistical", and a remake i conclude is: "statistical charts of control"..

I appreciate everybody'  input
Thanks
  

Top answer

additional and statistical are adjectives, so they may have to be treated differently in these patterns. Your method seems to work about as well as any. I don't think there is a better way to do it.

  • additional and statistical are adjectives, so they may have to be treated differently in these patterns.
  • Your method seems to work about as well as any.
  • I don't think there is a better way to do it.
  • 1) customer satisfaction measurement trend (((customer) satisfaction) measurement) trend) [This is probably the most common parsing.
  • The first word modifies the second.
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2 Answers
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additional and statistical are adjectives, so they may have to be treated differently in these patterns.

Your method seems to work about as well as any. I don't think there is a better way to do it.

1) customer satisfaction measurement trend

(((customer) satisfaction) measurement) trend)
[This is probably the most common parsing. The first word
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Thank you CJ for your mood to answer to this

Your logic is of a great value for me. 

As the third example shows, there can not always be the only correct combination and the most suitable depends on a discipline...a real horror for me those situations..

Till next questions

Stas, the forum inhabitant

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