Noun Phrases

Noun phrases atau frase nomina adalah frase yang terdiri dari nomina atau pronomina (sebagai head) dan modifiers.

Modifiers yang biasanya menyertai nomina adalah:
- determiners (articles, demonstratives, numbers, possessives, quantifiers)
- adjectives, adjective phrases, adjective clauses
- relative clauses

Seperti halnya nomina, frase nomina juga mempunyai fungsi sebagai subjek atau objek dalam suatu kalimat. Perhatikan contoh berikut di bawah ini:
- My coach is happy.- I like the cars over there.
- The woman who lives there is my aunt.
- Frankenstein is the name of the scientist not the monster.
- I consider Meong my favorite cat.
- Small children often insist that they can do it by themselves.
- To read quickly and accurately is John’s goal.
- Two of my guests have arrived.
- Mr. Jones spoke to Dr. James.
- My friend works with her father.

Frase nomina selalu memiliki nomina sebagai head. Dan umumnya determiners dan adjective phrases menempati posisi sebagai pre-modifiers atau pre-head. Contoh:
- the children- happy children
- the happy children

Setelah head, diletakkan post-modifiers yang panjangnya tidak dibatasi, contoh: the dog that chased the cat that killed the mouse that ate the cheese that was made from the milk that came from the cow that...

Dalam kenyataannya, pemakaian post-modifiers sepanjang contoh di atas jarang digunakan, bahkan tidak pernah.

Head dari frase nomina tidak harus selalu nomina, bisa juga berupa pronomina (pronouns).
Contoh:
- I like coffee.
- The waitress gave me the wrong dessert.
- This is my car.

Jika yang berlaku sebagai head berupa pronomina, maka frase nomina itu umumnya memiliki head (berupa pronomina) itu saja. Hal ini karena pronomina tidak memerlukan determiners atau adjectives sehingga pre-modifiers tidak diperlukan. Tetapi, beberapa pronomina, memungkinkan untuk ditambahkan post-modifiers.
[Those who arrive late] cannot be admitted until the interval.

Begitu juga numbers, dapat menempati posisi sebagai head dari frase nomina.
[Two of my guests] have arrived.[The first to arrive] was John.


Catatan
Kemampuan memahami frase nomina dengan baik merupakan hal yang penting untuk mengenali ide dalam suatu kalimat, daripada sekadar mengetahui arti kata per kata. Pengetahuan akan kemungkinan variasi dari perluasan bentuk pada frase nomina sangat bermanfaat dalam memahami secara tepat dan spesifik makna yang terkandung dalam suatu kalimat.

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news item

News item is to inform the readers about events of the day which are considered newsworthy or important. Is structure is:
• Newsworthy Event(s): recounts the events in summary form
• Background Event(s): elaborate what happened, to WHOM, in WHAT circumstances.
• Sources: comments by participants in, witnesses to and authorities’ expert on the event.
Significant Grammar Features:

• Short, telegraphic information about story captured in headline
• Generally using Simple Past Tense
• Use of Material Processes to retell the event
• Using Action Verbs, e.g.: were, run, go, kill, etc.
• Using Saying Verbs, e.g.: say, tell
• Focus on Circumstances
• Use of projecting Verbal Processes in Sources stages

There are some rules that can help to make newspaper headlines more comprehensible.

1. The passive voice is used without the appropriate form of “be”.
2. It is unusual to find complex forms, generally the simple present form is used
3. The present progressive tense is used, usually to describe something that is changing or developing, but the auxiliary verb is usually left out.
4. To refer to the future, headlines often use the infinitive.
5. Headlines are not always complete sentences

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Introductory it

When the subject is an infinitive phrase, the sentence often begins with it. Instead of saying ‘To find fault with others is easy’, we say, ‘It is easy to find fault with others’. More examples are given below.

• It is easy to learn English. (More natural than ‘To learn English is easy’.)
• It was not easy to understand his motive.
• It may be advisable to consult a specialist.
• It could be dangerous to drive so fast.
• It was pleasant to sit on the beach.

However, when we want to emphasize the infinitive phrase, it may be put at the beginning especially if it is short.

• To err is human.
• To withdraw now will be sheer folly.

When the subject is a phrase that includes a gerund, it is used as a provisional subject to begin the sentence. Instead of saying ‘Your trying to deceive us is no good’, we may say ‘It is no good your trying to deceive us’.

• Will it be any good my talking to him about it?
• It is no use arguing with him.
• It won’t be much good complaining to the officer about it.

Note that the gerund can be changed into the infinitive.

• Will it be any good for me to talk to him about it?

When the subject is a clause, the sentence usually begins with it. Instead of saying ‘That she was once a famous artist is true’, we may say, ‘It is true that she was once a famous artist’.

• It does not matter whether he comes or not. (= Whether he comes or not does not matter.)
• It is doubtful whether he can pay the dues. (= Whether he can pay the dues is doubtful.)
• It cannot be denied that the doctors did their best to save his life. (= That the doctors did their best to save his life cannot be denied.)

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Descriptive text

Descriptive text
Descriptive text is available for a screen reader device to audibly describe a graph or map so a visually impaired user can understand the graphical information . Or to describe the characteristic of particular Person, thing , or place .
* Textstructure:
- Identification: Identifies thing, person, place, phenomenon to be described.
- Description: Gives the information of particular thing, person, or
 Place being discussed or describes parts, qualities, or Characteristic.
* Language figures:
a. Topic is usually about the attributes of a think.
b. The use of think person pronoun forms is used.
c. The use of focus specific human and non human participants.
d. The use of reasoning expressed as verbs or noun.
e. The use of material.
f. The use of relation and mental process.
* Characteristic:
a. Use the simple present tense.
b. Using detailed noun phrases to provide information on the subject.
c. Uses relating verbs to provide information on the subject.
d. Use the thinking and feeling verbs to reveal personal views about the subject
author.
e. Use action verbs.
f. Use adverbials to provide additional information.
g. Use figurative language such as simile, metaphor.
* Grammatical features:
- Who? What?
- Using linking verb and simple present tense,
- Epithet: adjective or adjective phrase,
- Attributive (the)
- Use a attributive and identifying process,
- Focus an specific participants,
- Frequent use of epithets and classified in nominal groups
EXAMPLE OF DESCRIPTIVE TEXT :
Bandengan Beach
Bandengan Beach or Tirta Samudra Beach is the famous beach in jepara. the place is very beautiful and romantic. people around Jepara, Kudus, Demak knows this place.
This place is located 7 kilometers north of Jepara city center. The way to get there is very easy. Just follow the traffic sign and you will find it. From the town square, follow the road to Bangsri then turn left when reached kuwasen village. You can take public transportation or by your own vehicle.
The white sandy beach which has pure water is good for swimming. The beach is save enough for swimming because the beach is shallow and the wave is not so big. This place is more beautiful at dusk. We can see the beautiful sunset with our family or friends.
In this location, we can sit and relax on the shelter while enjoy the natural beach breezy wind. It also has large pandan tree field. It is suitable for youngster activities such as camping.
If we want to sail, we can rent the traditional boat owned by local people. We can make voyage around the beach or we can go to pulau panjang (panjang island). Some time we can find banana boat and jet ski for rent.
In this place we can find many traditional footstalls. We can order traditional foods sold by the trader such as roasted fish, crab, boiled shell. Pindang srani is one of the delicious food enjoyed by the visitors.
come to the bandengan beach and you will find a paradise on the tips of Muria peninsula

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MODALS IN THE PAST FORM

Modals In The Past Form
Modals in the Past form dalam bahasa Indonesia adalah kata bantu pengandaian dalam bentuk lampau.
Modals in the past are :
1. Could
2. Would
3. Should
4. Shall
*Could + Verb base
We can use this expression : to offer suggestion or possibilities.
Example :
Dhina : I’m having trouble with math.
Rizki : Why don’t you ask Nuri ?
Perhaps she could help you.
*Might + Verb base
Use might to tell possibillities.
Example :
Helda : Why is Rio taking the bus to get home.
Fany : He might get a flat time.
*Would + verb base
Use would for an action that was repeated regulary in the past.
Example :
Yoan : What did you usually do on holidays ?
Lia : I would visit my grandparents In the village, but how not anymore.
*Would + Mind + V-ing
Use would to express polite request.
Example :
Mrs. Lady : Would you mind posting the letter ?
Nita : No, Not at all.
*Should + Verb base
Example :
Nisa : Ima , you should go to library now ?
Ima : O.k.

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Narrative text

Narrative Text
Someone tells a narrative text in order to entertain, stimulate emotion or to teach.
A narrative text has three elements or parts :
1. The orientation introduces main characters in a setting of place and time. It tells about : the story’s setting , the time when the story happens, and the main characters of the story.
2. The complications tells the problems of the story and how the main characters solve them. Series of events ( It includes situations, activities, or events that lead to the climax or complication. )
3. The Resolution tells the ending of the story (The complication or problem is solved here. It shows the end of the story, usually a happy ending ).
A narrative text uses the simple past tense.
EXAMPLE :

The Prince and Princess

There once was a prince who wanted to marry a princess, but it had to be a real princess. So he went all over the world looking for a real princess. Everywhere he met young ladies who told him they were real princesses, but he could never be completely sure that this was true. There was always something about them that did not seem quite right. And so, after along time, the prince went back home to his parents and was very sad.
One evening there was a terrible storm. It rained heavily and there was thunder and lightning in the sky above the royal castle. Then there was a knock at the castle gate. The old king went out to see who it could be.
A princess was standing outside the gate. The rain ran down over her hair and clothes and into her shoes. She told the king that she was a real princess, and he asked her to come inside.
“Well, said the old queen. We’ll soon find out if that is true. She went into the guest bedroom and took the mattress and blanket off the bed. Then she put a little green pea on the bed. She put twenty mattress on top of the pea, and then twenty blankets on top of the mattress. This was where the princess was going to spend the night.
The next morning the queen asked the princess how she had slept.
“Oh, it was terrible!” answered the princess. “I didn’t close my eyes all night. I don’t know what was in my bed, but I lay on something hard, and now I am black and blue all over. It was quite a terrible night”
Now, the king, the queen and the prince could be sure that this was a real princess! She had felt the little pea through twenty mattresses and twenty blankets. Only a real princess will be able to do that!
So the prince married the princess, and the pea was put in a museum for everyone to see. And, unless someone has taken it, it is still there today.

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Asking For Information

Asking Information There are a number of formulas used when asking for information in English. Here are some of the most common:
· Could you tell me…?
· Do you know…?
· Do you happen to know…?
· I’d like to know…
· Could you find out…?
· I’m interested in…
· I’m looking for..
These two forms are used for asking for information on the telephone:
· I’m calling to find out…
· I’m calling about…
Here are some sample phrases and sentences for asking information in English
1. What is this? This is a tableThis is a table
2. What is that? That is a chair.
3. What’s this? It’s a pen.
4. What’s that? It’s an apple.
5. What are these? These are pencils.
6. What are those? Those are books.
7. Where is Mr. King? He is over there.
8. Where is Ms. Knight? She’s (right) here.
9. Where’s Johnny? He’s in the house.
10. When’s the movie? It’s at 9:00.
11. When’s lunch? Lunch is at noon.
12. How is the food? It’s delicious.
Information about company
What does your company do?
What is your specialty?
What do you specialize in?
What is your main line of business?
Information about products
Could you give me some (more) information on this?
What can you tell me about this (product)?
Tell me about this one/model.
Information about Price
What are you asking for this?
What does this sell for?
How much is it?
How much does it run?

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