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1、Noun Attribute in EnglishAbstract: In English, noun can be directly used as attribute to modify another noun and to express many complex meanings without any kind of changes and being added any adjective suffixes. In modern English, using noun attribute is becoming more and more common for noun attr
2、ibute can be used succinctly, precisely, conveniently and vividly; and applying noun attribute has become one feature of the modern English for its obvious advantages of expression. In this paper, lots of examples are displayed, and by using them, the general knowledge of noun attribute is illustrat
3、ed, such as classification, internal relationship, external relationship, grammatical function and pragmatic function of noun attribute. The purpose of this simple research work is to try to make reader understand the general knowledge and frame about noun attribute; to help reader acquire noun attr
4、ibute and have a good command of this simple, flexible, convenient, significant and vivid way of expression. What has been covered in this paper is not the thorough scope of noun attribute and is not very penetrating as well. All in all, noun attribute is the trend of modern English, attention shoul
5、d be paid during our study and work. Key words: noun attribute; classifications; relationships; functions 1. Introduction In English, there is a very common phenomenon noun attribute. Such as “coffee cup”, “book store” and “efficiency expert” are the examples of using noun attribute. In these three
6、examples, “coffee”, “book” and “efficiency”, without any kind of changes and being added any adjective suffixes, are directly applied as attribute to modify “cup”, “store” and “expert”. In modern English, using noun attribute is becoming more and more common for noun attribute can be used succinctly
7、, precisely, conveniently and vividly; and applying noun attribute has become one feature of the modern English for its obvious advantages of expression. Noun attribute is a simple, flexible and handy approach of expression, but the classifications, internal and external relationship, and functions
8、of noun attribute are important and complex. So, general knowledge of noun attribute is covered in this paper. 1.1 Definition Lu (1999) said, “In English, noun can be used as attribute directly to modify another noun without any kind of changes and being added any adjective suffixes. This kind of at
9、tribute is named noun attribute”. Yu (2000) mentioned, “Noun attribute means that one noun modifies another by being the modifier”.Qiang (2004) stated, “Noun attribute is a kind of word formation for it seems like a compounded word that is not connected with hyphen(s)”. Zheng (2005) said, “In Englis
10、h, noun attribute means that one noun, which has no changes, is directly used as attribute to modify the other noun”.In this paper, noun attribute means that one noun or several nouns, being in the position of a modifier, modifies or modify a head word with the function of an attribute. Based on the
11、 opinion, a pattern is drawn from the definition to help better understand the definition. The pattern is “N1N2N3Nn+Nn+1” (“N” means noun, and “n” determines the number of nouns). And this pattern shows that these nouns, “N1N2N3Nn”, are served as attribute, while “Nn+1” is served as the head word.1.
12、2 Reasons of being popular One reason of being popular is its importance. Under some circumstances, noun can be used as attribute to modify other nouns succinctly and precisely; while adjectives can not. The usage of noun attribute can show the compactness of sentence structure, the smoothness of wr
13、iting and the effect of conciseness and comprehensiveness. In modern English, the phenomenon that noun is directly applied as attribute to modify a head word is becoming more and more common just due to the significance of noun attribute. The other reason of being popular is social needs. The whole
14、world is being in a high paced period in which the knowledge is replaced and renewed quickly and frequently, especially since the human beings entered into the information era, science and technology have been always developing with a very high speed. The linguistics of English language has companie
15、d the rapid developing of science and technology. Without being noticed, the linguistics is always moving forward, toward concise and succinct. The application of noun attribute just meets the needs of the world trend; and is accordant to the peoples desire of seeking a handy and vivid approach of e
16、xpression. It becomes a typical feature of English and is a very tough task of English learning.2. Classifications 2.1 Simple noun attribute Simple noun attribute means that there is only one noun served as attribute to modify a head word. It can be explained by using the pattern mentioned above. Wh
17、en there are two nouns (i.e. the “n” is one), “N1N2N3Nn+Nn+1” (“N” means noun, and “n” determines the number of nouns) shows the pattern of simple noun attribute “N1+N2”. In this pattern, “N1” is a noun served as attribute to modify “N2”, while “N2” is a head word which is modified by “N1”.2.1.1 Sin
18、gular form The pattern of simple noun attribute is “N1+N2”, in which “N1” is in its singular form to modify “N2”. This is what singular form noun attribute is. Sun (2001) said, “When one noun is used as adjective and placed before another noun, it is almost being singular form, even it expresses plu
19、ral meaning”. When countable nouns (“man” and “woman” are not covered here) are used as noun attribute, they should be in singular form, even the meanings what they convey are plural. For example,“a match box”; “lady doctors”, “boy friends”; “girl students” “Man” and “woman” should be in singular fo
20、rm, when they are used as attribute, and their head words are in singular form. For example,“man teacher”; “woman doctor” Compounded determiner, which is connected with hyphen(s) and has the meaning of age, type, height, time, weight, size etc., should be in its singular form when it modifies anothe
21、r noun. For example, “a five-year-old girl”; “a ten-dollar bill”; “a five-meter tree” “Year”, “dollar” and “meter”, the three “N1”s are all in singular form, and show the age, type and height of their head words respectively. A noun, which is always used in its plural form, has the concept of a thin
22、g that is made up by two parts. When this kind of noun is applied as attribute, the noun attribute should be in its singular form. For example,“A scissor sharpener” means “a sharpener for scissors”. “A trouser press” means “a press for trousers”.With the concept of a thing, both “scissors” and “trou
23、sers” are made up by two parts, and always in plural form. When “scissors” and “trousers” are used as attribute, they should be in singular form. The noun attribute should be in its singular form, when prepositional phrase, which is used as attribute, is changed into a noun attribute. The following
24、examples can illustrate the point. “A book of pictures” means “a picture book”. “Decay of teeth” means “tooth decay”. “A box for pencils” means “a pencil box”. There is a special kind of noun attribute in the scope of singular form noun attribute. Some nouns end with “-s” and convey the meaning or c
25、oncept of academic subject. This kind of noun is regarded as singular form even it has plural form spelling. When this kind of noun is used as attribute, it should be in its special singular form. For example,“a mechanics course”; “a mathematics teacher”; “an economics degree” Noun attributes “mecha
26、nics”, “mathematics and “economics” all end with “-s” and convey the meaning or concept of academic subject. So, they should be in their special singular form when they are applied as attribute. From these vivid examples above, a simple conclusion can be made that noun attribute should be in its sin
27、gular form when noun attribute is used under these circumstances mentioned above. 2.1.2 Plural form Traditional grammarians think that noun could be used as noun attribute, and plural form can not be applied. But in our daily life, there are some plural nouns that are used as attribute.Since “N1+N2”
28、 is the pattern of simple noun attribute, when “N1” is in its plural form to modify “N2”, this is plural form noun attribute. Some nouns are used as attribute, and have both the singular and plural form, but the plural form and singular form often have their own meaning respectively. So the plural f
29、orm should be used when the noun is applied as attribute, which has particular meaning. For example,“a customs officer”; “arms aid”; “a glasses frame”When being used as attribute, “customs”, “arms” and “glasses” are all have their certain particular meaning; while when “custom, “arm” and “glass” are
30、 applied as attribute, what they express are different. When “man” and “woman” are used as attribute and their head words are in plural form, “man” and “woman” should be in their relevant plural form as well. For example,“men teachers”; “women doctors” When a noun attribute is in the name of some or
31、ganizations, the noun attribute should be in its plural form. Although this type does not accord with general rules, it does exist in real application. For example,“Trades Union Congress”; “United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization”; “The British Museum Prints and Drawings Gallery”; “Examinat
32、ions Board”; “Accounts Department” “Trade”, “nation”, “print and drawing”, “examination” and “account” are in the name of organizations, so they should be in plural form when they are applied as attribute. When a noun, which can be misunderstood when it is in its singular form, is used as attribute,
33、 this noun should be in its plural form. For example, “seconds hand” After the above analysis, a conclusion can be made that some plural nouns can be applied as attribute in our daily expressions. 2.2 Complex noun attribute Complex noun attribute means that two or more than two nouns serve as attrib
34、ute to modify a head word. It also can be explained with the pattern of noun attribute, “N1N2N3Nn+Nn+1” (“N” means noun, and “n” determines the number of nouns). When the number of noun is three or more than three (i.e. “n” is two or more than two), complex noun attribute is formed. With the develop
35、ment of English, noun attribute becomes popular, and is even applied in serious formal contract and agreement. To apply complex noun attribute can make the sentence succinct, economical and well-knit. For example,“The state teacher retirement fund” means “the fund of retirement for the teachers of t
36、he state”. “The income tax rate” means “the rate of tax on income”. “Fruit trees research station” means “the station for the research of fruit trees”.“Friday morning service” means “a service in the morning on Friday”. “State teacher retirement”, “income tax”, “fruit trees research” and “Friday mor
37、ning” are complex noun attributes which modify the head words “fund”, “rate”, “station” and “service”.3. Relationships 3.1 Internal relationship Internal relationship means the semantic relationship between noun attribute and modified head word. It can also be understood as the relationship between
38、“N1” and “N2”, or “N1N2” and “N3”.3.1.1 Subject and object The semantic relation between noun attribute and the modified head word is that noun attribute plays a role of subject, and the modified head word plays a role of object. For example, “School decision” means “school made the decision”. “The
39、volcano eruption” means “the volcano made the eruption”.“Parents suggestion” means “parents made the suggestion”. Attributes “school”, “volcano” and “parents” can be objects, while modified head words “decision”, “eruption” and “suggestion” can function as subject.3.1.2 Adverbial and predicate As in
40、 the following examples, the semantic relation is that noun attribute plays a role of adverbial, and the modified head word plays a role of predicate. In this structure, the majority of nouns which play the role of predicate are gerunds. “Impulse buying” means “buying on impulse”. “Panic running” me
41、ans “running with a panic”. The shown semantic relation is that nouns “impulse” and “panic” are used as attribute and these two noun attributes play a role of adverbial; while head words “buying” and “running” play a role of predicate. 3.1.3 Appositive “Member country” means “a country which is a me
42、mber”.“Killer shark” means “a shark which is a killer”.“Her doctor brother” means “her brother who is a doctor”. “His writer wife” means “his wife who is a writer”. Above examples show that noun attributes “member”, “killer”, “doctor” and “writer” play a role of appositive. 3.1.4 Object and subject
43、As in the following examples, the semantic relation is that noun attribute plays a role of object, while modified noun plays a role of subject.“An animal trainer” means “a person who trains animals”. “Drug addict” means “a person who is addicted to drug”. “Appointment secretary” means “secretary who
44、 arranges appointments”. “Animal”, “drug” and “appointment” are attributes and play a role of object, while head words “trainer”, “addict” and “secretary” play a role of subject. 3.2 External relationship In English, there are several forms of attribute to modify noun, such as noun, adjective, genit
45、ive case, prepositional phrase etc. So the external relationship refers to the relationships between noun attribute and several other forms of attribute; and here, the differences between them are mainly covered. 3.2.1 Noun attribute and adjective Generally speaking, noun is served to express the na
46、mes of people and things and can explain the modified head word; while adjective is used to describe the characteristics of people and things and can describe the modified head word. The difference between noun attribute and adjective is that noun has stronger limit of specification, while adjective
47、 has stronger description. For example, “An army officer” means “a person who serves in the army as an officer”.“His girl friend” means “his friend who is a girl”. “A gold ring” means “a ring which is made of gold”. “A new book” means “a book which is new”. “A large house” means “a house which is la
48、rge”. “A square cup” means “a cup which is square”. In order to specify “officer”, “friend” and “ring”, nouns “army”, “girl” and “gold” are applied as attribute. To describe “book”, “house” and “cup”, adjectives “new”, “large” and “square” are used as attribute.As in the following examples, one obvi
49、ous difference is that noun attribute only modifies noun, while adjective can modify noun and pronoun. “orange juice”; “time table” a green pen a green one a good dictionary a good one small apples small ones Noun attributes “orange” and “time” are used to modify noun. Adjectives “green”, “good” and “small
