the basic noun phrase in news headlines

THE BASIC NOUN PHRASE IN NEWS HEADLINES

I. Definitions
1. News Headline
“News is information about current events. This may be provided through many
different media: word of mouth, printing, postal systems, broadcasting, electronic
communication, and also on the testimony of observers and witnesses to events.
It is also used as a platform to manufacture opinion for the population.”
(Wikipedia)

“News is information that is punlished in newspapers and broadcast on radio and
television about recent events in the country or world or in a particular area of
activity.”
(Collins Dictionary)

“The headline is the text indicating the nature of the article below it. A headline's
purpose is to quickly and briefly draw attention to the story.”
(Wikipedia)

“A headline is the title of a newspaper story, printed in large letters at the top of
the story, especially on the front page. If a newspaper or magazine article is
headlined a particular thing, that is the headline that introduces it.”
(Collins Dictionary)

➢ In conclusion, a news headline is a very short summary of a news report,
which is printed in large letters at the top of story, quickly and briefly draw
the content of the main news story of the day.
2. The basic noun phrase


“A noun phrase is a phrase which has a noun (or pronoun) as its head word,

or which performs the same grammatical function as such a phrase. Noun
phrases often function as verb subjects and objects, as predicative expressions,
and as the complements of prepositions.”
(Wikipedia)

“The noun phrase typically functions as subject, object, complement of
sentences, and as complement in prepositional phrase.”
(Randolph Quirk, “A University Grammar of English”)

➢ In conclusion, a noun phrase is a group of word with a noun or a pronoun
as its head and other constituents as modifiers.
➢ The basic noun phrase is a phrase which has a noun as its head and other
constituents as determiners.
Examples:
(1). “Vietnam spends $5.71 billion on petro imports in first eight months”
(Vietnam News)

(2). “A disaster leaves a European infrastructure giant on edge”
(The Economist)

(3). “These companies really, really, really want to freeze your eggs”
(The New York Times)

II. Features of the basic noun phrase
1. Elements


Basic noun phrase

Determiners

Head

1.1. Head noun
Nouns are words that name people, places, things or ideas.
Noun is the most meaningful part of a noun phrase.
Noun is a obligatory constituent and the head of the noun phrase.
A head noun is the main noun that is modified by other elements (determiners) in
a noun phrase.
The head noun is the central element and core component of the basic noun
phrase.
Examples:
(1). “A few companies are bitcoining it.”
Post-det

head
(The Economist)

(2). “The last two video-game fads show off a DIY ethic.”
Det

Post-det

head
(The Economist)

(3). Many results are shaky in microeconomics.
Post-det head
(The Economist)

(4) “The race is on to dominate quantum computing”
Det

head
(The Economist)

(5). “Six muddles about share buy-backs”
Post-det head
(The Economist)

(6) “The world’s three biggest makers hit a snag”
Det

post-det

head
(The Economist)

(7) “Germany’s two biggest utilities strike a deal”
Det

post-det

head
(The Economist)

(8) “All the buzz at AI’s big shindig”
Pre-det det head
(The Economist)

1.2. Determiners
The determiner is an important noun modifier which give more informations
about the noun and put it into a context, often in terms of quantity and
possession. Determiners in English precede a noun or noun phrase and include
articles, demonstratives, quantifiers and possessives.


In grammar, determiner is a word that is used before a noun to show which
particular example of the noun you are referring to.
Examples:
(1). The best way to Staff Your Business
Det

head
(Business)

(2) Four reasons to invest in the Gig Economy
det

head
(Business)

Determiners

Pre-determiners

Central Determiners

Post-determiners

1.2.1. Pre-determiners

Multiplying
expressions
Fraction

Twice, double, ten times
One-third, two-fifth, threequarter, ..

Twice my salary
Double my salary
One-third my salary


Another
type

All, half, both

Both of them
Half my cake

Example:
“Smarter Not Harder: How to double your output in half

the

time

pre-det det

head
(Business.com)

Exercise: Find the pre-determiners and the head in the sentence below:
“Double duty for Jack Dorsey: Is it possible to successfully run two companies?”
(Business.com)

1.2.2. Central determiners
Traditionally, the determiner which appears in the middle is called a central
determiner, the one in front a pre-determiner and the one following a postdeterminer.
(Cambridge Dictionary)


Central Determiners

Possessive:
My, her, his,
their, our…

Article: the, a,
an

Demonstratives:
these, that, this,
those.

Some, any,
each, either,

every…

Possessive: In grammar, a possessive word, form, etc. shows who or what
something belongs to
Example:
(1) “2018 IoT Trends and

their

effects on GDPR”

Possessive head
(Business.com)

(2) “Change is our chance to reinvest in professional learning”
Possessive head
(Business.com)

Article:
Articles are among the most common of the determiners.
A, an, and the all express the definiteness and specificity of a noun.
Examples:
(1) “5 Ways to Start the Mental Health Conversation in Creative Industries


Definite article

head
(Business.com)

(2) “How Starting

a

indefinite article

business is similar to starting a marriage”
head
(Business.com)

Demonstratives:
- In grammar, it shows which person or thing is being referred to.
- That, this, these, those are three types of demonstratives
Examples:
(1) “Free SEO courses you should sign up for this summer
singular
(Business)

(2) “Business Insurance Demystified: consider these policies”
plural
(Business.com)

Other cases: Some, any, either, much, etc
Examples:
(1) “Woods: 'I didn't make any putts this week”
Cen-det
(The New York Times)

(2) "Hidden Business Gems for the every entrepreneur
PreD CenD

Head
(Business.com)


1.2.3. Post-determiners
Traditionally, this group of quantifiers are known as post-determiners as
they always follow other determiners (which are sometimes called central
determiners).

Post-determiners

Cardinal
numerals

Ordinal numerals

Closed-system
quantifiers

Opened-system
quantifiers

Cardinal numerals: apart from one which can co-occur only with singular count
nouns, all cardinal numerals (two, three, ...) co-occur only with plural count
nouns.
Examples:
(1) “The two factors influencing online sales: trust and authority”
Cen-det Post-det

Head
(Business)

(2) “Three questions you need to ask to drive successful sales conversations”
Post-det

Head


(Business)

Ordinal numerals: In addition to the ordinals which have one-for-one relation
with the cardinals (fourth- four, twentieth- twenty), we consider here items like
next, last, (an) other, additional, which resemble them grammatically and
semantically. Ordinal numerals, except first, co-occur only with count nouns.
Examples:
(1) “How Vivaldi used feedback to get 700,000 downloads in their first two weeks
Det post-det

head

(Business)

(2) “Be prepared: make paying ransomware the last resort”
(Business)

Close-system quantifiers
- Before count Ns: many, a(few), several.
- Before non-count Ns: much, (a) little.
Example:

“A

few
Det

words about coaches”
Post-det

Head
(Business)

Open-system quantifiers:
- Include: plenty of, a lot of, lots of, a great of, a large of, etc.
- Verbs have number concord with the second nouns, not the quality nouns ( lot,
deal, lost, plenty, etc).
Example:


“Leadership means lots of massages”
Post-det

Head
(Business)

Exercise 1. Identify the elements of each noun phrase in these sentences below:
1. (Many buildings) were destroyed in the earthquake.
2. (All her colleagues) are married.
3. Did you know (both his brother) had emigrated to New Zealand?
4. For years (the house) had no electricity.
5. He did it in (one-third (of) the time) it took me

6. He published (his first two novels)
7. There was (a lot of food) on the table
KEY:
1. (Many buildings) were destroyed in the earthquake.
Cen-det
2. (All
Pre-det

head

her

colleagues) are married.

cen-det

head

3. Did you know (both
Pre-det

his

brother) had emigrated to New Zealand?

cen-det

head

4. For years (the house) had no electricity.

Cen-det head
5. He did it in (one-third (of) the
Pre-det cen-det

time) it took me
head

6. He published (his first two novels)
Cen-det post-det head


7. There was (a lot of food) on the table
Post-det head

2. Functions of basic noun phrase
2.1. Subject
Noun phrases first function as the subject of clauses. A subject is a word,
phrase, or clause which performs the action of or acts upon the verb. Clauses
contain both a subject and a predicate. Although other grammatical forms can
function as the subject of clauses, nouns and noun phrases most frequently
perform the function.
Examples:
(1). “Many results are shaky in microeconomics.”
(The Economist, July 2018)

(2). “The two biggest factors Influencing Online Sales: Trust and Authority”
(Business Insider, June 2018)

2.2. Subject Complement
Noun phrases secondly function as subject complements. A subject

complement is a word, phrase, or clause that follows a copular verb and
describes the subject. Copular verbs are also called linking and state-of-being
verbs and include verbs like be, become, and seem.
Examples:
(1) “Leadership means lots of massages.”


(Business)

(2) “Entrepreneurship is lots of hard work”
(Business Insider, April 2018)

2.3. Direct Object
Noun phrases can also function as direct objects. A direct object is a word,
phrase, or clause that follows a transitive verb and answers the question "who?"
or "what?" receives the action of the verb.
Examples:
(1). “Vingroup and NAPAS offer a promotion for Vinmart”
(Vietnam News August 2018)

(2). “FWD celebrates the 5th anniversary”.
(Vietnam News July 2018)

2.4. Object Complement
Similar to subject complements, nouns and noun phrases can function as
object complements. An object complement is a word, phrase, or clause that
directly follows and describes the direct object.
Example:
(1). “GAF elected Vietnam their chair”
(Vietnamnet June 2018)

2.5. Indirect Object
Noun phrases can also function as indirect objects. An indirect object is a
word, phrase, or clause that follows a ditransitive verb and answers the question
"to or for whom?" or "to or for what" is the action of the verb performed.
Examples:


(1). “Dutch government lends the government 11.9 billion euros”
(Centraal Bureal voor Statistiek, Feb 2018)

(2). “Facebook's CEO and wife give their foundation 99 percent of shares”
(Thanh Nien News, May 2018)

2.6. Prepositional Complement
Noun phrases function as prepositional complements. A prepositional
complement is a word, phrase, or clause that directly follows the preposition in a
prepositional phrase. Prepositional complements are also called complements of
prepositions and objects of prepositions.
Examples:
(1). “Why do people move to these nation?”
(Reuters March 13, 2018)

(2). Tzipi Hotovely: Iran should 'stay away' from the conflicts”.
(BBC News May 10, 2018)

2.7. Noun Phrase Modifier
Although adjectives are traditionally defined as words that describe nouns,
nouns and noun phrases can function as noun phrase modifiers. A noun phrase
modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that describes another noun or noun

phrase.
Examples:
(1) Two Trade Wars Worries Iowa Republicans in a Close House Race
(The New York Times Aug.17, 2018)

(2) Many Commerce secretaries face scrutiny for investments, not selling certain
holdings


(The Washington Post Aug.17, 2018)

(3) Every fare rises enrages rail commuters 'in this terrible mess'
(The Guardian Aug.15, 2018)

2.8. Determinatives
Like other determiners, noun phrases can also function as determinatives. A
determinative is a noun or noun phrase plus the possessive clitic (apostrophe s
or s apostrophe) that indicates possession of or some other relationship to
another noun or noun phrase.
Examples:
(1). Google Incorporation's New Office Complex Will Use a Massive Heat
Pump Instead of Fuel
(Fortune Jan.25, 2018)

(2). US Army’s future missile defense battle manager put to test in multidomain
ops
(Defense News Aug.16, 2018)

Noun phrases functioning as determinatives can simultaneously function as
subject complements.

Examples:
(1). More than half of the works in France's Terrus Museum is not the country’s.
(National Graphic July 12, 2018)

(2). The strange gun found in Yellowstone Park is a guardian’s.
(BBC News April 25, 2018)


2.9. Appositive
Noun phrases also function as appositives. An appositive is a word, phrase,
or clause that modifies or explains another noun or noun phrase.
Examples:
(1). Apple, Iphone X’s producer, reveals its future plans.
(The Wall Street Journal July 9, 2018)

(2). Stephen Hawking, 21st century’s physicist, dies aged 76.
(The Guardian March 14, 2018)

(3). Jayalalithaa, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, passes away.
(The Hindu Jan.29, 2018)

2.10. Adverbial
Finally, nouns and noun phrases can function as adverbials. An adverbial is a
word, phrase, or clause that describes an entire clause by providing information
such as time, place, manner, condition, reason, or purpose. Adverbials answers
such questions as "when?" "where?" "why?" and "how?".
Examples:
(1). S&P 500 nears record high this week.
(The Financial Times Aug.18, 2018)

(2). Netflix suffers a big wobble this quarter.
(The Economist July 19, 2018)

Exercise: Match the basic noun phrase in column A with its function in
column B.


A

B

1. This book is very boring.

a. Prepositional complement

2. Van Toan kicked the ball.

b. Subject

3. He gives his lover a broken

c. Subject complement

heart.

d. Direct object

4. He is my sweatheart.

e. Object complement

5. We elected you our leader.

f. Indirect object

6. I live in this house.

KEY: 1-b ; 2-d ; 3-f ; 4-c ; 5-e ; 6-a

III. The basic noun phrase in News headlines
1. Figures
From 300 news headlines that have been researched, there are only 90 ones
which have basic noun phrase.


The frequency of using basic noun phrases in
business's news headlines

30%

news headlines which have basic
noun phrases
total news headlines

70%

➢ In business news headlines, the basic noun phrase are not frequently
used.
2. Element
In one basic noun phrase:

- There are only 20 percent of pre-determiners used in which “all” and “half”
are two pre-determiners which appear most in news headlines.
- Post-determiners account for 10 percent. According to research, the cardinal
numerals occupy the highest rate in the role of post-determiners in one basic
noun phrase with 6 in the total 9 basic noun pharses which have postdeterminers. The next higher rate is ordinal numerals and other types.
- Central determiners make up 70 percent with 63 in total 90 basic noun
phrases have this element. Most of the central determiners appeared in basic
noun phrase are articles and demonstratives with over 50 headlines.


In conclusion, central determiners make up the largest proportion in the formation
of a basic noun phrase that is used in News headlines.

The frequency of use of Pre-determiners, Central Determiners
and Post-determiners in one basic noun phrase
80
70
60
50
40

30
20
10
0
Pre-determiners

3. Functions

Central determiners

Post-determiners


FUNCTIONS OF THE BASIC NOUN PHARSE IN
SURVEYED NEWS HEADLINES
Other functions
13%

Subject
23%

Prepositional
complement
9%

Indirect object
11%
Subject complement
19%
Object complement
7%
Direct object
18%

Of 90 noun phrases spotted in 300 headlines, there are 22 noun phrases
playing the role of subjects, 18 noun phrases functioning as subject
complements, 11 noun phrases acting as direct objects, 7 noun phrases playing
the role of object complements, 11 noun phrases functioning as indirect objects,
9 noun phrases performing the function of prepositional complements and 12

noun phrases acting as modifiers, determinatives, appositives and adverbials in
total.
The pie chart presents information on the proportion of each function that
noun phrases play. As can be easily seen, subject is the major funtion that is
performed, constituting 23 percent of all 90 noun phrases. In the second and
third positions, subject complement and direct objects account for 19 percent and
18 percent, respectively. By contrast, object complement is the least frequent


function that noun phrases fulfil with only seven percent of all 90 headlines.
Meanwhile, prepositional complement, indirect object and other functions are
performed on a moderate basis of frequency with the percentage being 9, 11 and
12, respectively.
Overall, subject is evidently the most significant function that basic noun phrases
perform whereas object complement is the least important one.