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* one of consecutive nouns may be acting as an | * one type of consecutive nouns may be a noun acting as a modifier, as if an adjective (but not one) | ||
* such nouns are called "attributive" nouns | * such nouns are called "attributive" nouns | ||
** also called " | ** also called "adjunct" (supporting of) nouns or "apposite" (related to) | ||
* attributive nouns modify or qualify another noun | * attributive nouns modify or qualify another noun | ||
** modify = change or add to the meaning of | ** modify = change or add to the meaning of | ||
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* ex.: "dog food" | * ex.: "dog food" | ||
** i.e.: "dog food" = "a type of food that is for dogs" | ** i.e.: "dog food" = "a type of food that is for dogs" | ||
** "dog" thereby indicates | ** "dog" thereby indicates an attribute, or type or characteristic, of "food" | ||
* example of multiple objects + a attributive nouns: | * example of multiple objects + a attributive nouns: | ||
** "The pitcher threw the batter a hardball pitch" | ** "The pitcher threw the batter a hardball pitch" | ||
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* strict grammatical terms does now apply the "attributive" label for "adjective homograph" nouns (such as "iron" or "paper") or "compounds" or "open compounds" | * strict grammatical terms does now apply the "attributive" label for "adjective homograph" nouns (such as "iron" or "paper") or "compounds" or "open compounds" | ||
** see https://www.merriam-webster.com/help/explanatory-notes/dict-attributive-nouns | ** see https://www.merriam-webster.com/help/explanatory-notes/dict-attributive-nouns | ||
* attributive nouns are not adjectives | |||
** the only syntactic form of an adjective that the attributive noun employs is the "prepositive" position | |||
*** i.e., preceding the noun it modifies | |||
**** ''big dog'', ''small house'' | |||
** attributive nouns cannot operate as post-positive adjectives (following the noun): | |||
*** whereas an adjective can be a subject complement: | |||
**** ''boring meeting'' >> ''the meeting is boring'' | |||
*** ''dog food'' >> ''food dog'' or ''business meeting'' >> ''meeting business'' << don't work | |||
** attributive nouns cannot operate as subject complements (as do adjectives) | |||
*** ''the food is dog'' or ''the meeting is business'' << don't work | |||
** attributive nouns cannot take on a comparative form (as do adjectives) | |||
*** whereas nouns can go from ''big'' to ''bigger'' | |||
**** ''big test'' >> ''bigger test'' | |||
*** attributive nouns cannot: ''businesser meeting'' << doesn't work | |||
* see also additional entry on | * see also additional entry on | ||
** "appositive phrase" | ** "appositive phrase" | ||
** '''compound noun''' | ** '''compound noun''' | ||
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** [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noun_adjunct Noun adjunct (wiki)] | ** [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noun_adjunct Noun adjunct (wiki)] | ||
** [http://myenglishgrammar.com/lesson-12-modifiers/4-nouns-as-modifiers.html Nouns as Modifiers (meg.com)] | ** [http://myenglishgrammar.com/lesson-12-modifiers/4-nouns-as-modifiers.html Nouns as Modifiers (meg.com)] | ||