in grammar, a noun phrase (abbreviated NP) is a phrase whose head is a noun or a pronoun, optionally

accompanied by a set of modifiers.[1]

Noun phrases are very common cross-linguistically, but some languages like Tuscarora and Cayuga
have been argued[by whom?] to lack this category.

in English grammar, a noun phrase has three components:

The head
is the hub, the center of attraction (as it were) of the noun phrase; it is the noun or pronoun around
which the other parts gather together.[1] The head determines concord with the portion of the sentence
outside the noun phrase.[1] Thus:
The change in the Asian economies is unprecedented.
The changes in Japan's economy are most unexpected.
Premodification
consists of all the words place before the head. These words are usually determiners, adjectives and
nouns
Example Determiner Adjective Adjective phrase Noun Head
That sophisticated city woman That sophisticated city woman
Many honest down-and-out small-town businessmen Many honest down-and-out small-
town businessmen

Postmodification
comprises words in the noun phrase that follow the head. These words usually consist of prepositional
phrases, nonfinite clauses, and relative clauses.

Example Postmodification Category

The talkative man in the center of the room in the center of the room prepositional phrase
All the women walking on the bike path walking on the bike path non-finite clause
The house that I purchased for my third husband that I purchased for my third husband
restrictive relative clause
The house, which my partner and I bought a month after we met which my partner and I bought a
month after we met non-restrictive relative clause

There can also be adjectival post-modification:

Corruption aplenty ("aplenty" (adjective); corruption (head)). Thus: Corruption aplenty, in every
unsurprising form, graced the occasion

Modification is a somewhat technical term in linguistics. It does not mean to change something, as when we
"modify" a car or dress. To modify means to limit, restrict, characterize, or otherwise focus meaning. We use this
meaning throughout the discussion here.

Modifiers before the noun are called pre-modifiers. All of the pre-modifiers that are present and the
noun together form a noun phrase .

The most common pre-modifiers are adjectives, such as red , long , hot . Other types of words often play this
same role. Not only articles but also verbs, and possessive pronouns.

We were all taught about pre -modifiers: adjectives appearing before a noun in school. Teachers rarely speak
as much about adding words after the initial reference. Just as we find pre -modifiers, we also find post
-modifiers—modifiers coming after a noun