A noun modifier, also known as an attributive noun or noun adjunct, is a noun used attributively to modify or qualify another noun, but in a different way than an adjective.
Example
Explanation
Meet me at the railway station.
Railway is a noun used as a modifier to describe what kind of station it is.
Usage
Rule 1: We can use two nouns together to show that one thing is a part of something else, whereas the first noun is called a noun modifier.
Example
Explanation
She found the keys in her coat pocket.
Coat pocket are two nouns together, where coat is a noun modifier used to show that a pocket is a part of a coat.
Note: We don't use the possessive case to show that one thing is a part of something else.
Example
Explanation
Incorrect: coat's pocket
Correct: coat pocket
Coat's pocket is the possessive case which is incorrect form in this case.
Rule 2: We can use noun modifiers to describe the material something is made of.
Example
Explanation
He brought all the groceries in a paper bag.
Paper is a noun modifier that show that the bag with the groceries is made of it.
Rule 3: We often use noun modifiers with nouns ending with -er.
Example
Explanation
Can you pass me that potato peeler, please?
Potato is a noun modifier used to modify the noun peeler ending with -er.
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Rule 4: We often use nouns ending with -ing as noun modifiers.
Example
Explanation
It's my first driving lesson.
Driving is a noun ending with -ing used as a noun modifier to describe the type of lesson.
Rule 5: We can use measurements, age, or value as noun modifiers.
Example
Explanation
He is a 15-year-old boy.
15-year-old shows the age and is used as a noun modifier to describe the boy.
Placement
Rule 6: We place noun modifiers after adjectives but before the nouns they modify in a sentence.
Example
Explanation
We have many productive team members working on this project.
Team is used as a noun modifier to modify the noun members and comes after the adjective productive.
Modifiers: Singular or Plural?
Rule 7: Almost always, the noun that acts as the modifier is in the singular form.
Example
Explanation
I'll meet you outside the railway station.
The noun railway is singular and acts as a modifier for the noun station.
Plural-Only Nouns as Modifiers
Rule 8: If we use nouns that are always used in plural forms (such as shoes, glasses, gloves, etc.) as a modifier for another noun, we have to use them in the singular form.
Example
Explanation
His shoe size is 44.
Shoe is a singular form of the normally plural word shoes used to modify the noun size.
Quiz
1/4
Find a noun modifier in a sentence. My grandfather was a newspaper seller.
0
correct answers.