Expanded noun phrases

Add adjectives and prepositional phrases to nouns to make richer descriptions, for example 'the tall, friendly man with a hat'.

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Try each question. If you're stuck, leave it and come back. The answer key is on the last page.

1
Which one is an expanded noun phrase? A) the dog B) the small, brown dog with a red collar C) ran quickly D) she was happy
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2
Add an adjective to expand the noun phrase: 'the ___ cat sat on the mat' (choose a colour). the ___ cat sat on the mat
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3
Expand 'the dragon' by adding the adjective 'fierce': 'the ___ dragon'. the ___ dragon
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4
Which is an expanded noun phrase? A) a dog B) a fluffy white dog C) ran fast D) the
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5
Build the expanded noun phrase that describes a kind teacher with glasses. Arrange these words: teacher, the, kind, with, glasses
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6
Which adjective expands this noun phrase best: 'a ___ castle on the hill'? A) quickly B) huge C) ran D) happily
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7
Arrange the words to make an expanded noun phrase about a shiny bike. Arrange these words: bike, shiny, new, a
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8
Which part of 'the old man with the brown coat' is a prepositional phrase? A) the old man B) old C) with the brown coat D) man
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9
Build this expanded noun phrase: a giant, fluffy cloud in the sky. Arrange these words: cloud, sky, a, fluffy, in, giant, the
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10
Which expanded noun phrase describes a school building? A) ran quickly B) a tall red-brick building with many windows C) after school D) the children
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Answer key

Expanded noun phrases · for parents and teachers

1
the small, brown dog with a red collar
'The small, brown dog with a red collar' adds adjectives (small, brown) and a prepositional phrase (with a red collar) to the noun 'dog'.
2
black
Adding an adjective like 'black' turns 'the cat' into the expanded noun phrase 'the black cat'.
3
fierce
'The fierce dragon' is an expanded noun phrase with the adjective 'fierce' describing the noun 'dragon'.
4
a fluffy white dog
'A fluffy white dog' has a determiner, two adjectives, and a noun - it is expanded.
5
the kind teacher with glasses
'The kind teacher with glasses' expands the noun 'teacher' with the adjective 'kind' and the phrase 'with glasses'.
6
huge
'Huge' is an adjective that describes the castle. 'Quickly' and 'happily' are adverbs and 'ran' is a verb.
7
a shiny new bike
'A shiny new bike' expands the noun 'bike' with two adjectives.
8
with the brown coat
'With the brown coat' begins with the preposition 'with' and adds extra information about the man.
9
a giant fluffy cloud in the sky
'A giant, fluffy cloud in the sky' expands 'cloud' with adjectives and a prepositional phrase.
10
a tall red-brick building with many windows
This expanded noun phrase uses adjectives and a prepositional phrase.