ABSTRACT
The noun phrase consists of a noun and those items which accompany or modify it. The overall structure of a simple noun phrase is thus similar to the English, with the difference that a noun classifier is required in many contexts. When the noun phrase is a subject or a topicalized object, the presence of a classifier denotes a definite person or object. A demonstrative noun phrase is often used in apposition to a noun, a time or place expression. In fact, the types of phrases that can have an apposition relation with a demonstrative noun phrase are quite versatile. In general, whenever a noun phrase refers to a specific object, it is accompanied by the classifier. Unlike in Mandarin, the classifier and noun may be used without any demonstrative adjective or numeral. Relative clauses in Chinese have the reverse order of the English: the head noun comes at the end, as in all noun phrases.
