Level 1 — Foundation · Sentence Accuracy
Task 3: Writing Noun Phrases and Verb Phrases as Units
Build a noun phrase around a head noun and a verb phrase around a main verb, including a helping verb and a passive form — producing the same chunks Lesson 3 teaches you to spot while reading.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this task, you should be able to:
- Build a noun phrase with a determiner, an adjective, and a head noun
- Build a verb phrase with a helping verb plus a main verb
- Write one sentence using a passive verb phrase correctly
Introduction
Lesson 3 taught you to find the head noun buried inside a long noun phrase, and to read a helping verb plus a main verb as one unit. Writing them is the reverse skill: build the phrase up around its head, instead of stripping it back down to find one.
Building Both Kinds of Phrase
Core Concept
A noun phrase grows around its head noun: start with strategies, then add a determiner and an adjective in front — the effective strategies — and a prepositional phrase after — the effective strategies of the team. The head noun (strategies) never changes; only the material around it grows.
A verb phrase grows around its main verb: start with developed, then add a helping verb in front — has developed — or a modal — should have developed. The passive form adds be plus a past participle: the strategies were developed — here the action is done to the strategies, so no one performing the action needs to be named.
Your Turn
Your Turn
Write four sentences about a project or task you know well: one using a noun phrase with at least one adjective before the head noun, one using a verb phrase with a helping verb (has/have + past participle), one using a modal + verb phrase (can/should/must + verb), and one using the passive voice (is/was + past participle).
Vocabulary in Context
head nounnountechnical
the single core noun a whole noun phrase is built around (মূল বিশেষ্য)
Often with identify the head noun, head noun of the phrase, single head noun
“In 'the new cargo-handling equipment', 'equipment' is the head noun.”
past participlenountechnical
the verb form used after have or be, such as finished or written (অতীত কৃদন্ত)
Often with form the past participle, past participle after have, regular past participle
“'Approved' is the past participle in 'The plan has been approved'.”
Model Answer
Show a model answer
The busy port handled several large vessels this week.
The team has finished the monthly cargo report.
We should check the container numbers again before signing off.
The shipment was delayed by heavy weather offshore.
Self-Check
Self-Check
- Can you point to the head noun in your noun-phrase sentence, and name every word attached to it?
- Does your helping-verb sentence use exactly have/has + past participle, not a mix of tenses?
- In your passive sentence, is the thing receiving the action the subject, with no need to name who did it?
Next: Writing 4 — joining a main clause to a dependent clause with a reason, a time, or a condition, following Lesson 4.