Conservation Conversation
Posted by pakguru on March 2nd, 2018 | 0 comments | grammar, IELTS, nominalisation, noun noun, nouns, pre-modification, speaking, writing
Zoos are good places for animals conservation.
- Me
- This is an example of a noun pre-modifying another noun.
- You
- Say what?!
- Me
- Well, sometimes we have to consider how nouns function within a larger noun phrase.
- You
- Come again?!
- Me
- Well, animal is a noun, and conservation is a noun, but together they form a noun phrase: animal conservation.
- You
- So what’s the problem then, Pak Guru?
- Me
- Well, in this example, the ‘main’ noun is conservation.
- You
- What do you mean main noun?
- Me
- Well, in this example, are you saying that zoos are good for animals or good for conservation?
- You
- For.. conservation!
- Me
- Right, so conservation is the main noun.
- You
- I see, so what’s wrong with animals?
- Me
- OK, well in the example animals is pre-modifying conservation. ‘Pre’ means ‘before’ – the word ‘animals’ comes before the word ‘conservation’, right?
- You
- Wait. Did you say ‘modifying’? What’s that?!
- Me
- Well, the word animals changes (modifies) the word conservation – it tells us exactly what kind of conservation.
- You
- OK. But I still don’t see what is wrong with the original sentence.
- Me
- The problem is.. If you use a countable noun to pre-modify another noun, then that modifying noun (in this case animal) must be singular.
- You
- I see. Like ‘Computer scientist?’
- Me
- Yes!
- You
- OK got it!
The featured image for this post is a photograph of the man who has done more than any other to conserve wildlife, the incredible David Attenborough – here conversing with orang utan.
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