What are noun modifiers?

1. What are noun modifiers? • A noun modifier is a noun which is placed before another noun to modify its meaning: a table leg, a desktop computer, a London taxi, a Lady Gaga song, a 1962 Cadillac, the school principal, on Friday night, spring weather, Congonhas airport • In such cases, the first noun is functioning as an adjective and therefore must normally be SINGULAR: sales of iPads > iPad sales, prices of houses > house prices, the abuse of children > child abuse , the pocket of my trousers > my trouser pocket

2. Plural nouns as modifiers • The noun modifier may be plural when it is a plural-only noun: the arms race, a goods train, Eighties music • or when it refers to the department of a company: the sales manager, the complaints desk, the accounts department • or where confusion could arise: the pocket of my shorts > my shorts pocket (NOT: my short pocket)

3. Spelling of noun + noun combinations Noun + noun combinations may be spelled as follows: • as one word: tablecloth, seafood, bullfight • with a hyphen: fridge-freezer • as two words: air force, home room, water cooler • Consult a good, UP-TO-DATE dictionary

4. Exercise 1 • ocontrabando de armamentos • Pousamos no aeroporto de Moscou. • Vivemdacriação de galinhas. • Os preços do petróleo subiram muito. • Você foi ao show do Paul McCartney? • a queda nas vendas de livros • o meu estojo de óculos • o feriadão de Corpus Christi • a programação de domingo à tarde do SBT • a gaveta de tesouras

5. When can I put one noun in front of another? • when the combination is lexicalized (i.e. so well established that it appears in the dictionary): tennis shoes, chewing gum, tablet computer • when the combination of words is very common and easily understandable: firework display, speed record, food prices, air travel • once a combination has been established within a text, to avoid repetition

6. Practice Text A crescente demanda por energia nas economias emergentes vem exercendo grande pressão na capacidade mundial instalada de extração de petróleo. Por esse motivo, os altos preços dos combustíveis fósseis no mercado internacional não devem recuar num futuro previsível. Nesse contexto, a preocupação com a questão energética está na ordem do dia e a busca por alternativas aos combustíveis fósseis vem assumindo um papel de destaque no processo decisório dos países e em suas políticas públicas na área energética.O Brasil tem muito a contribuir para essa discussão, pois é detentor de importante conhecimento acumulado na área de biocombustíveis, em particular no uso de etanol de cana-de-açúcar como combustível automotivo. A matriz energética brasileira é uma das mais limpas do mundo e, atualmente, mais de 45% de toda a energia consumida no país provém de fontes renováveis, ao passo que a média de participação dessas fontes na matriz energética dos países desenvolvidos é de cerca de 10%. Isso se traduz em nítida vantagem para a posição do país no contexto atual, em que as preocupações com a segurança energética e com o meio ambiente têm levado diversos países a buscar alternativas aos combustíveis fósseis e a tentar implementar iniciativas para reduzir suas emissões de gases geradores de efeito estufa (GEE).

7. Referring back to a noun which has been mentioned previously (1) • Definite reference To refer back to a specific noun which has already been mentioned, we use personal pronouns: singular male animate noun > he/him singular female animate noun > she/her singular inanimate noun > it plural noun > they/them

8. Exercise 2 • Gostou do meuvestido novo? Compreiontem. • Aquelasflores são lindas. São orquídeas. • O cachorro era muito grande. Achei melhor não chegar perto dele. • Temos uma cadelinha. Ela se chama Trixie. • Pode ficar com essa revista, já li tudo. • Rasguei as fotos e joguei no lixo. • No começo, eu estranhava a comida aqui, mas já me acostumei. • O seu táxi está a caminho. É um Meriva branco. • “Você gostou do filme?” – “Achei meio longo.” • Ele abriu um pacote de castanha-de-caju e comeu tudo.

9. Referring back to a noun which has been mentioned previously (2) 2. Indefinite reference To refer back to a noun of a similar type to one already mentioned, we use: to refer to a singular countable noun > one to refer to an uncountable or plural noun > some NB: any is used instead of some in negative sentences and questions

10. Exercise 3 • Tem maçã na geladeira. Quer? • Preciso de graxa de sapato. Você tem? • Seria melhor pôr uma calça comprida, mas eu não trouxe. • Ali vendem flores. Vou comprar para a minha mãe. • Você gosta de canja? Vou fazer para nós. • Eu queria comprar morango, mas não achei na feira. • Não tenho carro ainda, mas pretendo comprar ano que vem. • Temos sorvete. Quer? • Espero que você esteja com dinheiro aí, porque eu saí de casa sem. • Se você precisar de uma meia, eu te empresto.

11. Referring back to a noun which has been mentioned previously (3) 3. with adjectives • Referring back to a singular countable noun > one That plate is rather small, I think we’re going to need a bigger one. I like the red sweater, but I prefer this blue one. • Referring back to a plural noun > ones I bought some new sneakers, but I still wear my old ones. We should replace these forms of transport with environmentally friendly ones. NB: one(s) optional after own, superlatives and ordinal numbers • Referring back to an uncountable noun > adjective alone or repeat noun: Brazilian beef is better than Argentinian It is much better to wash clothes in hot water than in cold. Brazilian culture is extremely diverse, while Argentinian culture is more uniform. White bread contains refined flour and more fat, so it is healthier to eat brown.

12. Exercise 4 • É mais fácil implementar reformas econômicas do que sociais. • Prefiro o trabalho manual ao intelectual. • Gostei de todos os livros de Harry Potter, mas o último é o melhor. • A história brasileira começa no ano 1500; a britânica bem antes disso. • “Que bala gostosa!” – “Quer outra?” • Essas roupas são minhas, as outras são suas. • Em vez de ir à praia com os outros, decidi deitar na rede e ler um livro. • Os jeans da Calvin Klein são bem mais caros do que os comuns.

13. Referring back to a noun which has been mentioned previously (4) 4. with possessives • ‘s genitive can be used on its own • one(s) may be added in informal speech when referring back to a countable noun: That’s not John’s car – John’s (one) is red. Those curtains are just like my parents’ (ones). • one cannot be used to refer back to an uncountable noun Scotland’s history is quite different from England’s Is a mother’s love stronger than a father’s? • with of • the one(s) of is used in spoken language for countables: These windows are bigger than the ones of my house. • that/those used in written language: Scotland’s history is quite different from that of England Girls’ grades are far higher than those of boys.

14. Referring back to a noun which has been mentioned previously (5) 5. with relative clauses the one(s) (who/that/which...) is used in less formal language for countable nouns: I like your shoes – they’re nicer than the ones I’m wearing. That cat’s black. The one that lives next door is white. in more formal language, use that/those (who/that/which) The shoes in Brazil are better quality than those you find in other countries. This study is more detailed than that which was done last year. that which is also used for uncountables – it sounds formal and is usually replaced in speech by what: The coffee grown in Brazil is milder than that which is grown in Africa. The meat in this supermarket is better than what they sell at Carrefour. Some say that a mother’s love is stronger than what a father feels.

15. Exercise 5 • O trânsito de São Paulo é pior do que o de Londres. • O banheiro das mulheres fica à esquerda, o dos homens à direita. • As estradas do Brasil estão em pior estado de conservação do que as de muitos outros países. • A área do Estado de São Paulo é maior do que a da Suíça. • A cor da parede é igual à do carpete. • Já passei as nossas roupas e as das crianças. • Você pode me dar o nome dos alunos que fizeram a prova e dos que não fizeram? • A comida desse restaurante é muito melhor do que a que servem naquele do lado. • Não há nenhuma diferença de sabor entre o trigo orgânico e o que foi geneticamente modificado. • Olhe os CDs e escolha os que quer ouvir.

16. Novidades no Ar Você que precisa ou gosta de viajar, anote aí na agenda: o ministro Nelson Jobim prometeu ao presidente, diante de um punhado de ministros e de chefões de estatais, que em um mês vai apresentar um plano para diferenciar as taxas aeroportuárias dos vôos internacionais, reduzindo as dos vôos para a América do Sul. A reunião foi na quarta, 25/06. O plano, com uns diazinhos de colher de chá para o ministro, tem de sair da promessa para o papel até 31 de julho. Ele concordou plenamente com o presidente Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, com a ministra Dilma Rousseff (Casa Civil) e com os representantes do Itamaraty em que não é razoável o sujeito que viaja para Buenos Aires, aqui ao lado, pagar a mesma taxa que o outro que vai para Tóquio, do outro lado do mundo. Hoje, a taxa de embarque internacional é unificada em US$ 36 (em torno de R$ 60) no Rio e em São Paulo. Proporcionalmente, significa que o passageiro para Buenos Aires morre às vezes em até um quarto da passagem para pagar a taxa, enquanto o que vai para Tóquio só paga 2%. Como a política externa brasileira repete feito papagaio que a prioridade é a América do Sul, o mínimo que se espera são estímulos e privilégios para a comunicação, inclusive física, entre os países da região. A taxa unificada é o antiestímulo. E há vários outros. Quer ver? Como justificar que o cidadão argentino, paraguaio ou venezuelano tenha de enfrentar as mesmas filas dos europeus e norte-americanos no Galeão ou em Cumbica? E como falar em integração, com tantas escalas e conexões para voar de qualquer canto do Brasil para Quito ou Bogotá? Com o duopólio da TAM e da Gol, é hora de facilitar e incentivar a criação de companhias e de vôos regionais, inclusive com subsídios (palavrinha que o pessoal da economia odeia...) Aliás, vôos regionais não só para fora, mas também dentro do próprio país. O desemprego cai, a renda aumenta, e o brasileiro (inclusive do Norte e do Centro-Oeste, muito mal assistido) quer e agora pode viajar. Que haja ofertas de vôo para ele. E com preços acessíveis, claro.

17. Use of the Definite Article 1 1A Love is a beautiful thing. 1B The love is a beautiful thing. 2A The apples are good for your health. 2B Apples are good for your health. 3A The Brazilian society is characterized by the diversity. 3B Brazilian society is characterized by diversity.

18. Use of the Definite Article 2 4A All children like sweets. 4B All children like the sweets. 4C All the children like sweets. 4D All the children like the sweets. 5A He doesn’t like the Americans. 5B He doesn’t like Americans.

19. Verb Tense and Aspect 1 1A I always wanted to go to America. 1B I have always wanted to go to America. 1C I had always wanted to go to America. 2A They live in São Paulo for two years. 2B They lived in São Paulo for two years. 2C They have lived in São Paulo for two years. 

20. Verb Tense and Aspect 2 3A The company has been growing steadily since it was founded in 1988. 3B The company has grown steadily since it was founded in 1988. 3C The company grows steadily since it was founded in 1988. 4A The house had been standing empty for two years when we bought it. 4B The house stood empty for two years when we bought It. 4C The house had stood empty for two years when we bought it.

21. Verb Tense and Aspect 3 5A She was not seeing her children for six months. 5B She did not see her children for six months. 5C She had not seen her children for six months. 5D She had not seen her children in six months. 6A He is not speaking English since he came back from Canada. 6B He does not speak English since he came back from Canada. 6C He did not speak English since he came back from Canada. 6D He has not spoken English since he came back from Canada. 6E He has not been speaking English since he came back from Canada.

22. Verb Tense and Aspect 4 7A Exports have risen sharply in the last five years. 7B Exports rose sharply in the last five years. 7C Exports have been rising sharply in the last five years. 8A There has been a change of plan. 8B There was a change of plan.

23. Future tenses 1 1A The company will open its first overseas branch next year. 1B The company is going to open its first overseas branch next year. 1C The company is opening its first overseas branch next year. 1D The company opens its first overseas branch next year. 2A Analysts predict that stock markets will continue to fall. 2B Analysts predict that stock markets are going to continue to fall. 2C Analysts predict that stock markets are continuing to fall. 2D Analysts predict that stock markets continue to fall.

24. Future tenses 2 3A We will inform you if there are any new developments. 3B We are going to inform you if there are any new developments. 3C We inform you if there are any new developments. 3D We are informing you if there are any new developments. 4A I’m leaving now, so I see you tomorrow. 4B I’m leaving now, so I’m seeing you tomorrow. 4C I’m leaving now, so I’m going to see you tomorrow. 4D I’m leaving now, so I’ll see you tomorrow.

25. Future tenses 3 5A When I get paid, I’m going to buy a new computer. 5B When I get paid, I’ll buy a new computer. 5C When I get paid, I buy a new computer. 5D When I get paid, I’m buying a new computer.

26. Adverb Position 1 1A He carefully opened the box. 1B He opened carefully the box. 1C He opened the box carefully. 1D He opened with care the box. 1E He opened the box with care. 2A The company rapidly expanded its distribution network to other parts of Brazil. 2B The company rapidly expanded to other parts of Brazil its distribution network. 2C The company expanded its distribution network rapidly to other parts of Brazil.

27. Adverb Position 2 3A They decided to completely change the way they did business. 3B They decided to change completely the way they did business. 3C They decided to change the way they did business completely. 4A When she died, she left to charity her entire fortune. 4B When she died, she left her entire fortune to charity. 4C When she died, she left to charity all the money she had saved up over the years. 4D When she died, she left all the money she had saved up over the years to charity.

28. Adverb Position 3 5A We sent your sales department an e-mail last Monday. 5B We sent an e-mail to your sales department last Monday. 6A She speaks very well English. 6B She speaks very good English. 6C She speaks English very well.