Learn English – the head noun in a noun ‘and’ noun phrase

noun-phrases

In a phrase like 'each has a different style and attitude' which is the head noun?

Is it right that the head noun can only ever be one word, so I couldn't say it was 'style and attitude'?

Best Answer

Neither noun is the head. "A different [style and attitude]" contains the bracketed coordination of two nouns. Each element in a coordination is of equal status and hence coordination is said to be a non-headed construction.

It contrasts with the non-coordinated "Each has a [different style]", where the noun "style" is head of the bracketed nominal and the modifier "different" is a dependent of the head.

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