English grammar

D
+ P -
+ NOUN + P
/C
In this structure:
the determiner may be an article (the, a[n]) or other equivalent word, as described in the
following section. In many contexts, it is required for a noun phrase to include some
determiner.
pre-modifiers
include adjectives and some adjective phrases (such as red, really lovely), and
noun adjuncts
 (such as college in the phrase the college student). Adjectival modifiers
usually come before noun adjuncts.
a 
complement
 or 
postmodifier
[5]
 may be a prepositional phrase (... of London), a 
relative
clause
 (like ...which we saw yesterday), certain adjective or 
participial
 phrases (... sitting on
…

---

the beach), or a 
dependent clause
 or 
infinitive phrase
appropriate to the noun (like ... that
the world is round after a noun such as fact or statement, or ... to travel widely after a noun
such as desire).
An example of a noun phrase that includes all of the above-mentioned elements is that rather
attractive young college student to whom you were talking. Here that is the determiner, rather
attractive and young are adjectival pre-modifiers, college is a noun adjunct, student is the noun
serving as the head of the phrase, and to whom you were talking is a post-modifier (a relative
clause in this case). Notice the order of the pre-modifiers; the determiner that must come first
and the noun adjunct college must come after the adjectival modifiers.
Coordinating conjunctions such as and, or, and but can be used at various levels in noun
phrases, as in John, Paul, and Mary; the matching green coat and hat; a dangerous but exciting
ride; a person sitting down or standing up. See