2.3 Nouns that modify other nouns



As distinct from Catalan, one or more English nouns can be used to modify another noun; in these cases, it is the last noun that is the head noun. Note that in Catalan, the order of the nouns is typically the reverse of the English order, e.g.:



Nouns modifying nouns Catalan
child actor nen actor
woman driver conductora
a country cottage una casa al camp
party politics política de partit
a beer bottle1 una ampolla de cervesa
aircraft safety regulations reglaments de seguretat per als avions
Christmas tree decorations adorns per a l'arbre de Nadal
car engine spare parts peces de recanvi per al motor del cotxe
Leeds University Chess Club club d'escacs de la Universitat de Leeds




1 For the difference between, for example, a beer bottle and a bottle of beer, see containers.

For the order of these nouns and adjectives, see order of adjectives and nouns.



Notice also the following types of compound expressions before nouns:



Compound expressions before nouns Catalan
a 12-year-old girl una noia de dotze anys
a two-day trip una excursió de dos dies
three four-litre petrol cans tres llaunes per a quatre litres de benzina
a twenty-euro note un bitllet de vint euros
several four-letter words diverses paraules de quatre lletres



See also possessive form of nouns.