prenoun

Prenoun is a term sometimes used in linguistics to refer to elements that occur before a noun within a noun phrase. More common terminology is prenominal or pre-nominal, describing position rather than a distinct word class. In practice, prenoun elements include determiners, numerals, demonstratives, possessives, quantifiers, and attributive adjectives that precede the noun.

In English, a typical prenoun sequence can be observed in phrases such as the red ball, three large dogs, or my old friend. In these examples, the determiners (the, my) and modifiers (red, large, old) precede the noun (ball, dogs, friend). The prenominal position often carries information about definiteness, number, quantity, and inherent properties of the noun.

Typologically, languages vary in how much of the noun phrase is prenominal versus postnominal. Many languages place most modifiers before the noun, while others allow or require postnominal adjectives or determiners. Some languages permit both prenominal and postnominal adjectives, sometimes with different meanings or emphasis. Word order constraints frequently govern the relative placement of multiple prenominal elements, leading to conventional ordering such as determiner before numeral before adjective before noun in some languages.

Functions associated with prenominal elements include signaling definiteness or specificity, indicating quantity, and attributing properties to the noun. The exact interpretation of a prenominal sequence can depend on syntactic structure and cross-linguistic conventions, and typological variation means there is no universal one-size-fits-all rule.

Terminology note: while prenoun can be encountered, it is not standard terminology. Linguists typically refer to prenominal determiners, prenominal numerals, and prenominal adjectives as separate categories, describing their position and function within the noun phrase. See also prenominal, postnominal, noun phrase, determiner.