Understanding Newspaper Headlines 1

 Many students have difficulty understanding newspaper headlines. This is because newspaper headlines are often incomplete sentences

Here is a guide to the most common exceptions found in newspaper headlines.

Noun Phrases: Headlines often contain a noun phrase with no verb. A noun phrase describes a noun.  Here is an example of a noun phrase headline:

Under Pressure from Boss

In order to understand noun phrase headlines, it's a good idea to ask WH questions. For example: Who is under pressure? Why are they under pressure?What consequences may this have? In this way you will focus your mind on the topic of the headline and will be able to make intelligent guesses about the topic of the article.

Here are some more noun phrase headlines. With a partner, think of 3 or 4 questions for each one and discuss the topic of the news story.

Queen Unexpected Visit

New Era for Music Documentaries

Toxic Cuisine in Chernobyl

US Snow Storm Chaos

Verb Changes in Headlines

There are a number of verb changes made to headlines. The most common are: Simple tenses used instead of continuous or perfect forms. For example:

 Forgotten Sister Appears

 A forgotten sister has appeared.

Teachers Protest Pay Cuts

Teachers are protesting pay cuts

The infinitive form refers to the future. For example:

President to Attend Tennis Match

The President is going to attend a tennis match.

Auxiliary verbs are dropped in the passive form. For example:

Man Killed in Accident

A Man has been killed in an accident.

Toby the Alsatian Named Hero

Toby the Alsatian has been named a hero (by the mayor).

Articles in headlines

Both definite and indefinite articles are also left out of headlines.   

Here are some examples:

PM Declares War

The Prime Minister has declared war.

Passerby Saves Drowning Man

A passerby has saved a drowning man.

Now look at these newspaper headline and write them into full sentences making all the necessary changes.   

PM backs environment Boss

Six lions destroyed at Longleat

Cowell back on X-Fcator

Hackers exploit flaw in Snapchat

Two guilty of helping serial killer

Blackpool to keep 3am alcohol sales

Man given 22 years for stabbing

Police plead not guilty over killing

UK floods cost 1billion

Huge chimpanzee population thriving in remote Congo forest

Key

1.                The Prime Minister is going to back the environment boss.

2.                Six lions have been destroyed at Longleat.

3.                Cowell is back on X-Factor.

4.                Some hackers have exploited a flaw in Snapchat.

5.                Two people have been found guilty of helping a serial killer.

6.                The city of Blackpool is to keep 3 a.m. alcohol sales.

7.                A man has been given 22 years for a stabbing incident.

8.                The police have pleaded not guilty over a killing.

9.                Floods in the United Kingdom have cost 1 billion pounds.

10.           A huge chimpanzee population is thriving in a remote forest in the Congo.