= Noun phrase
A <noun phrase> is a grammatical unit conventionally analyzed as headed by a <noun>, potentially together with dependents that modify or specify it. A single <noun> or <pronoun> can also form a minimal noun phrase under this analysis.<Noun Phrase in the SIL Glossary of Linguistic Terms>[Definition and Discussion, headed and minimal phrases]{ref}
In `The small bird landed`, the words `the small bird` form a <noun phrase> containing the head `bird`, the <adjective> `small` and a <determiner>. The whole unit occupies the <subject (grammar)> position. Replacing it with `it` gives `It landed`, illustrating that a multiword expression can occupy a position also available to one word.
Such substitution is useful evidence for a <grammatical constituent>, but one test alone does not settle every structural question. A clear <syntax> states how the proposed head and dependents combine and tests the same account across further constructions. Counting spaces therefore measures a different property from counting <noun phrases>.
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