The Functions of Nouns and Noun Phrases in English

Nouns in English are traditionally described as naming "persons, places, things, and ideas." Pronouns are a subcategory of nouns. Noun phrases are formed by a noun or pronoun and any modifiers, complements, or determiners including adjectives, determiners, prepositional phrases, noun clauses, and verb phrases.

Nouns and noun phrases perform ten grammatical functions in the English language. The ten functions are:

1. Subject
2. Subject complement
3. Direct object
4. Object complement
5. Indirect object
6. Prepositional complement
7. Noun phrase modifier
8. Determinative
9. Appositive
10. Adverbial

The following sections discuss the ten functions and include examples to illustrate use.

Nouns and noun phrases first function as the subject of clauses. A subject is a word, phrase, or clause performs the action of or acts upon the verb. Clauses contain both a subject and a predicate. The following italicized noun phrases are examples of subjects:

• The puppy has chewed on the bone.
• Weeds are taking over the garden.
• You and I hike in the park.

Although other grammatical forms can function as the subject of clauses, nouns and noun phrases most frequently perform the function.

Nouns and noun phrases secondly function as subject complements. A subject complement is a word, phrase, or clause that follows a copular verb and describes the subject. Copular verbs are also called linking and state-of-being verbs and include verbs like be, become, and seem. The following italicized noun phrases are examples of subject complements:

• The man was a nurse.
• Our dog is a Shih Tzu.
• Her mother will become the school librarian.

Nouns and noun phrases can also function as direct objects. A direct object is a word, phrase, or clause that follows a transitive verb and answers the question "who?" or "what?" receives the action of the verb. The following italicized noun phrases are examples of direct objects:

• Herbivores eat plants.
• The child finally swallowed the sour-tasting medication.
• Your boyfriend just kissed the girl in the ostentatious hat.

Similarly to subject complements, nouns and noun phrases can function as object complements. An object complement is a word, phrase, or clause that directly follows and describes the direct object. The following italicized noun phrases are examples of object complements:

• The Provost named my supervisor the new Dean.
• We elected you team leader.
• Your cousins named their daughter Rainbow!

Nouns and noun phrases can also function as indirect objects. An indirect object is a word, phrase, or clause that follows a ditransitive verb and answers the question "to or for whom?" or "to or for what" is the action of the verb performed. The following italicized noun phrases are examples of indirect objects:

• Our groomer gave the dog a bath.
• My professor loaned me a book.
• The groom bought his new bride a wedding present.

The last five grammatical functions of nouns and noun phrases are discussed on page two.