Nouns including pronouns and noun phrases perform ten main grammatical functions within sentences in the English language. Both native speakers and ESL students must learn the ten functions to fully and correctly use nouns and noun phrases in spoken and written English. The ten functions of nouns and noun phrases are:
- Subject
- Predicate nominative
- Direct object
- Object complement
- Indirect object
- Prepositional complement
- Noun phrase modifier
- Possessive modifier
- Appositive
- Adverbial
Nouns are traditionally defined as "persons, places, things, and ideas." Noun phrases are defined as phrases that consist of a noun or pronoun and any number of modifiers including adjectives (tiny, purple, loud), possessive adjectives (my, your, his), adverbs (very, extremely, unusually), determiners (the, a, an), and prepositional phrases.
Nouns as Subjects
The first grammatical function that nouns and noun phrases can perform is the subject of clauses. A clause is defined as consisting of a subject and predicate. For example, the following italicized nouns and noun phrases function as subjects:
- The baby cried.
- Dogs and cats make excellent pets.
- I will have extensively studied English grammar.
Nouns as Predicate Nominatives
The second grammatical function that nouns and noun phrases can perform is the predicate nominative. Predicate nominatives are defined as nouns and noun phrases that follow a copular or linking verb such as be and become and refer back to the subject. For example, the following italicized nouns and noun phrases function as predicate nominatives:
- My grandfather is a farmer.
- Our favorite pets are dogs.
- The woman whom you are looking for is she.
Nouns as Direct Objects
The third grammatical function that nouns and noun phrases can perform is the direct object. For example, the following italicized nouns and noun phrases function as direct objects:
- The children ate all the cookies.
- My professor recommended an extremely captivating book.
- The woman has always hated mice.
Nouns as Object Complements
The fourth grammatical function that nouns and noun phrases can perform is the object complement. Object complements are defined as nouns, pronouns, noun phrases, adjectives, and adjective phrases that directly follow and modify the direct object. For example, the following italicized nouns and noun phrases function as object complements:
- We consider our puppy our baby.
- My aunt calls my uncle sweetheart.
- America recently elected Barack Obama president.
Nouns as Indirect Objects
The fifth grammatical function that nouns and noun phrases can perform is the indirect object. For example, the following italicized nouns and noun phrases function as indirect objects:
- My husband bought me flowers.
- The child drew his mother a picture.
- The salesman sold the companynew computers.
Nouns as Prepositional Complements
The sixth grammatical function that nouns and noun phrases can perform is the prepositional complement. Prepositional complements are defined as the word or phrase that functions as the object of a preposition. For example, the following italicized nouns and noun phrases function as prepositional complements:
- My husband bought flowers for me.
- The students studied during their spring break.
- Because of the lengthy delay, we missed our flight.
Nouns as Noun Phrase Modifiers
The seventh grammatical function that nouns and noun phrases can perform is the noun phrase modifier. Noun phrase modifiers are defined as words and phrases that describe a noun or noun phrase. For example, the following italicized nouns and noun phrases function as noun phrase modifiers:
- The child actor won an award.
- The carpenter fixed the broken table leg.
- We reserved twenty hotel rooms.
Nouns as Possessive Modifiers
The eighth grammatical function that nouns and noun phrases can perform is the possessive modifier. Possessive modifiers consist of a noun or noun phrase and the possessive clitic (apostrophe s or s apostrophe) and describe another noun or noun phrase. For example, the following italicized nouns and noun phrases function as possessive modifiers:
- My brother's apartment is small.
- The food I spilled is the dog's.
- The librarians' report was informative.
Nouns as Appositives
The ninth grammatical function that nouns and noun phrases can perform is the appositive. Appositives are defined as nouns and noun phrases that modify or explain another noun or noun phrase. For example, the following italicized nouns and noun phrases function as appositives:
- My grandfather the farmer bought more farm land.
- The teacher, my uncle, assigns a lot of homework.
- The musician Stevie Nicks is a singer in Fleetwood Mac.
Nouns as Adverbials
The tenth grammatical function that nouns and noun phrases can perform is the adverbial. Adverbials are defined as words, phrases, and clauses that modify an entire clause by providing information such as time, place, manner, condition, reason, or purpose. For example, the following italicized nouns and noun phrases function as adverbials:
- Today the children woke up early.
- Yesterday the children slept in late.
- We decided to go home.
The ten functions of nouns and noun phrases in English are subject, predicate nominative, direct object, object complement, indirect object, prepositional complement, noun phrase modifier, possessive modifier, appositive, and adverbial. Both native speakers and ESL students must learn the ten functions in order to properly and fully use the English language in both spoken and written forms.
Sources
Hopper, Paul J. A Short Course in Grammar. W.W. Norton & Company: New York, 1999.
Huddleston, Rodney. Introduction to the Grammar of English. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, 1984.
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