Introduction to English Grammar: Functions of Nouns
Noun
- it names anything and everything under the sun. (e.g. person, place, animal or
idea)
Functions of Nouns
Nouns have eight functions, a noun can be used in a sentence as a:
• Subject
• Predicate Nominative
• Direct Object
• Indirect Object
• Object of Preposition
• Appositive
• Objective Complement
• Noun of Direct Address
Noun as a Subject
- it functions as the main topic in the sentence.
Example:
1. Mary studies his English lessons.
Question:
Who is the subject of this sentence?
Explanation:
Mary, because she is the topic of the sentence.
2. New Year's Eve is the best holiday of the year.
Question:
In this sentence, what noun as a subject is being discussed?
Explanation:
It complements New Year's Eve, which is considered the year's best holiday.
Therefore, New Year's Eve is the subject.
Noun as a Predicate Nominative
- a noun that renames the subject. In other words, the predicate nominative and
the subject refer to the same thing.
- also functions as a noun positioned after a linking verb.
, Linking Verb
- am, is, are, was, were, be, being, been
Example:
1. My sister is a nurse.
S PN
Explanation:
Upon analysis, 'sister' and 'nurse' refer to a single individual. This illustrates the
function of the predicate nominative, which serves to name a subject.
Additionally, observe that the verb 'is' functions as a linking verb.
2. Dogs and cats are animals.
S PN
Explanation:
Dog and Cat are the subjects while ‘animals’ is the predicate nominative that
comes after the linking verb 'are'.
Noun as a Direct Object
- a noun that receives the action.
- a verb must inherently denote action, contrasting with the predicate nominative,
whose verb serves a linking function.
- it answers the questions "WHOM" or "WHAT"
Example:
1. The employee received an award.
S DO
Question:
What did the employee received?
Explanation:
The word ‘award’ functions as a direct object because it answers the question
'what’.
Noun
- it names anything and everything under the sun. (e.g. person, place, animal or
idea)
Functions of Nouns
Nouns have eight functions, a noun can be used in a sentence as a:
• Subject
• Predicate Nominative
• Direct Object
• Indirect Object
• Object of Preposition
• Appositive
• Objective Complement
• Noun of Direct Address
Noun as a Subject
- it functions as the main topic in the sentence.
Example:
1. Mary studies his English lessons.
Question:
Who is the subject of this sentence?
Explanation:
Mary, because she is the topic of the sentence.
2. New Year's Eve is the best holiday of the year.
Question:
In this sentence, what noun as a subject is being discussed?
Explanation:
It complements New Year's Eve, which is considered the year's best holiday.
Therefore, New Year's Eve is the subject.
Noun as a Predicate Nominative
- a noun that renames the subject. In other words, the predicate nominative and
the subject refer to the same thing.
- also functions as a noun positioned after a linking verb.
, Linking Verb
- am, is, are, was, were, be, being, been
Example:
1. My sister is a nurse.
S PN
Explanation:
Upon analysis, 'sister' and 'nurse' refer to a single individual. This illustrates the
function of the predicate nominative, which serves to name a subject.
Additionally, observe that the verb 'is' functions as a linking verb.
2. Dogs and cats are animals.
S PN
Explanation:
Dog and Cat are the subjects while ‘animals’ is the predicate nominative that
comes after the linking verb 'are'.
Noun as a Direct Object
- a noun that receives the action.
- a verb must inherently denote action, contrasting with the predicate nominative,
whose verb serves a linking function.
- it answers the questions "WHOM" or "WHAT"
Example:
1. The employee received an award.
S DO
Question:
What did the employee received?
Explanation:
The word ‘award’ functions as a direct object because it answers the question
'what’.
