Eng II

any head noun and the articles and adjectives that modify that noun. Head nouns are the main nouns of phrases. (Sometimes it is easiest to find each of the head nouns to find each noun phrase.)

subjects, objects of the preposition, direct objects, indirect objects, subject complements and object complements.

An entire noun phrase can be replaced by the pronoun “it” (also “she, he, they”) Noun phrases can exist within other noun phrases.

The girl who won the state championship finished as runner-up this year. Can be replaced by she: She finished as runner-up this year.

The girl who won the state championship finished as runner-up this year. Can be replaced by it: The girl who won it finished as runner-up this year.

The girl who won the state championship finished as runner-up this year. Can be replaced by it: The girl who won the state championship finished as it this year.

The girl who won the state championship finished as runner-up this year. Consider this: The girl who won the state championship finished as runner-up it.

Noun phrases function as subjects when they answer the question: “Who are what did the verbing?” The man with brown hair went to the store. Who went to the store? The man with brown hair.

A noun phrase functions as the direct object when it directly receives the action of the verb. I ate the cookies with chocolate chips. Who or what was being eaten? The cookies with chocolate chips.

A noun phrase functions an object of the preposition when it follows a preposition and is part of a prepositional phrase. She took her bonnet to the new hat shop.

A noun phrase functions as an indirect object when it indirectly receives the action of the verb. I bought Peter a new hat. You gave the dog water.

A noun phrase functions as a subject complement when it describes the subject of a sentence. Obama is President of the United States. I am a teacher and runner.

A noun phrase functions as an object complement when it describes an object (direct object, object of prep, etc.). The American people have elected Barack Obama president. My coworkers often call our boss an idiot.