1. Items which have individual functions in the sentence.
PHRASES
Items which have individual functions in the sentence.

2. PHRASES I /GAVE/MY SISTER/ A SWEATER / FOR HER BIRTHDAY.
e.g. I gave my sister a sweater for her birthday.
I /GAVE/MY SISTER/ A SWEATER / FOR HER BIRTHDAY.
The sentence is divided into its constituent phrases.

3. PHRASES
It is the phrase a sweater which acts as the object, not just the word sweater.
The whole phrase for her birthday indicates the reason or circumstances of the giving.

4. THE NOUN PHRASE
Noun phrases consist minimally of a noun or pronoun, which acts as the head of the noun phrase. The head may be accompanied by dependent elements before or after it.

5. THE NOUN PHRASE: examples
music we
him
a dog
the old man
that table
a nice day at the beach
the sofa we bought in the sale

6. THE NOUN PHRASE - FUNCTION
Noun phrases are referring expressions and are used to refer to particular instances or general classes of people and things.
Noun phrases typically function in the clause as subjects, objects, complements and occasionally as adjuncts.

7. THE NOUN PHRASE - FUNCTION
subject
verb
object
complement
adjunct
My father
used to play
the piano.
She
was
a good swimmer.
The children
loved
him.
His body
was found
the next day.

8. THE NOUN PHRASE - FUNCTION
Noun phrases frequently occur as the complements of prepositions: e.g. We usually go to a local gym on the weekends.