FUNCTIONS OF NOUNS

SUBJECTDIRECT OBJECT

PREDICATE NOUNDIRECT ADDRESS

A NOUN IS ONE OF THE 8 PARTS OF SPEECH. IT PERTAINS TO THE NAME OF A PERSON, PLACE, THINGS, ANIMALS, AND EVENTS

WHAT IS FUNCTION?FUNCTION N. – THE SPECIAL PURPOSE

FOR WHICH A THING EXISTS OR IS USED

-MERRIAM WEBSTER DICTIONARY

1. SUBJECT

• THE PERSON, THE PLACE, OR THE THING TALKED ABOUT IN THE SENTENCE.• THE SUBJECT USUALLY DOES THE ACTION.

a. John ran away from the monster.b. Five days a week my mother dusts.c. Nearing the yellow light, the driver

sped up.d. “It’s not fair!” Shouted John.

NOTE THAT OCCASIONALLY, AS IN D, THE SUBJECT CAN FOLLOW THE VERB.

2. DIRECT OBJECT• A DIRECT OBJECT FOLLOWS THE VERB &

RECEIVES ITS ACTION. IT ANSWERS THE QUESTION “WHAT” OR “WHOM”:

a. John threw the ball. (Threw what?)b. Tomorrow morning Elisa will meet her

sister. (Meet whom?)c. We helped him with his homework.

(Helped whom?)d. While hiking, Alicia found a silver

bracelet. (Found what?)

3. PREDICATE NOMINATIVE (PREDICATE NOUN)

• A PREDICATE NOMINATIVE FOLLOWS THE VERB & RENAMES THE SUBJECT.• IT COMPLETES THE MEANING OF A LINKING VERB AND

DENOTES THE SAME PERSON, PLACE, OR THING AS THE SUBJECTS.

a. John is a student.b. A Christmas carol is a good book.c. Elisa became a lawyer.d. Addison will be an excellent surgeon.e. Emory is a private university.

4. NOUN IN DIRECT ADDRESS• IT NAMES THE PERSON ADDRESSED OR

SPOKEN TO.• YOU USE A NOUN OF DIRECT ADDRESS

WHEN TALKING TO SOMEONE.• NOT RELATED TO OTHE WORDS IN THE

SENTENCE

a. Juan, when are you going to leave?

b. Mr. Smith, I haven’t finished the list.

c. Professor Gellar, I need to turn in my paper late.