Nouns can have several different grammatical functions. They can act as the subject or object of a verb , the object of a preposition , the complement of a linking verb , the object complement after a transitive verb, and an adjective used before another noun .
NOUNS AS SUBJECTS
A noun can be the subject of a verb :
* The students were all reading quietly .
* Is that light switch faulty .
* Mum and Dad usually get up about 6 am .
NOUNS ACT AS OBJECTS
A noun can be the object of a verb:
* Have you fed the cat ?
* Please don't interrupt the speaker .
* Did you enjoy the movie ?
NOUNS AS OBJECTS OF A PREPOSITION
Remember that a preposition always has an object :
* I walked into the sitting room .
* He was working at his desk .
* You are standing on my toe .
NOTE : The preposition can be separated from its object .
* What gods do they believe in ?
* Which region are you from ?
Two nouns may be joined by a conjunction such as and or, and share the grammatical function of subject of a verb , or object of a verb or a preposition:
* Gales and rain showers will develop tonight .
* Please don ' t leave your coats and bag here .
* I wiped the dust off the tables and chairs .
NOUNS AS COMPLEMENTS AFTER LINKING VERBS
A noun can be a complement after a verb such as be or become:
* I feel a fool .
* Be a man .
* I became an actress quite by an accident ,
NOTE: A verb that takes a complement , such as be or become is called a linking verb .
NOUNS AS OBJECT COMPLEMENTS AFTER TRANSITIVE VERBS
A noun can also be a complement after a transitive verb , a verb that takes an object . The complement is attached to the object:
* She called { transitive verb } me { object ] a fool [complement ]
NOTE : A verb that takes a complement after an object is called a complex transitive verb .
Verbs such as elect , vote , make , which take an object complement , can be used actively or passively:
* We voted her the winner. [ active]
* She was voted the winner .[passive]
NOUNS USED ADJECTIVELY
Frequently in English you find a noun used as adjective before another noun ; the first noun describes or defines the second noun:
* Rain clouds were approaching .
* An internet search will give you the answer .
* We are planning to review the school curriculum .
NOTE : A lot of compound nouns are formed from two nouns , where first noun defines or describes the second :
* bookcase , dining room , keyboard , coffee cup ,
NOUNS AS SUBJECTS
A noun can be the subject of a verb :
* The students were all reading quietly .
* Is that light switch faulty .
* Mum and Dad usually get up about 6 am .
NOUNS ACT AS OBJECTS
A noun can be the object of a verb:
* Have you fed the cat ?
* Please don't interrupt the speaker .
* Did you enjoy the movie ?
NOUNS AS OBJECTS OF A PREPOSITION
Remember that a preposition always has an object :
* I walked into the sitting room .
* He was working at his desk .
* You are standing on my toe .
NOTE : The preposition can be separated from its object .
* What gods do they believe in ?
* Which region are you from ?
Two nouns may be joined by a conjunction such as and or, and share the grammatical function of subject of a verb , or object of a verb or a preposition:
* Gales and rain showers will develop tonight .
* Please don ' t leave your coats and bag here .
* I wiped the dust off the tables and chairs .
NOUNS AS COMPLEMENTS AFTER LINKING VERBS
A noun can be a complement after a verb such as be or become:
* I feel a fool .
* Be a man .
* I became an actress quite by an accident ,
NOTE: A verb that takes a complement , such as be or become is called a linking verb .
NOUNS AS OBJECT COMPLEMENTS AFTER TRANSITIVE VERBS
A noun can also be a complement after a transitive verb , a verb that takes an object . The complement is attached to the object:
* She called { transitive verb } me { object ] a fool [complement ]
NOTE : A verb that takes a complement after an object is called a complex transitive verb .
Verbs such as elect , vote , make , which take an object complement , can be used actively or passively:
* We voted her the winner. [ active]
* She was voted the winner .[passive]
NOUNS USED ADJECTIVELY
Frequently in English you find a noun used as adjective before another noun ; the first noun describes or defines the second noun:
* Rain clouds were approaching .
* An internet search will give you the answer .
* We are planning to review the school curriculum .
NOTE : A lot of compound nouns are formed from two nouns , where first noun defines or describes the second :
* bookcase , dining room , keyboard , coffee cup ,
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