Functions of a Noun

•A noun is a person, place, thing or idea. •A noun can be found in any part of a sentence. •The function of a noun will vary depending on the location of a noun within a sentence.

The ways a noun can function within a sentence:

Subject Appositive Object of a

Preposition Direct Object Indirect Object Predicate

Nominative

Subject

The subject tells who or what a sentence is about. Jennifer is my friend.

Jennifer is a noun. Jennifer is the subject of the sentence.

Appositive

An appositive is a noun that immediately follows another noun that gives additional meaning or explanation. My friend, Jennifer, is a nurse.

Friend is a noun. Jennifer is a noun. Since friend and Jennifer are both nouns,

side-by-side, the second noun is the appositive. Jennifer is the appositive.

Object of a Preposition

An object of a preposition is the noun

at the end of a prepositional phrase. A prepositional phrase consists of a preposition, the object of the preposition and any modifiers in between those.

I gave money to my friend Jennifer. To my friend Jennifer is a prepositional phrase. Jennifer is the object of the preposition to.

Direct Object

A direct object is a noun following an action verb. It receives the action of the action verb. I called Jennifer from my cell phone.

Jennifer is a noun. Called is an action verb. Jennifer is receiving the action of the verb called.

Jennifer is the direct object.

Indirect Object

An indirect object is a noun that comes

between an action verb and a direct object.

It tells to or for whom the action was intended. I gave Jennifer some money. Jennifer is a noun. Money is a noun. Gave is an

action verb. Money is a direct object, receiving the action of the verb, gave.

Jennifer is the indirect object, telling who received the direct object, money.

Predicate Nominative

A predicate nominative is a noun located in the predicate that renames, or tells more information about, the subject. A predicate nominative can only be found in sentences with a linking verb.

My best friend is Jennifer. Jennifer is a noun. Friend is the subject. Jennifer

renames or tells more about the subject, friend. Jennifer is a predicate nominative.