How Nouns Function in a Sentence

There are eight (8) different noun functions.

1. Noun Functions as Subject

Subject tells "who" or "what" about the verb.

Jonathan ran to school because he was late.
Fiji is a great place to visit in your holidays.
Pamela sang a song at her sisters wedding.
Before visiting the library, Stephen did considerable research on-line.

2. Noun Functions as Direct Object

Direct object answers "whom" or "what" after an action verb.

Rebekah loved Jacob with all her heart.
David threw the ball to Jonathan.
After dinner, Matthew always serves a cake.
To the average citizen, politics offers considerable frustration.

3. Noun Functions as Indirect Object

Indirect object tells "to whom" or "for whom" the action is done.
Dad gave Bradley the money to buy the car.
Rachel brought dad the newspaper.
If you would like, we can give Martha the tickets to tonights game.
After class, Randall will give the students their papers.
You identify the indirect object in the first sentence above by asking "Dad gave the money to whom?" The answer is
"Bradley".
You identify the indirect object in the second sentence above by asking "Rachel brought the newspaper to whom?" The answer is
"dad".

4. Noun Functions as Predicate Nominative

A noun that follows a linking verb may function as a predicate nominative. A predicate nominative always renames the
subject.
Thomas is the minister of the Baptist Church.
I am the manager of the Pizza Hut.
At the end of the tournament, Tiger Woods was the leader.
For many of us on the team, the fans were an embarrassment.
Notice in both sentences that the predicate nominative follows the linking verb and renames the subject (Minister =
Thomas and Manger = I).

5. Noun Functions as Object of Preposition

Object of Preposition is the last word in a prepositional phrase.

The boy was hurt in the accident.
The driver filled the fuel tank of the bus.
From the beginningof the storm, Dorothy was sure she would make it home.
For many in the class, math proved to be the most challenging subject.
BEGINNING is the object of the preposition FROM, and STORM is the object of the preposition OF.

6. Noun Functions as Noun of Direct Address

Noun of Direct Address is used to address someone or something.

Fellow citizens, it is time to clean up our city.
And now, children, I want you to sit quietly in the bus.
After dinner, Matthew always serves a cake.
To the average citizen, politics offers considerable frustration.
To determine the direct object, ask whom or what was acted on by the verb.

7. Noun Functions as an Appositive

An Appositive explains a noun or pronoun that comes just before it.

Rebekah's sister, Rachel, was an intelligent student.
Rebekah, the eldest in the family, was a hard-working student.
Gus, Eric's black and white cat, slowly crept up behind the kittens.

8. Noun Functions as Objective Complement

Objective Complement follows a direct object and renames the direct object.
They elected George Bush president.
People often called our minister a spiritual guide.
My best friend named her daughter Princess.
You can elect me anything.