What are nouns for?
1. Noun as the Subject of a sentence
A noun can be the subject of a sentence. In fact, it is one of noun's primary functions.
To be the subject of a sentence means to be the controller, actor, or manipulator of that sentence. The subject answers the question, "what or who the sentence is about?"
examples:
"Diana eats an apple."
The sentence has two nouns: 1.) Diana and 2.) apple
Diana is the subject because she is the one doing, manipulating, or controlling the action (eats). Diana also answers the question, "Who is the sentence about?"
"Chloe studies Journalism."
The sentence also has two nouns: 1.) Chloe and 2.) Journalism
Chloe is the subject because she is the one performing the action (studies). Chloe also answers the question, "Who is the sentence about?"
"Oranges give a high amount of Vitamin C."
There are two nouns in this sentence: 1.) oranges 2.) Journalism
Oranges is the subject because it is the primary topic of the sentence, and it answers the question, "What is the sentence about?"
Subjects often appear first in the sentence. Sometimes, they come with the articles "a/an" or "the".
2. Noun as the Object of a sentence
In this case, nouns as objects of a sentence have three grammatical roles:
a. Nouns as Direct Objects
Direct objects are the people or things receiving the action of the verb done by the subject in the sentence or clause. They are the ones being acted upon.
examples:
"I talk to Elissa."
There is only one noun in the sentence.
The subject (I) is a pronoun.
Elissa is the direct object because she directly receives the action "talk". She is the person directly acted upon.
"Clad reads a book."
Both Clad and the book are nouns.
*Clad is the subject because he is the one doing the action, while the
*book is the direct object because it is the one receiving the action of the verb (reads). In short, it is the one being acted upon. It also answers the question, what does Ted read? -- It’s the book.
b. Nouns as Indirect Objects
The indirect object is the noun or pronoun that receives the direct object of the verb.
examples:
"Clad reads Shanie a book."
Clad, book, and Shanie here are nouns.
*Clad is the subject because he is the one doing the action.
*The book here is the direct object because it is the one being acted upon directly.
*Shanie is the indirect object because she is the one who receives the direct object which receives the action of the verb. Jenny, as the indirect object, answers the question, to whom does Ted read a book? - That’s Jenny.
Basically, the book is the one being acted upon first which makes it the direct object or direct receiver. Shanie is the one being acted upon second, which makes her the indirect object. Clad touches the book first to read, then read it to Shanie.
"Riko brought Candice a chocolate."
Riko, Candice, and chocolate are nouns.
*Riko is the subject because he is the one who did the action which is brought. Riko also answers the question who/what is the sentence about?
*Candice is the indirect object. Why? because Candice is the one who receives the direct object (chocolate). Candace being in the second list of nouns does not make her the direct object. She may receive the chocolate Mike brought, but she is not the one who was brought by Mike. It was the chocolate.
*Chocolate is the direct object because it is the one that receives the action of the verb, and it answers the question: What did Riko bring?—That was the chocolate.
Riko- subject
Candice- indirect object
Chocolate- the direct object, or the one being acted upon.
If we make Candice the direct object, the sentence should be written like this:
"Riko brought chocolate a Candice." --which sounds weird.
To make it straight, the chocolate received the action of bringing first which makes it the direct object or direct receiver, followed by Candice. Basically, Riko touches the chocolate first to bring, then brings it to Candice second.
3. (c.) Nouns as objects of the preposition
Nouns as objects of the preposition means that they are used after prepositions to create prepositional phrases. A noun is known as the object of the preposition when it is part of a prepositional phrase.
examples:
"Edith sat on the chair."
Edith and the chair here are nouns.
*Edith is the subject because she is the one doing the action and answers the question "who/what the sentence is about?".
*The chair here is the object of the preposition, on, which makes the prepositional phrase “on the chair”--the chair is part of this prepositional phrase; therefore chair is the object of the preposition.
"Glenda is looking for work."
*Glenda is the subject while
*“Work” is the object of the preposition, for … which makes the prepositional phrase “for work”.
Any noun or pronoun that follows after a preposition is the object of that preposition. Sometimes, they also come with their articles, "a/an" or "the", like "... on the chair." Here is the list of prepositions
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