Using a Noun as a Subject or an Object

Each sentence that we speak or write must feature a subject and this will always be a noun. When we talk about the subject, we are referring to the place, person or thing which is completing the action (verb) within the sentence. Look at the following examples:

• John is tall.
• The ball bounced.

John and the ball are the subjects of these sentences and are both nouns.

However, the noun can also be used as the object of a sentence. This can be either as a direct object, which is the noun that is on the receiving end of the action that was performed by the subject, or as an indirect object which is a noun that is a recipient of the direct object. Lets take a look at some examples of this.

• Hand the bags to him.
• Move the plate towards the baby.

In this case, the words him and baby are both nouns being used as the object of the sentence.

Nouns Used as Object and Subject Complements

A noun can be used as a subject complement and this usually occurs when using a linking verb such as seem, to be or become. An example of this is the sentence John is a builder. The noun builder is the subject complement as it is detailed what John is.

Further Uses of Nouns

There are many more ways in which a noun can function, lets take a look at some of these now.

• When serving as an appositive noun, the noun will come directly after another noun as a way of defining it further. An example of this can be seen in this sentence, My mother, Angela, is a nurse. The noun Angela is the appositive noun as it gives us further information on the first noun, mother.
• A noun may also be used as an adjective in some cases as well. Consider the word light. This is a noun when talking about the light or a light, however it can become an adjective, as seen in this sentence, The house has a light kitchen.
• When using a possessive noun, in other words, a noun which is used to denote possession of something, an apostrophe should be used. For example, These are the babys things.