Functions

Of the basic noun phrases in written english

 The percentage of functions
Subject Approximately 700 noun phrases
Predicate Nominative Consist of
4%
Direct Object • 200 subjects
3%2%
4%
30%
Object complement
• 90 Predicate nominative
Indirect Object
11% • 146 direct objects
Prepositional Complement
Noun Phrases Modifier
• 40 object complements
5%
Possessive Modifier • 32 indirect objects
6%
13% Appositives • 73 prepositional complement
22% Adverb • 24 noun phrases modifiers
• 20 Possessive modifiers
• 16 Appositives
• 29 Adverbs

The direct Predicate Prepositional

The subject complement
object nominative
.
 The subject
30% in total noun phrases

Example:
1. Businesses owned by women are thriving all
across the country, but in some places more than
others.
(Source:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/rohitarora/2020/08/28/the-best-cities-fo
2. Public health concerns continue to grow about
r-women-business-owners/#3c737f343283
)the spikes in the coronavirus now occurring at
American colleges and universities
3. The New York Times is maintaining a database
that tracks the number and rate of new Covid-19
cases at more than 1,500 American colleges and
universities
4. The Times tracker comes with a number of
 The direct object
22% in total noun phrases

Example:
1. in spite of the pandemic, this summer the Chehalis
tribe of western Washington opened a historic new
enterprise
(Source:https://www.forbes.com/sites/christopherhelman/2020/08/17
/the-inside-story-of-the-first-legal-native-american-
distillery/#2fd0db023412
2. Fundera recently conducted a study of
the Best
Cities for Women Entrepreneurs based on data from
the U.S
(Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/rohitarora/2020/08/28/the-
best-cities-for-women-business-owners/#3c737f343283)
 Prepositional complement
11% in total noun phrases

Example:
1. more than 100 universities have reported at least
100 cases since the outset of the pandemic
(https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaeltnietzel/2020/09/06/what-we-know-about-
the-top-20-universities-with-the-most-coronavirus-cases/?
ss=education#21beb9f14065

2. Seven are in the Southeastern Conference, one

of the Power 5 conferences still determined to
play a football schedule in the fall.
Most are in the southern part of the United States
(Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaeltnietzel/2020/09/06/what-we-
know-about-the-top-20-universities-with-the-most-coronavirus-cases/?
ss=education#21beb9f14065)
 Predicate nominative
13% in total noun phrases

Example:
1. Rigorous testing may be a key ingredient to an
effective strategy, but it does not guarantee success.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaeltnietzel/2020/09/06/what-we-know-
about-the-top-20-universities-with-the-most-coronavirus-cases/?
ss=education#21beb9f14065)

2. CNN’s highest-rated show was Cuomo Prime

Time, which finished August in 21st place overall.
(Sourcehttps://www.forbes.com/sites/markjoyella/2020/09/01/fox-news-has-
highest-rated-august-in-network-history/#1df0dfca54ce:)
 Sum-up
There are 4 main functions of the basic noun in written English

1 2 3 4
Prepositional The predicate
The subject The direct object
complement nominative