Noun Phrase As Subject:11 Facts You Should Know

FAQS on ‘Noun Phrase as Subject’ and related explanations in this article will help to you to form noun phrase by your own.

A noun phrase works as same as a noun does in a sentence. Most of the time, a ‘Noun Phrase’ acts as subject of a sentence.

Is noun phrase a subject?

A ‘Noun Phrase’ acts as same as a noun does to a sentence but it is not mandatory that a noun phrase will always be a subject of a sentence. A noun phrase can perform below listed roles.

First, Subject of a Sentence,

Second, Object of a Sentence,

Third, Subject Complement,

Fourth, Object Complement

 Example – The old mansion is going to be renovated.

Explanation – Here, the word group ‘The old mansion’ is performing as subject of this respective sentence.

Can noun phrase be a subject?

A noun phrase can also be referred as nominal. In most of the sentences, a noun phrase appears as ‘Subject’ of that particular sentence because a noun phrase shares same status which a ‘Noun’ enjoys in a sentence. A ‘noun phrase’ as subject includes below listed four things.

1. a noun or
2. an indefinite or
3. a subject pronoun and
4. words that modify it.

Example – Snowy Balkan Mountains are making me dreamy tonight.

Explanation – Here, the noun phrase ‘Snowy Balkan mountains’ is performing the role of a ‘Subject’ in a sentence.

How is noun phrase a subject?

A noun phrase becomes a subject  of a sentence by including one noun or a pronoun which replace that respective noun. The noun in a ‘noun phrase’ can be name of

a person,

a place,

a thing; or

a pronoun which replace the noun. 

Example – Angry Sandip does not like to listen advice from his mother.

Explanation – Here, the noun phrase ‘Angry Sanip’ includes a noun ‘Sandip’ which is a ‘Name of a Person’.

Example – Cold Darjeeling is a best place to roam in summer season.

Explanation – Here, the noun phrase ‘Cold Darjeeling’ includes a noun ‘Darjeeling’ which is a ‘Name of a Place’.

When is noun phrase a subject?

A ‘noun phrase’ becomes a subject of a sentence in the below listed situations, like;

1. When the ‘Noun Phrase’ performs the role of a main noun of the sentence.
2. When the ‘Noun Phrase’ leads the object of the sentence.
3. When the object of the sentence complements the ‘Noun Phrase’.

Example – A gentle fish is swimming at the bottom of the pond.

Explanation – Here, the object ‘swimming at the bottom of the pond’ is referring to the noun phrase ‘gentle fish’. Thus, the noun phrase ‘gentle fish’ is performing the role of a subject of a sentence.

Noun phrase as subject examples –

Example 1 -This sunny morning removed all the grey of my mind.

Explanation – Here, the noun phrase ‘sunny morning’ is performing the role of a ‘Subject’ in a sentence.

Example 02 – Soft bread is my favourite to eat in lunch.

Explanation – Here, the noun phrase ‘Soft bread’ is performing the role of a ‘Subject’ in a sentence.

Example 03 – Funny Mickey mouse is Pijush’s favourite cartoon to watch.

Explanation – Here, the noun phrase ‘Funny Mickey mouse’ is performing the role of a ‘Subject’ in a sentence.

Example 04 – Quirky women are tough to handle.

Explanation – Here, the noun phrase ‘Quirky women’ is performing the role of a ‘Subject’ in a sentence.

Example 05 – Fluffy cats are best to adore.

Explanation – Here, the noun phrase ‘Fluffy cats’ is performing the role of a ‘Subject’ in a sentence.

Noun phrase as subject complement –

A subject complement always comes after or placed after a linking verb and performs the function of modifying the subject of that particular sentence. This situation is same with ‘noun phrase’. When a noun phrase is placed after a linking verb and performs the role of modifier of the subject.

Example – My little brother is a very fluent speaker.

Explanation – Here, the noun phrase ‘fluent speaker’ is complementing the subject ‘My little brother’. Thus, the noun phrase ‘fluent speaker’ is playing the role of ‘subject complement’.

Noun phrase as subject complement examples –

Example 1- I like to become a noble teacher in future.

Explanation – Here, the noun phrase ‘noble teacher’ is complementing the subject ‘I’. Thus, the noun phrase ‘noble teacher’ is playing the role of ‘subject complement’.

Example 2- Rita not only likes to eat food but also a good cook.

Explanation – Here, the noun phrase ‘good cook’ is complementing the subject ‘Rita’. Thus, the noun phrase ‘good cook’ is playing the role of ‘subject complement’.

Example 3 – My wife is a lady with good presence of mind.

Explanation – Here, the noun phrase ‘good presence of mind’ is complementing the subject ‘My wife’. Thus, the noun phrase ‘good presence of mind’ is playing the role of ‘subject complement’.

Example 4– Chandigarh is a very well planned city.

Explanation – Here, the noun phrase ‘well planned city’ is complementing the subject ‘Chandigarh’. Thus, the noun phrase ‘well planned city’ is playing the role of ‘subject complement’.

Example 5– Sandip’s thesis is a very well researched paper.

Explanation – Here, the noun phrase ‘well researched paper’ is complementing the subject ‘Sandip’s thesis’. Thus, the noun phrase ‘well researched paper’ is playing the role of ‘subject complement’.

Noun phrase as subject of a verb –

Like any other nouns, noun phrase can also play role of a subject of a sentence. Thus, like subject of sentence, that particular noun phrase becomes owner of the ‘be’ verb of that sentence. As a result, that particular noun phrase becomes ‘Subject of a Verb’.

Example – My cute little son likes to play with red toy cars.

Explanation – Here, the noun phrase ‘cute little son’ is owner of the verb ‘likes’. Thus, the noun phrase ‘cute little son’ is performing the role of the ‘Subject of a Verb’.

When is noun phrase a subject of a verb?

A verb of a sentence refers to the action which is used to perform by the subject of the sentence. Now, if the subject of the sentence is a ‘noun phrase’ then that particular noun phrase becomes the ‘Subject of a Verb’.

Example – The spongy cake is provoking me to eat that cake.

Explanation – Here the noun phrase ‘spongy cake’ is performing an action in the sentence. The ‘be’ verb is also complementing the noun phrase ‘spongy cake’. Thus, the noun phrase ‘spongy cake’ is the subject of a verb.

Where is noun phrase a subject of a verb?

A ‘noun phrase’ can play any one role of the following, like; subject of a sentence, object of a sentence, subject complement of a sentence, object complement of a sentence. A noun phrase becomes ‘a subject of a verb’ when it plays the role of a subject of a sentence.

Example – The red coloured shirt of my son becomes faded after first wash of the shirt.

Explanation – Here, the word group ‘red coloured shirt’ is playing the role of a noun in the sentence. Thus, we can say that the noun phrase ‘red coloured shirt’ is performing the role of a ‘Subject of a Verb’.

How is noun phrase a subject of a verb?

The way through which a noun phrase becomes a ‘subject of a verb’ is to follow the same role and status which the subject of a sentence plays in a sentence. When the main verb of the sentence qualify the noun phrase then the noun phrase becomes ‘Subject of a Verb’.

Example – The brown steel almirah is not easy to unlock.

Explanation – Here, the word group ‘brown steel almirah’ is playing the role of a noun in the sentence. Thus, we can say that the noun phrase ‘brown steel almirah’ is performing the role of a ‘Subject of a Verb’.

Conclusion –

It is not mandatory that a noun phrase will always include a noun in it. A noun phrase can include a pronoun also. The pronoun which may be part of the noun phrase should be equivalent to the noun or modify the noun.