Noun phrases: uses

Subjects and objects

We most typically use noun phrases as the subjects (s) and objects (o) of clauses (io = indirect object; do = direct object):

[S]My father wants to buy [DO]a new car.

[S]The agency gave [IO]him[DO]a few numbers to ring.

Prepositional phrases

Noun phrases (underlined) are also used as part of prepositional phrases(in bold). They act as the complement of the preposition:

My parents gave me a mountain bike for my birthday.

The coffee cups go in the top cupboard; the plates can just go on the worktop.

Adjuncts

Noun phrases also occur as adjuncts (ad) in some time expressions:

[S]I saw [O]George[AD]last week at the planning meeting.

These include expressions such as next year, this Thursday, most days, someyears, one day, some day, the Monday before last, the day after tomorrow.