N OUNS IN A S ENTENCE Nouns can be used a subjects, complements, or as part of a phrase.

N OUNS AS S UBJECTS A subject tells whom or what a sentence is about. Example: Comets are made of ice, dust, and gas. Try to write a sentence where the subject isn’t a noun. The only sentence in which the subject will not be a noun, is if it’s a pronoun.

N OUNS AS COMPLEMENTS A complement is a word that completes the meaning of the verb. Three kinds of complements are: Predicate Nouns Direct Objects Indirect Objects

P REDICATE N OUNS

D IRECT O BJECTS A direct object receives the action of the verb. They ALWAYS follow an action verb. Answer who or what receives the verb. Example: She has discovered many comets. Write a sentence including a direct object.

I NDIRECT O BJECTS An indirect object receives the direct object. They ALWAYS follow an action verb. Answers who receives the direct object. Example: One of her discoveries gave astronomers a thrill. Write a sentence including an indirect object.

W HY D OES IT M ATTER ? Complements are needed in all writing. They complete the meaning of a sentence. They add information to your writing.

N OUNS IN PHRASES Nouns can often appear in: Prepositional Phrases Appositives

O BJECTS OF THE P REPOSITION An object of the preposition is the noun or pronoun that follows the preposition. It ends the prepositional phrase. Example: Mount Wilson is an observatory in California. Write a sentence including an object of the preposition.

N OUNS AS A PPOSITIVES As appositive is a noun or pronoun that identifies or renames another noun or pronoun. An appositive phrase is made up of an appositive and its modifiers. Example: The Milky Way, our galaxy, is one of many. Note that you should use commas to separate an appositive phrase if the information isn’t essential to understanding the preceding noun or pronoun. Write a sentence including an appositive.