Noun Phrase – Example and Explanation

• Example Sentence:
  To think critically improves problem-solving.

  • Underlined part: To think critically

  • Function: Noun phrase

• Explanation:

  • To think critically is an infinitive phrase functioning as the subject of the sentence → acts as a noun

  • Therefore, it is a noun phrase

• Noun Phrase Overview:

  • A phrase that functions as a noun in a sentence

  • Can act as:

    • Subject of a verb

    • Object of a verb

    • Object of a preposition

    • Subject complement

    • Object complement

• More Examples:

  • Swimming in the river is dangerous.

  • To walk in the morning is a good exercise.

• Source: A Passage to the English Language by S.M. Zakir Hussain

Complete sentence: His success is a function of his having worked so hard.

• a function of something: [idiom]

English meaning: something that results from something else, or is the way it is because of something else.

Bangla meaning: কোনো কিছুর উপর নির্ভরশীল বা তার ফলে সৃষ্ট। 

Example: 

- His success is a function of his having worked so hard.

- The low temperatures here are a function of the terrain as much as of the climate.

- Differences in health outcomes are often said to be a function of socioeconomic disparity.

Paragraph Structure

• Note: Heading is not a part of a paragraph; it belongs to a letter.

• A paragraph can be divided into three main parts:

1. Beginning (Topic Sentence):

   • The first sentence of the paragraph.

   • Should be engaging and introduce the main idea.

2. Body:

   • Includes all sentences between the first and the last.

   • Develops and supports the main idea of the paragraph.

3. End (Terminator):

   • The final sentence that completes the paragraph’s thought.

   • Provides a sense of closure and emphasizes the main idea.

Source: BBS Program, Bangladesh Open University