The keyword term functions as a noun phrase. The core of this phrase, "Patriots Day," is a proper noun, which is the specific name of a holiday. The entire unit operates grammatically as a single noun that can act as the subject, object, or complement in a sentence.
A detailed grammatical breakdown shows the phrase consists of a proper noun ("Patriots Day") being modified by an adverbial phrase of time ("this year"). In this context, "this year" acts as a post-nominal modifier, specifying which instance of the annual holiday is being discussed. While "this year" typically modifies verbs (e.g., "we are celebrating this year"), its placement directly after the noun serves to restrict the noun's reference to a specific timeframe.
For the purpose of writing an article, this classification is crucial. Treating the phrase as a noun phrase dictates its role in sentence structure. It allows the term to be the central subject about which predicates (verbs and their objects) provide information, such as its date or associated events. This ensures syntactic clarity and establishes the specific observance of the holiday as the article's primary topic.
