The keyword phrase "September 11th terrorist attacks (2001)" functions grammatically as a noun phrase. The core or head word of this phrase is the plural noun "attacks." This is the main point of the phrase, as it names the specific events. The other components of the phrase act as modifiers to describe and specify this noun.
A detailed grammatical breakdown reveals the function of each component. The word "attacks" is the head noun. The term "terrorist" is an adjective modifying "attacks," specifying the nature of the events. "September 11th" is a proper noun (a specific date) that functions as an adjectival phrase, indicating when the attacks occurred. The parenthetical "(2001)" is a numeric specifier, further modifying the noun phrase to provide the specific year and distinguish the event with absolute clarity. All these elements work together to form a single, cohesive noun phrase that refers to a unique historical event.
Understanding this grammatical structure is crucial for writing. By identifying "attacks" as the main noun, the article's focus is firmly placed on the events themselves. The phrase can be used as a subject (e.g., "The September 11th terrorist attacks (2001) led to significant changes in U.S. policy.") or an object (e.g., "The commission investigated the September 11th terrorist attacks (2001)."). This ensures that the central theme of the article remains the series of events, with the date and nature of the events serving as essential, but descriptive, context for the primary subject.
