The term "patriot act date" functions as a noun phrase. In this construction, the head noun, or the main word being described, is "date." The proper noun "Patriot Act" acts as a noun adjunct, which is a noun that modifies another noun and functions adjectivally.
A noun adjunct specifies the type or category of the noun it modifies. Here, "Patriot Act" clarifies exactly which date is the subject, distinguishing it from any other date. This grammatical structure is a common and concise way to form a compound concept, creating a specific semantic unit that refers to a date directly associated with the legislation. The phrase implies a relationship (a date of or related to the Patriot Act) without needing prepositions, making it efficient for use as a keyword or title.
Recognizing this term as a noun phrase is essential because it defines the article's core subject as a specific piece of factual informationa temporal marker. The main point of the article, therefore, should be to identify and explain this specific date. This could refer to the date the legislation was signed into law (October 26, 2001), the dates of its subsequent reauthorizations, or the expiration dates for certain provisions within the act. This grammatical understanding ensures the content directly addresses the subject as a concrete entity rather than an action or a quality.
