The keyword phrase "patriots day sergeant jeffrey" functions as a proper noun phrase. Within this structure, "Patriots Day" acts as a noun adjunct, modifying the core proper noun "Sergeant Jeffrey." The entire phrase serves to identify a single, specific entity: the character of Sergeant Jeffrey Pugliese as depicted in the 2016 film Patriots Day.
Grammatically, a proper noun names a specific person, place, or organization. Here, "Sergeant Jeffrey" refers to a particular individual. The preceding noun, "Patriots Day," narrows the context, specifying that the subject is the character from that particular film, not any other individual with the same name and rank. This use of one noun to describe another is a common construction in English. The phrase refers to the character portrayed by actor J.K. Simmons, which is based on the real-life actions of Watertown Police Sergeant Jeffrey Pugliese during the manhunt for the Boston Marathon bombers.
Understanding this grammatical classification is crucial because it establishes the article's subject with high specificity. By identifying the keyword as a proper noun phrase, the focus is defined not as a general topic but as an analysis of a specific individual within a particular narrative context. This directs the article's content toward the character's role in the film, the performance of the actor, and the heroic actions of the real-life person upon whom the character is based, rather than a broader discussion of police sergeants or the Patriots' Day holiday.
