The keyword phrase "sep 11 this year" functions as a noun phrase. In this context, it operates as a single grammatical unit that names a specific event or point in time, much like a proper noun. It is treated as the central subject or object of discussion rather than as a modifier of another element.
Grammatically, a noun phrase can serve in various nominal roles within a sentence, such as the subject, direct object, or object of a preposition. For example, it can be the subject (" Sep 11 this year will mark the anniversary."), the direct object ("The nation will observe sep 11 this year."), or the object of a preposition ("All preparations are for sep 11 this year."). The core of the phrase is the proper noun "sep 11," which is post-modified by the temporal specifier "this year." While the phrase inherently conveys time, its syntactic function in this usage is that of a noun.
Identifying the phrase as a noun is crucial because it establishes the date itself as the primary topic of the article. This classification allows the content to explore, analyze, and define the significance of this specific date as an entity or concept. It shifts the focus from using the date as a simple time reference (an adverbial function) to treating it as the core subject matter to be elaborated upon.
