The term "Patriots Day 2016" functions as a proper noun phrase. It acts as a single grammatical unit to name a specific, unique event: the observance of the holiday Patriots Day in a particular year.
This phrase is composed of two main elements. The core is "Patriots Day," which is a proper noun identifying a specific holiday. The cardinal number "2016" functions as a postpositive adjectival, a modifier that follows the noun it describes. Its role is to specify which iteration of the holiday is being referenced, distinguishing it from the same holiday in any other year. The entire construction operates cohesively as a noun, capable of serving as the subject, object, or object of a preposition within a sentence.
Identifying this term as a proper noun phrase is crucial for its correct application in an article. This classification dictates that it must be treated as a specific name, which governs capitalization rules (i.e., "Patriots Day" is capitalized). Grammatically, it ensures the phrase is used correctly in sentence structures, for instance, as a subject ("Patriots Day 2016 marked the 120th Boston Marathon") or an object ("The film depicts Patriots Day 2016"). This understanding prevents the components from being treated as separate, modifiable words and ensures syntactic clarity.
