In noun phrases there is a specific order as well.
The order can be changed to emphasize single noun phrases.
This only affects the first word in a noun phrase.
The factors governing the word order within noun phrases is not known.
More recently, it has been suggested that D is the head of the noun phrase.
The distinction is crucial for the analysis of noun phrases as well, however.
But one can also stand in for bigger sub parts of a noun phrase.
An additional noun phrase could be placed before the subject to serve as the topic.
The noun phrase is the agent or the experiencer of the action.
One thinks here, for example, of noun phrases being used in response to wh-questions.