Can the phrase 'instead of' take anything other than nouns?

[SudiptaB23]

Hi,

Can the phrase 'instead of' take anything other than nouns ?

The reason I am asking this is that 'of' being a preposition can only take nouns.

Please suggest.

Regards,
Sudipta.

[RonPurewal]

it should be followed by a noun.

why? did you see a problem in which it does something else?

[SudiptaB23]

I just want to know whether the phrase 'instead of' can take anything other than the following ?

noun, pronouns(objective in nature), gerund (acts as nouns), and noun clauses

Regards,
Sudipta.

[sana.noor]

Respected Ron,
if i write "computers handle standard business transactions instead of on paper"
is "instead of on paper" right.
i was going through official guide 2016 and found this construction in one of the choices.

[RonPurewal]

Respected Ron,
if i write "computers handle standard business transactions instead of on paper"
is "instead of on paper" right.
i was going through official guide 2016 and found this construction in one of the choices.

'on paper' is not a noun. so, no, that's not right.