Nouns

Nouns

• A noun is a word used to name a person, place, thing, or idea.

• Person – architect

• Place – neighborhood

• Thing – money

• Idea – courage

NOUNS

• There are two basic kinds of nouns:

• proper nouns

• common nouns

COMMON NOUNS

• Common nouns name any person, place, thing, or idea.

• They can be either concrete or abstract

CONCRETE NOUNS

• Concrete nouns name things that can be…

• seen • heard

• smelled • touched• Tasted

• Examples: city, calendar

ABSTRACT NOUNS

• Abstract nouns name ideas qualities, feelings, or characteristics that do not use the five senses.

• Examples are: progress, time, culture

PROPER NOUNS

• Proper nouns name specific persons, places, things, or ideas.

• The first word and all other important words in a proper noun are capitalized.

• Examples: Monday, African American

COMPOUND NOUNS

• A compound noun is two or more words used together as a single noun.

• A compound noun can be written 3 different ways.

• One word – videocassette• Separated words – compact disc• Hypenated word – self-esteem

COLLECTIVE NOUNS

• A collective noun is a word that names a group.

• Examples: committee, flock, team, troop

Every collective noun can have either a singular meaning or a plural meaning.

• When speaking about a group as a unit, the noun has a singular meaning. A collective noun stands for more than one without adding an “s” to the ending.

• Example:• The entire audience applauds the performance.

(singular)• The committee argue with one another over the

rules. (plural)

The “IT/THEY” rule

• If you can substitute the word “it” for the collective noun (and any words that describe it), the collective noun is singular.

• If you can substitute “they”, the collective noun is plural.

• Example: The family eat their sandwiches.• It eat their sandwiches. (incorrect)• They eat their sandwiches. (correct/plural)

POSSESSIVE NOUNS

• Possessive nouns show ownership or relationship.

• Possessive nouns function as adjectives when they modify a noun.

• Example:The duck’s feathers are colorful.

duck’s modifies feathers

I held Corey’s camera.

Corey’s modifies camera

POSSESSIVE NOUNS

• If the noun is singular or doesn’t end with an “s”, add an apostrophe and then s.

• If the noun ends in an “s”, but is not plural, add an apostrophe and then s. James’s

• If it is plural add the apostrophe after the “s”. Desks’

•Review

• __________ name specific people, places, things, or ideas.

• proper nouns

• A(n) __________ is a noun that names ideas, qualities, or feelings.

• abstract noun

• The two basic kinds of nouns are _________ and _________.

• common, proper

• A(n) ________ is a word used to name any person, place, thing, or idea.

• common noun

Tell whether the following is common or proper. If it is common, tell whether it is

concrete or abstract.

• people

• Common, concrete

Tell whether the following is common or proper. If it is common, tell whether it is

concrete or abstract.

• The Republic of Congo

• proper

Tell whether the following is common or proper. If it is common, tell whether it is

concrete or abstract.

• pleasure

• common, abstract

Tell whether the following is common or proper. If it is common, tell whether it is

concrete or abstract.

• Rain

• common, concrete

Tell whether the following is common or proper. If it is common, tell whether it is

concrete or abstract.

• imagination

• common, abstract

The three ways a compound noun can be written are…

• One word

• Separated

• Hyphenated

Find the compound nouns in the following sentences

• We always celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at our high school.

• St. Patrick’s Day, high school

• I have eaten meatloaf at Mel’s Diner many times.

• Meatloaf, Mel’s Diner

class

• A) compound, concrete

• B) common, abstract

• C) common, collective

• D) proper, collective

• C) common, collective

stream

• A) common, concrete

• B) common, abstract

• C) common, compound

• D) common, collective

• A) common, concrete

victory

• A) compound, common

• B) common, abstract

• C) collective, abstract

• D) common, collective

• B) common, abstract