Finding Nouns Before viewing this presentation, it would be helpful to be comfortable with the verb presentations that are available on this site.

Nouns, as you may know, are often described as being the words that are people, places, things, and/or ideas/concepts. Nouns are the words that do the action of the sentence or are affected by it. As an example Tom from Connecticut gave Sarah a token of their friendship. So what would you say were the nouns of that sentence?

Tom from Connecticut gave Sarah a token of their friendship. “Tom” and “Sarah” are people and therefore are nouns. “Connecticut” is a place and therefore is a noun. “token” is a thing and therefore is a noun. “friendship” is an idea or concept and therefore is a noun. The people and objects can be easy to see as nouns. However, the nouns that you cannot see or touch can be more challenging as with “friendship” or “excellence” or “health” or “importance” or “wisdom” to name a few. What might help is to place one of the three articles – a, an, the – in front of the word in question. Therefore, you could recognize “the wisdom” or “the importance” or “the health” or “the excellence.” If you try it with a word that is not a noun, you will soon see how “the foolish” or “a troubling” or “a passionately” all fall flat. They aren’t nouns. Try another – find the nouns in the following sentence. The catcher hit the ball into a parking lot beyond the fence.

The catcher hit the ball into the parking lot beyond the fence. T h e “ c a t c h e r ” i s a p e r s o n a n d t h e r e f o r e i s a n o u n. T h e “ b a l l ” i s a t h i n g o r a n o b j e c t a n d t h e r e f o r e i s a n o u n. T h e “ l o t ” i s a p l a c e a n d t h e r e f o r e i s a n o u n. ( “ p a r k i n g ” i s a n a d j e c t i v e t h a t d e s c r i b e s t h e “ l o t. ” ) “ f e n c e ” i s a t h i n g a n d t h e r e f o r e i s a n o u n. Aside from the definition of what a noun is, there can sometimes be clues as to where to look for them. For example, the three articles of the English language, “a,” “an,” and “the,” all announce a noun is on its way. It may not be the first word after the noun, but if it is not, it will arrive soon.

Therefore, in the sentence we just looked at “The catcher hit the ball into a parking lot beyond the fence.” Note how “the” announced the word “catcher” and “fence” Note how “a” announced the word “lot.” Another way to locate nouns is to recognize prepositional phrases; once you can recognize these phrases, you will discover that every prepositional phrase ends with a noun.

In that same sentence, “The catcher hit the ball into a parking lot beyond the fence.. There are two prepositional phrases “into a parking lot” “beyond the fence” Try another – find the nouns in the following sentence. The sheer rock face challenged the courage and skill of our best climber.

The sheer rock face challenged the courage and skill of our best climber.The “face” is a thing and is therefore a noun. (“sheer” and “rock” are both adjectives that describe the noun “face.”)“courage” and “skill” are both ideas/concepts and therefore are nouns.“climber” is a person and therefore is a noun. (“our” and “best” are both adjectives that describe the noun “climber.”)Note the articles and the prepositional phrase “of our best climber”The sheer rock face challenged the courage and skill of our best climber.The “face” is a thing and is therefore a noun. (“sheer” and “rock” are both adjectives that describe the noun “face.”)“courage” and “skill” are both ideas/concepts and therefore are nouns.“climber” is a person and therefore is a noun. (“our” and “best” are both adjectives that describe the noun “climber.”)Note the articles and the prepositional phrase “of our best climber” Try another – find the nouns of the following sentence. Did you find your key to the closet door?

Did you find your key to the closet door? “ Y o u ” i s a p e r s o n a n d t h e r e f o r e i s a n o u n. “ k e y ” i s a t h i n g a n d i s t h e r e f o r e a n o u n. ( “ y o u r ” i s a n a d j e c t i v e t h a t d e s c r i b e s t h e n o u n “ k e y ) ” “ d o o r ” i s a t h i n g a n d i s t h e r e f o r e a n o u n ( “ c l o s e t ” i s a n a d j e c t i v e t h a t d e s c r i b e s t h e n o u n “ d o o r. ” ) A N D ( “ t o t h e c l o s e t d o o r ” i s a p r e p o s i t i o n a l p h r a s e a n d s o “ d o o r ” m u s t b e a n o u n. ) Try another – find the noun in the following sentence. The energy required an experiment of this kind exceeds our capacity.

The energy required an experiment of this kind exceeds our capacity.“energy” is a concept or idea and is therefore a noun.“experiment” is a thing and is therefore a noun. (“this is a pronoun working as an adjective.) AND “an” as an article introduces the“experiment.”“kind” is a noun (“This is a pronoun that in this sentence is working as anadjective that tells you which “kind.”) AND (“of this kind” is a prepositional phrase and so you know that “kind” must be a noun.“capacity” is a concept or idea and is therefore a noun. (“our” ispronoun working as an adjective to describe “capacity.”)The energy required an experiment of this kind exceeds our capacity.“energy” is a concept or idea and is therefore a noun.“experiment” is a thing and is therefore a noun. (“this is a pronoun working as an adjective.) AND “an” as an article introduces the“experiment.”“kind” is a noun (“This is a pronoun that in this sentence is working as anadjective that tells you which “kind.”) AND (“of this kind” is a prepositional phrase and so you know that “kind” must be a noun.“capacity” is a concept or idea and is therefore a noun. (“our” ispronoun working as an adjective to describe “capacity.”) Ready for another? Then, find the nouns in this sentence. Under the guidance of our sergeant we completed the mission in record time.

Under the guidance of the sergeant the platoon completed the mission in record time.“guidance” is a noun (note the article “the”)“sergeant” is a noun (note the article “the”)“platoon” is a noun (note the article “the”)“mission” is a noun (note the article “the”)“time” is a noun. (“record” is an adjective in this sentence anddescribes the noun “time.”) AND (“in record time” is a prepositional phrase, and so “time” must be working as a noun.Under the guidance of the sergeant the platoon completed the mission in record time.“guidance” is a noun (note the article “the”)“sergeant” is a noun (note the article “the”)“platoon” is a noun (note the article “the”)“mission” is a noun (note the article “the”)“time” is a noun. (“record” is an adjective in this sentence anddescribes the noun “time.”) AND (“in record time” is a prepositional phrase, and so “time” must be working as a noun. Find the nouns in the following sentence In the morning Lucy enjoyed an iced coffee, bagels, and gummy worms.

In the morning Lucy enjoyed an iced coffee, bagel and gummy worms. “morning” is a noun (note the article “the”) AND (“in the morning is a prepositional phrase.) “Lucy” is a noun “coffee” is a noun. (“iced” is an adjective describing it.) AND (“an” is an article introducing “coffee,” “bagel,” and “worms.”) “bagel” is a noun “worms” is a noun (“gummy” is the adjective describing what kind of “worms” Lucy likes to consume – at least in the morning.) Find the nouns in the following sentence. The importance of this phase of the work cannot be stressed enough.

The importance of this phase of the work cannot be stressed enough. “importance” is a noun (note “the”) “phase” is a noun (“this” is a pronoun working as an adjective describing “phase.”) AND (“of this phase” is a prepositional phrase) “work” is a noun (note “the”) Find the nouns in the following sentence Independent study often captures the imagination of some students.

Independent study often captures the imagination of some students. “study” is a noun with ”independent” being an adjective that describes it. “imagination” is a noun (note “the”) “students” is a noun (“some” is a pronoun working as an adjective describing students.”) AND ( “of some students” is a prepositional phrase) Please note that not all nouns are introduced with articles – “study” Try another? Briana’s effort in the game impressed the players on both teams.

Briana’s effort in the game impressed the players on both teams. “effort” is a noun (“Briana’s” is an adjective that describes “effort” by telling you whose effort.) “game” is a noun (note “the) “players” is a noun (note “the”) “teams” is a noun (“both” is a pronoun working as an adjective describing the “teams”) AND (“on both teams” is a prepositional phrase) Find the nouns in the following sentence. In the meantime, Horace wrote about his involvement with a radical group of mathematicians. (pun intended)

In the meantime, Horace wrote about his involvement with a radical group of mathematicians. (pun intended) “meantime” is a noun “Horace” is a noun “involvement” is a noun (“his “ is a pronoun working as its adjective) “group” is a noun (“radical” is an adjective describing the “group.” “mathematicians” is a noun.) Find the nouns in the following sentence At the town meeting did my response answer your question?

At the town meeting did my response answer your question? “meeting” is a noun (“town” is an adjective in this sentence because it describes what kind of “meeting” it was.) “response” is a noun (“my” is a pronoun working as an adjective to describe whose “response” it was.) “question” is a noun (“your” is a pronoun working as an adjective to describe whose “question” it was.) Find the nouns in the following sentence. The obstacle course is a real challenge not only because of its length but because of its difficulty as well.

The obstacle course is a real challenge not only because of its length but because of the difficulty as well. “course” is a noun (“obstacle” is an adjective to describe what kind of “course” it is.) “challenge” is a noun (“real” is an adjective that describes what kind of “challenge” it is.) “length” is a noun (“its” is a pronoun working as an adjective) “difficulty” is a noun.) Find the nouns in the following sentence. On top of the refrigerator is Hannah’s notebook for her science class.

On top of the refrigerator is Hannah’s notebook for her science class.“top” is a noun“refrigerator” is a noun“notebook” is a noun (Hannah’s is an adjective working to describe whose “notebook” it is“class” is a noun (“his” is a pronoun working as an adjective to describewhose “class” it was AND “science” in this sentence is an adjectivethat describes what kind of “class” it is.On top of the refrigerator is Hannah’s notebook for her science class.“top” is a noun“refrigerator” is a noun“notebook” is a noun (Hannah’s is an adjective working to describe whose “notebook” it is“class” is a noun (“his” is a pronoun working as an adjective to describewhose “class” it was AND “science” in this sentence is an adjectivethat describes what kind of “class” it is. Find the nouns in the following sentence The situation is tense and uncertain, but the tension and uncertainty will not last a long time.

The present situation is tense and uncertain, but the tension and uncertainty will not last a long time.“situation” is a noun (“present” is an adjective describing the “situation”“tension” I a noun“uncertainty” is a noun“time” is a noun (“long” is an adjective describing “time”The present situation is tense and uncertain, but the tension and uncertainty will not last a long time.“situation” is a noun (“present” is an adjective describing the “situation”“tension” I a noun“uncertainty” is a noun“time” is a noun (“long” is an adjective describing “time” Find the nouns in the following sentence. The waste of plastic water bottles rode in on the tide and collected on the beach.

The waste of plastic water bottles rode in on the tide and collected onthe beach.“waste” is a noun“bottles” is a noun (both “plastic” and “water” are adjectives)“tide” is a noun“beach” is a nounThe waste of plastic water bottles rode in on the tide and collected onthe beach.“waste” is a noun“bottles” is a noun (both “plastic” and “water” are adjectives)“tide” is a noun“beach” is a noun Find the nouns in the following sentence The pilot knew the terrain of this area like the back of their hand

The pilot knew the terrain of this area like the back of their hand.“pilot” is a noun“terrain” is a noun“area” is a noun (“this” is a pronoun that describes the “area”“back” is a noun“hand” is a noun (“their” is a pronoun that describes “hand”The pilot knew the terrain of this area like the back of their hand.“pilot” is a noun“terrain” is a noun“area” is a noun (“this” is a pronoun that describes the “area”“back” is a noun“hand” is a noun (“their” is a pronoun that describes “hand” Last one! The conductor with a stern look on his face pointed his baton in my direction.

The conductor with a stern look on his face pointed the baton in my direction. “conductor” is a noun “look” is a noun (“stern” is an adjective describing the “look” “face” is a noun (“his” is an pronoun describing whose “face” it was “baton” is a noun “direction” is a noun (“my” is an adjective that describes which “direction.” The End!