8 Types of Nouns

Common and Proper Nouns A common noun names any person, place, thing or idea. Examples: My book is on the table. Tamika went to school early this morning. A proper noun names a specific person, place, thing or idea. These nouns should be Capitalized My book, Long Walk to Freedom, is on the table. Tamika goes to Oglethorpe Elementary.

Study the difference Common Noun Proper Noun writer teacher beagle cookie city restaurant document school Herman Melville Mrs. Tanya Snoopy Oreo Ambarawa Double Decker Declaration of Independence University of Southern Calofornia

Proper nouns catagories Holidays: Christmas, New Year’s Day, Hanukkah, Thanksgiving Geographical areas: San Francisco, Europe, Spain, the Nile River People and pets: Mrs. Caroline Jones, Rip Van Winkle, Snoopy Books, Newspapers, Magazines: Wuthering Heights, Atlanta Journal, Southern Living Companies and organizations: Google, ChildFund International, General Electric Religious terms: Christian, Methodist, Hindu, God, Allah Places, buildings: Yellowstone National Park, Empire State Building, Ritz-Carlton Titles: President Bush, King George, Queen Elizabeth, Judge Judy (titles are not capitalized when they’re referred to in general terms.  For example: The criminal appeared before the judge. Languages: English, French, Italian Brand names: Coach, Pepsi, Lucky Possessive Proper Nouns : Mary’s coat, United States’ rules

Singular and Plural Nouns A singular noun names one person, place, thing or idea. Examples: My pencil is broken. May I borrow a piece of paper? A plural noun names more than one person, place, thing or idea. My pencils are broken. My papers are scattered around the floor.

More on Plural Nouns We can make a plural noun by simply adding the letter “s” Example: paper => papers book => books pencil => pencils We also add “es” in a word which ends with: -ch, -x, -s or s like sounds Example: witch => witches box => boxes bus => buses Jones => Joneses

But change the –y to an i and and es Example: baby => babies reality => realities p.s. this rule does not apply to proper nouns Kennedy => Kennedies (X) Kennedys

For an –o ending word, just add es after the –o Example: potato => potatoes hero => heroes Exception: memo => memos cello => cellos and words where another vowel comes before the o (stereo => stereos)

Words which end with -f or –fe usually change into v and add s or es Example: knife => knives leaf => leaves hoof => hooves life => lives self => selves elf => elves wife => wives Exception: dwarf = dwarfs, roof = roofs

Irregular Plural Nouns Notice that not all words remain the same rules. Child => children Woman => women Person => people Goose => geese Mouse => mice Deer => deer Fish => fish Tooth => teeth

Nucleus => nuclei Syllabus => syllabi Focus => foci Fungus => fungi Cactus => cacti (cactuses is acceptable) Thesis => theses Crisis => crises Phenomenon => phenomena Index => indices (indexes is acceptable) appendix => appendices (appendixes is OK) Criterion => criteria

Possessive Nouns A possessive noun shows ownership. It uses an apostrophe (‘) or an apostrophe plus an –s on the end. Examples: The boys’ basketball team is walking down the hall. I borrowed my sister’s shirt. p.s. Charles’s house or Charles’ house both are correct

Concrete and Abstract Nouns A concrete noun names a material thing, person, or place. It is something that can be perceived by human’s five senses. Examples: A parade began at 7 o’clock to celebrate the Fourth of July. An abstract noun names ideas, feelings, or qualities. They cannot be physically touched. Lynn wept in sorrow over the loss of her dog.

peace warmth hospitality information anger education melancholy softness violence conduct courage leisure knowledge safety shopping justice chaos progress speed experience time friendship trouble work culture virtue taste evil liberty democracy death grief piety

Collective Nouns Collective nouns are name a group or collection of people, places, things or ideas. They are considered one unit and so they are singular. Examples: The crowd sounds like a herd of elephants. The staff includes professionals and nonprofessionals. The group of students is standing in line.

Countable and Uncountable Nouns Countable nouns are nouns that can be counted. Most nouns in English are countable. Example: two dogs three cars A pencil Uncountable nouns are nouns that are not counted in English. They don’t have plural forms. Example: water Rice Oil Money Sand Advice

 - articles Countable Uncountable a Many Much Few A few Little A little some any A lot of Lots of no Enough Plenty of

Gerund Nouns A gerund is a noun made from a verb by adding "-ing.“ Example: reading Swimming Fishing those words state as hobbies. Hobby is noun.

Let’s Practice Read the sentences on the back of your reference sheet. Pay attention to the underlined nouns. Circle the type of noun that is underlined. Be sure to circle all types that apply.