1. Unit 1 NOUNS

2. Nouns
Proper nouns have two distinct features: They name specific one-of-a-kind items, and they begin with capital letters, no matter where they occur within a sentence. A proper noun is a word that names a
•Person •Place •Thing •Idea
John Taj Mahal Saturn Theory of Gravity

3. Common Nouns
Common nouns are used to refer to general things rather than specific examples. Common nouns are not normally capitalized unless they are used as part of a proper name or are placed at the beginning of a sentence. Some common noun examples are included in the following sentences.
Be sure to pick a top university.
Stack those boxes carefully.
Would you like a cookie with your coffee?
People are strange.
My dog won’t stop barking.

4. Collective nouns
When talking about types of noun, it’s important to remember collective nouns. A collective noun is a word that refers to a group. It can be either singular or plural, but is usually used in the singular. Some collective noun examples are included in the following sentences.
Our team is enjoying an unbroken winning streak.
There’s a pack of hyenas outside.
Watch out for that swarm of bees.
You haven’t lived until you’ve seen a herd of wild horses.
Our class graduates two years from now.

5. Abstract Nouns
Abstract nouns are words that name things that are not concrete. Your five physical senses cannot detect an abstract noun – you can’t see it, smell it, taste it, hear it, or touch it. In essence, an abstract noun is a quality, a concept, an idea, or maybe even an event.
Love, fear, anger, joy, excitement, and other emotions are abstract nouns.
Courage, bravery, cowardice, and other such states are abstract nouns.
Desire, creativity, uncertainty, and other innate feelings are abstract nouns.
I want to see justice served.
I’d like the freedom to travel all over the world.
Joe felt a nagging sense of doom.
Love is a kind of irresistible desire; it’s hard to define.

6. Compound nouns
Compound nouns are words for people, animals, places, things, or ideas, made up of two or more words. Most compound nouns are made with nouns that have been modified by adjectives or other nouns.
Bus + stop = Bus stop
Let’s just wait at this bus stop.
Fire + flies = fireflies
I love watching fireflies on warm summer nights
Full (Adj) + moon = full moon
Let’s watch the full moon come up over the mountain
Black (Adj) + board = blackboard
Please erase the blackboard for me

7. Possessive Nouns
Possessive nouns demonstrate ownership or some similar relationship over something else. Possessive nouns typically include an apostrophe.
Add ‘s to words to show possession.
Cow’s bell (cow + ‘s)
Sister’s handbag (mother+ ‘s)
Bike’s handles (bike + ‘s)
Children’s ball (children + ‘s)
Fish’s bait (fish + ‘s)
Bus’s tired (bus + ‘s)
Charles’s book (Charles + ‘s)
If you have added an s to a word to make it plural (toy > toys), adding ‘s will sound ridiculous (toys’s). In that case, add only the apostrophe.
Cows’ bell (cow + s + ‘ )
Sisters’ handbags (sister + s + ‘ )
Bikes’ handles (bike + s + ‘ )

8. Singular Noun
When a noun indicates one person, place, thing or idea, it is singular noun.
The boy had a baseball in his hand.
My horse prefers to wear an English saddle.
That cat never seems to tire of jumping in and out of the box.
Your mom is going to be upset about that broken lamp.
It’s not difficult to grow a tree as long as you give it plenty of water.
I can’t believe you let your dog stick his head out the window while you drive.

9. Plural Noun
When a noun indicates more than one person, place, thing or idea, it is plural noun.
The boys were throwing baseballs back and forth between bases.
Our horses are much happier wearing lightweight English saddles.
Those cats never seem to tire of chasing one another in and out of those boxes.
You stole my ideas and didn’t give me any credit.
Our moms are going to be upset that we stayed out all night going to parties.
It’s not too difficult to grow trees as long as you provide them with plenty of water.
I can’t believe you allow your dogs to climb all over the seats while you are driving.

10. Singular and Plural Nouns
Rule #1: The plural of nouns is usually formed by adding s to a singular noun.
Computer + s = computers
Phone + s = phones
Card + s = cards
Flower + s = flowers
Fork + s = forks
Rule #2: Nouns ending in s, z, x, sh, and ch form the plural by adding es.
Boss + es = bosses
Dish+ es = dishes
Torch + es = torches
Fox + es = boxes

11. Singular and Plural Nouns
Rule #4 Nouns ending in y preceded by a vowel form their plurals by adding s.
Ploy + s = ploys
Day + s = days
Clay + s = clays
Tray + s = trays
Rule #3: Nouns ending in y preceded by a consonant are formed into a plural by changing y to ies.
Lad(y) + ies = ladies
Cit(y) + ies = cities
Arm(y) + ies = armies
Curr(y) + ies = curries

12. Singular and Plural Nouns
Rule #6: Some nouns ending in f or fe are made plural by changing f or fe to ves.
Lea(f) + ves = leaves
Wi(fe) + ves = wives
Hal(f) + ves = halves
Li(fe) + ves = lives
Exceptions: Some nouns ending in f or fe form their plurals by adding s. Examples: chief, chiefs; roof, roofs; safe, safes
Rule #5: Most nouns ending in o preceded by a consonant are formed into a plural by adding es.
hero+ es =heroes
grotto + es = grottoes
Although some may add s or es. Examples: halo, tornado and some add s only: Examples: solo, piano, albino, lasso

13. Singular and Plural Nouns
Special Note #1: There are some irregular plurals such as: man, men woman, women ox, oxen mouse, mice goose, geese
Special Note #2: Some nouns have no singular, such as: scissors measles tongs tweezers trousers
Special Note #3: If compound nouns are plural, form the plural with the first word. Examples: Singular Plural son-in-law sons-in-law daughter-in-law daughters-in-law maid of honor maids of honor secretary of state secretaries of state

14. Now take the assessment on nouns!