Understanding Nouns: Types, Examples, and Rules

1. NOUNS CONCRETE, ABSTRACT, COMPOUND, COLLECTIVE, AND APPOSITIVE PLUS A REVIEW OF COMMON, PROPER, PLURAL, AND POSSESSIVE

2. WHAT IS A NOUN? • A NOUN NAMES A PERSON, PLACE, THING, OR IDEA! • THERE ARE TWO BASIC KINDS OF NOUNS: • A PROPER NOUN NAMES A SPECIFIC PERSON, PLACE, THING, OR IDEA. • A COMMON NOUN NAMES ANY PERSON, PLACE, THING, OR IDEA.

3. PRACTICE IDENTIFY THE COMMON AND PROPER NOUNS. 1. GUGLIELMO MARCONI SENT THE FIRST ELECTRONIC SIGNALS THROUGH THE AIR. • PROPER=GULIELMO MARCONI COMMON=SIGNALS, AIR 2. WITH HIS EQUIPMENT, MARCONI SENT THE FIRST SIGNALS ACROSS THE ATLANTIC OCEAN. • PROPER=MARCONI, ATLANTIC OCEAN COMMON=EQUIPMENT, SIGNALS 3. REGINALD FRESSENDEN WAS THE FIRST PERSON TO TRANSMIT HIS VOICE ON RADIO. • PROPER=REGINALD FRESSENDEN COMMON=PERSON, VOICE, RADIO

4. CONCRETE AND ABSTRACT NOUNS • CONCRETE NOUNS NAME THINGS YOU CAN SEE OR TOUCH. • INVENTOR, CITY, CALENDAR, TRUMPET • ABSTRACT NOUNS NAME IDEAS, QUALITIES, OR CHARACTERISTICS. • IDEA, PROGRESS, TIME, CULTURE

5. PRACTICE IDENTIFY THE CONCRETE AND ABSTRACT NOUNS 1. PEOPLE WITH IMAGINATION HAVE BEEN INVENTING THINGS FROM THE EARLIEST TIME. • CONCRETE=PEOPLE, THINGS ABSTRACT=IMAGINATION, TIME 2. THE FIRST INVENTIONS WERE BASED ON THE NEED FOR FOOD AND PROTECTION. • CONCRETE=INVENTIONS, FOOD ABSTRACT=NEED, PROTECTION 3. EARLY TOOLS WERE CREATED FROM NATURAL THINGS-WOOD, BONE, STONE, AND HIDES. • CONCRETE=TOOLS, THINGS, WOOD, BONE, STONE, HIDES ABSTRACT=NONE

6. PLURAL AND COMPOUND NOUNS WHAT IS A PLURAL NOUN? • A PLURAL NOUN NAMES MORE THAN ONE THING AND USUALLY ENDS IN S OR ES. COMPOUND NOUNS ARE NOUNS THAT ARE MADE UP OF TWO OR MORE WORDS. • THEY MAY BE WRITTEN AS ONE WORD-HOMETOWN-OR AS MORE THAN ONE WORD-ICE CREAM. THEY MAY EVEN BE WRITTEN WITH HYPHENS AS IN MOTHER-IN-LAW

7. COMPOUND PLURAL NOUN RULES IN ORDER TO MAKE A COMPOUND NOUN PLURAL-THERE ARE SOME SPECIAL RULES THAT NEED TO BE FOLLOWED! FORMING PLURAL COMPOUND NOUNS TO MAKE PLURAL EXAMPLES ONE WORD Add –s to most words. Add –es to most words that end in ch, sh, s, or x. fireplaces, bookmarks, strongboxes HYPHENATED Make the most important part of the word plural. runners-up, mothers-in law, great-grandmothers MORE THAN ONE WORD Make the most important part of the word plural. Music boxes, dining rooms, mads of honor

8. PRACTICE MAKE THE FOLLOWING COMPOUND NOUNS PLURAL. 1. STEAM ENGINE • STEAM ENGINES 2. WHEELBARROW • WHEELBARROWS 3. ICE SKATE • ICE SKATES 4. JACK-OF-ALL-TRADES • JACKS-OF-ALL-TRADES 5. STEPSISTER • STEPSISTERS

9. POSSESSIVE NOUNS WHAT IS A POSSESSIVE NOUN? • A POSSESSIVE NOUN NAMES WHO OR WHAT OWNS OR HAS SOMETHING. • POSSESSIVE NOUNS CAN BE COMMON OR PROPER. • POSSESSIVE NOUNS CAN BE SINGULAR OR PLURAL. • POSSESSIVE NOUNS HAVE AN APOSTROPHE! • MIKO OWNS A BOOK ABOUT INVENTIONS. • MIKO’S BOOK IS ABOUT INVENTION.

10. RULES FOR FORMING POSSESSIVE NOUNS FORMING POSSESSIVE NOUNS NOUNS TO FORM POSSESSIVES EXAMPLES Most singular nouns Add an apostrophe and –s (‘s) A girl- a girl’s coat Wichita- Wichita’s population Singular nouns ending in -s Add an apostrophe and –s (‘s) Joseph Ives- Joseph Ives’s clock Alexis-Alexis’s book Plural nouns ending in -s Add an apostrophe (‘) Boys-boys’ shoes The Wrights-the Wrights’ plane Plural nouns not ending in -s Add an apostrophe and –s (‘s) Children-children’s toy Women-women’s organization

11. DISTINGUISHING PLURALS, POSSESSIVE, AND CONTRACTIONS Plural/Possessive Nouns and Contractions Example Meaning Plural noun The scientists met. more than one scientist Plural possessive noun (notice the apostrophe is after the s) The scientists’ discovery was important. the discovery of the scientists. Singular possessive noun The scientist’s photograph is in the newspaper. the photograph of one scientist Possessive nouns Elaine’s invention is a new bell. the invention by Elaine Contraction Elaine’s going to the exhibit. Elaine is going

12. PRACTICE IDENTIFY THE POSSESSIVE NOUN AND DECIDE WHETHER IT IS SINGULAR OR PLURAL. 1. THIS ARTICLE’S TOPIC IS SPACE FLIGHT. ARTICLE’S-SINGULAR 2. RUSSIA’S THE FIRST NATION WITH A SPACE SATELLITE. RUSSIA’S-SINGULAR 3. FARMERS’ CROPS NEED GOOD WEATHER. FARMERS’-PLURAL 4. THE MEN’S BATHROOM IS LOCATED IN THE BACK OF THE SPACE SHUTTLE. MEN’S-PLURAL 5. A ROCKET’S LAUNCH IS EXCITING TO WATCH. ROCKET’S-SINGULAR

13. COLLECTIVE NOUNS • A COLLECTIVE NOUN NAMES A GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS. EVERY COLLECTIVE NOUN CAN HAVE EITHER A SINGULAR MEANING OR A PLURAL MEANING. IF YOU ARE SPEAKING ABOUT THE GROUP AS A UNIT, THEN THE NOUN HAS A SINGULAR MEANING. IF YOU WANT TO REFER TO THE INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS OF THE GROUP, THEN THE NOUN HAS A PLURAL MEANING. EXAMPLE: THE WHOLE FLOCK ENTERS THE MEADOW THROUGH A GATE. (A UNIT, SINGULAR) EXAMPLE: THE FLOCK ENTER BY DIFFERENT GATES. (INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS, PLURAL)

14. PRACTICE IDENTIFY THE COLLECTIVE NOUNS AND DECIDE WHETHER IT IS SINGULAR OR PLURAL. 1. THE CROWD SHAKES THE STADIUM WITH ITS SCHOOL CHEER. CROWD-SINGULAR 2. THE CROWD LEAVE THEIR SEATS. CROWD-PLURAL 3. THE COMMITTEE ARGUE WITH ONE ANOTHER OVER THE RULES. COMMITTEE-PLURAL 4. THE COMMITTEE HOLDS ITS FIRST MEETING TONIGHT. COMMITTEE-SINGULAR 5. THE CLASS GIVE THEIR VARIOUS OPINIONS ABOUT THE ISSUE. CLASS-PLURAL

15. APPOSITIVES • AN APPOSITIVE IS A NOUN PLACED NEXT TO ANOTHER NOUN TO IDENTIFY IT OR ADD INFORMATION ABOUT IT. EXAMPLE: NICOLAS-FRANCOIS APPERT, A CHEF, MADE AN IMPORTANT DISCOVERY. • AN APPOSITIVE PHRASE IS A GROUP OF WORDS THAT INCLUDES AN APPOSITIVE AND OTHER WORDS THAT DESCRIBE THE APPOSITIVE. EXAMPLE: APPERT, AN EXPERT ON FOOD, WORRIED ABOUT FOOD SPOILAGE.

16. PRACTICE UNDERLINE THE APPOSITIVE OR APPOSITIVE PHRASE AND THEN CIRCLE THE NOUN THE APPOSITIVE IDENTIFIES. 1. FOOD SPOILAGE, A SERIOUS SOCIAL HEALTH PROBLEM, WAS CAUSING DISEASE. 2. A PRIZE, A LARGE SUM OF MONEY, WAS THE GOVERNMENT’S REWARD FOR A SOLUTION. 3. APPERT’S METHOD INCLUDED PACKING FOOD INTO CONTAINERS, WIDE-MOUTHED GLASS BOTTLES. 4. EACH BOTTLE HAD ITS OWN TIGHT SEAL, CORK AND WIRE. 5. A CLOTH SACK, ONE MORE PROTECTION, WAS WRAPPED AROUND EACH BOTTLE.