Nouns
Objective I-1
IDENTIFY CORRECT NOUN FORMS
(Singular and Plural).
Dr. Patrick Cain
SEHS Assistant Principal
Elmore County Schools
Mrs. Julie Turner
School Improvement Specialist
Dothan City Schools
Noun
A noun is a word that names something: a
person, a place, a thing, or an idea.
Examples:
governor
Alaska
hospital
Southeast Alabama Medical Center
There are five classes of nouns.
•
•
•
•
•
Proper
Common
Concrete
Abstract
Collective
Proper Nouns
A proper noun names a particular person,
place, thing, or idea.
Examples:
• Mr. McGowin
• Stanhope Elmore High School
• Wetumpka High School
Common Nouns
A common noun does not name a particular
person, place, thing, or idea. Common
nouns are not capitalized.
Examples:
• cheerleader
• student
• park
Concrete Nouns
A concrete noun names a thing that is
tangible (can be seen, touched, heard,
smelled, or tasted). Concrete nouns are
either proper or common.
Examples:
• child
• music
• Grand Canyon
Abstract Nouns
An abstract noun names an idea, a
condition, or a feeling—in other words,
something that cannot be touched, smelled,
tasted, seen or heard.
Examples:
• freedom
• greed
• progress
Collective Nouns
A collective noun names a group or a unit.
Examples:
• United States
• team
• crowd
• community
Forms of Nouns
Nouns are grouped according to their
number, gender, and case.
Number of Noun
Number indicates whether the noun is
singular or plural.
• A singular noun refers to ONE person, place, thing,
or idea.
actor
stadium
Canadian bully person
• A plural noun refers to MORE THAN ONE person,
place thing, or idea.
actors stadiums Canadians bullies people
Gender of A Noun
Gender indicates whether a noun is
masculine, feminine, neuter, or indefinite.
• Masculine: uncle, brother, men, bull, rooster,
stallion
• Feminine: aunt, sister, women, cow, hen, filly
• Neuter (without gender): tree, cobweb, garage,
closet
• Indefinite (masculine or feminine): president,
plumber, doctor, parent
Case of a Noun
Case tells how nouns are related to other
words used with them. There are three
cases: nominative, possessive, and
objective.
Now Let’s Practice!
Directions: There are sentences on the next
few slides. For each underlined noun, write
its class (there will be at least two classes for
each) and number.
Checks and balances in the United States
government allow Congress to override a
presidential veto.
Checks and balances in the United States
government allow Congress to override a
presidential veto.
Answer
Class: proper,
abstract, collective
Number: singular
During the American Revolution, George
Washington was commander of the
Continental army.
During the American Revolution, George
Washington was commander of the
Continental army.
Answer
Class: proper, concrete
Number: singular
The tax laws imposed on the colonists by the
British government were viewed as unfair.
The tax laws imposed on the colonists by the
British government were viewed as unfair.
Answer
Class: common, concrete
Number: plural
Plural Nouns
• A plural noun names more than one
person, place, thing, or idea.
• There are different ways to form the
plurals of nouns depending on the
noun.
Most Nouns
Form the plurals of most nouns by adding s
to the singular.
cheerleader—cheerleaders
wheel—wheels
crate--crates
Nouns Ending in sh, ch, x, s, and z
Form the plurals of nouns ending in sh, ch,
x, s, and z, by adding es to the singular.
lunch—lunches
dish—dishes
mess—messes
fox--foxes
Nouns Ending in Y
The plurals of common nouns that end in y—preceded by a
consonant—are formed by changing the y to i and adding
es.
fly—flies
jalopy—jalopies
Form the plural of nouns that end in y—preceded by a
vowel—by adding only an s.
donkey—donkeys monkey—monkeys
Note: Form the plurals of all proper nouns ending
in y by adding s.
Nouns Ending in O
The plurals of nouns ending in o—preceded
by a vowel—are formed by adding an s.
radio—radios rodeo—rodeos
Nouns Ending in O
The plurals of most nouns ending in o—
preceded by a consonant—are formed by
adding es.
echo—echoes
hero—heroes
tomato--tomatoes
Nouns Ending in ful
Form the plurals of nouns that end in ful by
adding an s at the end of the word.
three pailfuls
four mouthfuls
Compound Nouns
Form the plurals of most compound nouns
by adding s or es to the important word in
the compound.
brothers-in-law
maids of honor
secretaries of state
Now Let’s Practice!
Directions: Write the correct plural of
the underlined word in each sentence.
The keyes for the table saw are in
the industrial arts office.
The keyes for the table saw are in
the industrial arts office.
Answer
keys
We followed our guide across three
mountain pass’s to get to Blaine’s Ridge.
We followed our guide across three
mountain pass’s to get to Blaine’s Ridge.
Answer
passes
The landscaping staff will plant lilac bushs
along the walk to the main entrance.
The landscaping staff will plant lilac bushs
along the walk to the main entrance.
Answer
bushes
The Turners looked at five different patioes
before picking out a design they liked.
The Turners looked at five different patioes
before picking out a design they liked.
Answers
patios
Work With A Partner
Directions:
Write a sentence for the plural of each of the
following words.
ray
tress
glassful
territory
Work With A Partner
Directions:
Write a sentence for the plural of each of the
following words.
rays
tresses
glassfuls
territories
Nouns Ending in f or fe
Form the plurals of nouns that end in f or fe in one
of two ways: if the final f sound is still heard in the
plural form of the word, simply add s; but if the final
f sound becomes a v sound, change the f to ve
and add s.
Plural ends with f sound: roof—roofs: chief—chiefs
Plural ends with v sound: wife—wives; loaf--loaves
Irregular Spelling
A number of words from a plural by taking
on an irregular spelling.
crisis—crises child—children radius—radii
criterion—criteria goose—geese die—dice
Some nouns remain unchanged when used
as plurals.
deer
moose sheep salmon aircraft series
Collective Nouns
A collective noun may be singular or plural depending
upon how it’s used. A collective noun is singular
when it refers to a group considered as one unit; it is
plural when it refers to the individuals in the group.
The class was on its best behavior. (group as a unit)
The class are preparing for their final exams.
(individuals in the group.)
Now Let’s Practice!
Directions: Write the plural form of the
word in parentheses.
When David opened the musty trunk, he
was startled to see four (mouse) staring
back at him.
When David opened the musty trunk, he
was startled to see four mice staring
back at him.
Isle Royal an island in Lake Superior,
supports a population of about 1,000
(moose).
Isle Royal an island in Lake Superior,
supports a population of about 1,000
moose.
The men and their (wife) were driven to the
game in a limousine.
The men and their wives were driven to the
game in a limousine.
How would a question about
nouns look on the AHSGE?
1. Choose the sentence that is written correctly.
A. A chorus of donkeys greeted the
dawn.
B. The Smith’s bought a new house last week.
C. The author added four appendix to her
book.
D. Three young foxen were romping in the
snow.
1. Choose the sentence that is written correctly.
A. A chorus of donkeys greeted the
dawn.
B. The Smith’s bought a new house last week.
C. The author added four appendix to her
book.
D. Three young foxen were romping in the
snow.
2. Choose the sentence that contains an error.
A. Can anyone name all of the gulfs on
the map?
B. Bushs alone the roadside were turning
green.
C. The waves crashed onto the beach with a
roar.
D. There were many kinds of potatoes in the
supermarket.
2. Choose the sentence that contains an error.
A. Can anyone name all of the gulfs on
the map?
B. Bushs alone the roadside were turning
green.
C. The waves crashed onto the beach with a
roar.
D. There were many kinds of potatoes in the
supermarket.
CAUTION
What was the difference between questions
one and two?
The first question asked you to choose the
sentence that was written correctly. The
second question asked you to choose the
sentence that contained an error (sentence
written incorrectly).
READ EACH QUESTION CAREFULLY!!