___________________________
___________________________
Common, Proper, Concrete, __Common, Proper, Concrete, Abstract, Singular, etc.
Abstract, Singular, and
___________________________
Plural Nouns
_________
Common Noun names a specific person, place, thing, or idea. (inventor, village, story)
Proper Noun names any one class of people, place, thing, or idea. (Alexander Graham Bell)
Concrete Nouns things that you can see or touch. (document, crown, snow)
Abstract Nouns name ideas, qualities, or feelings that cannot be seen or touched. (truth,
courage)
Singular Noun: When a noun means one only, it is said to be singular. (boy, girl, book)
Plural Noun: When a noun means more than one, it is said to be plural. (boys, girls, books)
Rule 1: The plural of nouns is usually formed by adding - s to a singular noun. lamp - lamps
Rule 2: Nouns ending in s, z, x, sh, and ch form the plural by adding - es. moss - mosses
Rule 3: Most nouns ending in the letters f, fe or ff form the plural by adding the letter s. surf - surfs
Some nouns that end in f, fe or ff form the plural by changing the final f form to ves. calf - calves
Rule 4: Most nouns that end in i form the plural by adding the letter s. ski – skis
Some nouns ending with the letter i form the plural both by adding s and/or es. taxi-taxis-taxies
Rule 5: If a singular noun ends in y and is preceded by a consonant, the y is changed to i and es
is added. butterfly - y + i + es = butterflies
If a singular noun ends in y and is preceded by a vowel, the letter s is simply added with no other
changes made. monkey + s = monkeys
Rule 6: There are some nouns that form the plurals differently. Some nouns change their vowels
in the middle of the singular form when forming the plural. goose – geese, mouse – mice
Underline each common noun and circle each proper noun. Draw three lines under each
proper noun that should capitalized.
Example: A baby named martin luther king jr. was born in atlanta, Georgia.
1. His family lived in a two-story house on Auburn avenue.
2. His father, martin Luther King sr., was a minister and the son of a sharecropper.
3. His mother, Alerta Williams king, was a teacher.
4. King skipped two grades at booker T. Washington high school.
5. Still a teenager, king graduated from morehouse College.
6. King first thought of becoming a doctor or a lawyer but finally decided to go into the ministry.
7. While still at morehouse, king was ordained in the church of his father.
8. King was elected co-pastor at the church upon his graduation from college.
9. King was very intelligent and an avid reader.
10. King took courses in philosophy at Harvard.
Writer’s Choice Grammar Workbook 8, Unit 2
Underline each concrete noun once and each abstract noun twice.
Example: My dad tells me cleanliness is important.
11. A commercial pilot must have a lot of flying experience.
12. My uncle, aunt, and cousin live in a large trailer.
13. The judge reminded the witness to tell the truth.
14. The inventor had an idea that would help the auto industry improve safety.
15. The playful beagle liked to chase its tail.
16. The hardworking farmer was disappointed with the weather.
17. The walls and ceiling of the room were black with age and dirt.
18. Clouds covered the sun and sky.
19. Many people voted in the elections last fall.
20. The veterinarian spent time and energy examining horses.
Spell the plural of each of the following nouns.
Example: dog - ___dogs____
21. fox - ____________________
22. telephone - ____________________
23. giraffe - ____________________
24. roof - ____________________
25. punch - ____________________
26. reflex - ____________________
27. genius - ____________________
28. cat - ____________________
29. fly - ____________________
30. donkey - ____________________
31. compass - ____________________
Writer’s Choice Grammar Workbook 8, Unit 2