Grammar
NOUN AND DJECTIVE
NOUNS
1. A noun is the name of a person, place, or thing.
2. Nouns are divided into five different kinds:
Proper Nouns
Material Nouns
Common Nouns
Abstract Nouns
Collective nouns
A Proper Noun is the name of a particular person, place, or thing.
eg: John ( person ) ; Palm Beach County ( place ) ; The Chinese ( people ); Books (
thing )
A Common Noun is a name that can be given to any person or thing of the same kind.
eg : Man, boy, table, dog
A Collective Noun is singular in form though denoting more than one.
eg : Herd, army, flock.
A Material Noun is the name of a substance
eg : Milk, iron, wood.
An Abstract noun is the name of a quality.
eg : Love, truth, color.
Number of Nouns
1. Number shows whether one is meant, or more than one.
2. There are two Numbers:
The Singular Number
The Plural Number
The Singular number denotes only one object: boy, girl
The Plural number denotes more than one object: boys, girls.
The Plural is generally formed by adding s to the Singular :
pen pens
chair
chairs
book books
garden gardens
When the noun ends in s, x, ch, or sh, the Plural is formed by adding es to the Singular : glass glasses
watch watches
box
boxes
dish
dishes
If the noun ends in y, and the y has consonant going before it, the Plural is formed by
changing y into ies : duty duties
army armies
fly
flies
lady ladies
But if the y has vowel going before it, the Plural is formed by simply adding s:
day days
key
keys
boy boys monkey monkeys
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Grammar
NOUN AND DJECTIVE
Most nouns ending in f or fe form the Plural by changing f or fe into ves
calf calves
life
lives
knife knives
wife wives
leaf leaves
thief thieves
If the noun ends in o, and the o is preceded by a consonant, the Plural is generally (not
always) formed by adding es to the Singular:
cargo cargoes
negro negroes
hero heroes
potato potatoes
But if the o is preceded by a vowel, the Plural is formed by simply adding s to the
singular :
bamboo bamboos
curio curios
cuckoo cuckoos
studio studios
Some nouns from their Plurals irregularly:
man
men
tooth
teeth
woman women
mouse mice
foot
feet
ox
oxen
goose geese
child
children
Some Nouns have the same from in the Plural as in the Singular :
deer deer
fish
fish ( fishes )
sheep sheep
dozen dozen ( dozens )
ADJECTIVES
1. An Adjective qualifies a noun or a pronoun.
2. Adjectives are divided into six different kinds :
Proper Adjectives are derived from proper nouns.
eg : a. Chinese soldiers fought bravely.
b.We are studying the English language.
In (a) the word " Chinese " is a proper adjective because it is derived from the proper
noun " China "
In (b) the word " English " is a proper adjective because it is derived from the proper
noun " England ".
Note -- Every proper adjective should begin with a capital letter.
Descriptive Adjectives qualify a noun by adding some quality or state to it.
eg : a. A brave soldier killed the enemy.
(quality)
b. There are some sick soldiers in the hospital (state)
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Grammar
NOUN AND DJECTIVE
Quantitative Adjectives indicate how much of a thing is meant.
He has much rice.
He has not any rice.
He has little rice.
He has enough rice.
He has no rice.
He has sufficient rice.
He has some rice.
He sold all the rice.
Numeral Adjectives express number.
Numeral Adjectives are subdivided into (a) Definite and (b) Indefinite
a) Definite Numeral Adjectives denote some exact number. Those which show how many
things there are are called Cardinals; Those which show in what order things stand are
called Ordinals.
Cardinals : one, two three, etc.
Ordinals : first, second, third, etc.
b) Indefinite Numeral Adjectives do not denote any exact number.
Examples :
All men are mortal.
More men came today than yesterday.
Some men died young
Most men must work for their living.
No men were present.
Several men came.
Many men are poor.
Sunday men went away.
Few men are rich.
Demonstrative Adjectives show which thing is meant.
This house is mine.
That house is your.
These adjectives are also subdivided into Definite and Indefinite.
a) Definite demonstrative Adjectives point out some particular objects.
He is in the house.
Those pens are yours.
This book is mine.
I cannot do such a thing as that.
That pen is yours.
This is the same story as I heard the
These books are mine.
other day.
b) Indefinite Demonstrative Adjectives do not point out any particular object.
He has an horse.
Some man came here.
He has not any brother.
Give me any other box.
He saw me one day in the theater.
I have another box.
A certain man came here.
Other men would not do so.
Distributive Adjectives point out that the objects named are to be taken separately.
There are only four distributive adjectives.
Examples :
I will give a book to each scholar in this
astonished.
class.
You may have either book.
Every person in the room was
You may have neither book.
Source:h t t p : / / w w w . e n g l i s h d a i l y 6 2 6 . c o m
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