The Noun Perhaps the words most frequently used are those that identify someone or something. These labels, or name words, are called nouns. **Definition – A noun is a word used to name a person, place, thing, or idea. Persons: Jamie, Captain Smith, hair stylist, teacher Places: New York, Mars, library, downtown Things: leaf, cartoon, rocket, pencil, dog Ideas: peace, excellence, truth, justice, honesty (Teacher Note: Administer Exercise #1A) Common and Proper Nouns There are two classes of nouns: proper nouns and common nouns. **Definition – A proper noun names a particular person, place, or thing and is always capitalized. Examples Mr. Giancursio, Rochester, Tom Cruise **Definition – A common noun names any one of a group of persons, places, or things and is not capitalized. Examples teacher, town, actor Here are some more examples of common vs. proper nouns: COMMON PROPER singer male city continent day Brittney Spears, Mariah Carey Derek Jeter, Dale Earnhardt Jr. New York City, St. Louis, Paris North America, Africa, Asia Monday, Wednesday, Friday (Teacher Note: Administer Exercise #3, use Ex. #2 in lab) Compound Nouns By now, you have probably noticed that two or more words may be used together as a single noun. These types of nouns are called compound nouns. **Definition – A compound noun is any noun that uses two or more words together to make up a single noun. Examples prizefighter, basketball, news room, cold front, health education, brother-in-law, push-up **Note – Compound Nouns can be written as one word, two words, or as a hyphenated word. If you are not sure how to write a compound noun, always check a dictionary. (Teacher Note: Administer Exercise #4) The Pronoun **Definition – A pronoun is a word used in place of a noun. Example Gloria stepped back from the picture and looked at it carefully. The pronoun “it” takes the place of “the picture.” Example Where is John? He said he would be here on time. The pronoun “he,” used twice, takes the place of “John.” Pronouns almost always refer to a noun mentioned earlier in the sentence. This noun on which the pronoun depends for its meaning is called the antecedent (pronounced an-teh-cee-dent.) Example Jill opened her book and read from it. “it” pronoun “book” antecedent Example The coach showed the players how they should throw the ball. “they” pronoun “players” antecedent Identify the pronouns and antecedents in the following sentences: 1. Sean took his dog to the veterinarian on Main Street. 2. Mr. Giancursio took his poster off of the wall and gave it to Andy. Personal Pronouns Personal pronouns show one of three things: 1. The persons speaking can talk about themselves (first) 2.The persons speaking can talk to one person or many (second) 3.The persons speaking can talk about anyone or anything else (third) SINGULAR First person (the person speaking) I, my, mine, we Second person (the person spoken to) you, your, yours Third person (some other person or thing spoken about) he, his, him she, her, hers it, its PLURAL we, our, ours, us you, your, yours they, their, theirs, them Other Commonly Used Pronouns Reflexive Pronouns (the –self, -selves forms of the personal pronouns) myself ourselves yourself yourselves himself, herself, itself themselves Relative Pronouns (used to introduce adjective clauses) who whom whose which that Interrogative Pronouns (used in questions) Who…? Whose…? What…? Whom…? Which…? Demonstrative Pronouns (used to point out a specific person or thing) this that these those Indefinite Pronouns (not referring to a definite person or thing; frequently used without antecedents) all another any anybody anyone anything both each either everybody everyone everything few many more most much neither nobody none no one (Teacher Note: Administer Exercise #5) one other several some somebody someone