Unit 4 – Presentation 1
• What is a Noun?
Coming from the Latin word nomen, which in turn
comes from the Greek word onoma it means – and is
– a name.
• How many Noun Categories are there?
A lot! The two most comprehensive are: COUNTABLE,
UNCOUNTABLE but there are also: ABSTRACT,
CONCRETE and, depending on their kind, use,
texture, composition, etc, PROPER, COMMON,
MATERIAL, COLLECTIVE, COMPOUND, ETC.
A. Countable & Uncountable - Features
Countable (C): Uncountable
(U):
1. Singular & Plural 1. Only Singular
2. Article a/ an in
2. NO a/an
Singular
3. (How) many, a
lot (of), (a) few,
some/ any/ no
3. (How) much, a
lot (of), (a) little,
some/ any/ no
B. 5 Narrower Categories
• Proper Nouns (People’s first or family names, place
names & all nouns starting with a capital first letter
e.g. days, months, etc) [MAINLY (U)]
• Common Nouns (Names for people, things, animals,
etc) [(C)] 1
• Abstract Nouns (Intangible
qualities, etc) [MAINLY (U)] 1
• Material Nouns [MAINLY (U)]
ideas,
processes,
1
• Collective Nouns (Countable, singular noun which
involves groups of people/ things) [MAINLY [(C)] 2
U1 Material and Abstract nouns can be used as
Common and then they are fully (C). (a)
[(U)] 1 As Uncountable
trust = εμπιστοσύνη
work = εργασία, δουλειά
paper = χαρτί (πολτός, μάζα)
wood = ξύλο
company = συντροφιά, παρέα
[(U)] 1 As Countable-Common
trusts/ a trust = καταπίστευμα,
κοινοπραξία επενδύσεων
works/ a work = έργο (τέχνης/
κατασκευαστικά έργα)
papers/ a paper = εφημερίδα,
έγγραφο, (επιστημονική)
διατριβή/ ανακοίνωση, δοκιμασία
εξέτασης
woods/ a wood = δασάκι, άλσος
companies/ a company = εταιρεία,
ομάδα ανθρώπων, θίασος, λόχος
U1 Material and Abstract nouns can be used as
Common and then they are fully (C). (b)
[(U)] 1 As Uncountable
iron = σίδερο, σίδηρος
coffee = καφές
toast = φρυγανισμένο ψωμί
chicken, etc = κοτόπουλο, κ.α.
(είδος φαγητού)
[(U)] 1 As Countable-Common
irons/ an iron = οικιακό σίδερο
(σιδερώματος)
coffees/ a coffee = συγκεκριμένη
ποικιλία ή σε παραγγελίες
toasts/ a toast = πρόποση (ευχή ή
ευχητήριος λόγος)
chickens/ a chicken = ένα
ολόκληρο κοτόπουλο ή το ζώο
[(C)]1 Common nouns for people may have a
gender distinction or be of common gender.
Common Gender Examples
Teacher= δάσκαλος/ -α
Professor= Καθηγητής/ -τρια πανεπιστημίου
Doctor= Ο/ Η γιατρός
Lawyer= Ο/ Η δικηγόρος
Nurse = Νοσοκόμος/ -α
Nouns with Gender Distinction
host
hostess
groom
bride
duke
duchess
king
queen
prince
princess
hero
heroine
monk
nun
widower
widow
waiter
waitress
actor
actress
[(C)2] Some typical collective nouns are:
army
congregation
press
audience
council
public
cast
committee
police
class
family
population
club
staff
company
fire brigade OR fire
department [Am]
group
crew
government
team
crowd
jury
school
Use of Collective Nouns
Followed by either a singular or a plural verb,
pronoun(s), possessive(s), depending on whether we
are referring to the group as a force or to its
independent members.
e.g. The whole school knows what he’s up to.
We need to pressurise the government so that
they deliver their pre-election commitments.
The Police is an exception to this and is always
plural considering that it is impossible for the whole
force to be in any one place at the same time.
e.g. The police have told us they’re looking into it.
C1: Nouns without Plural (U)
information/ data
news
cutlery
hearsay
advice
evidence
spaghetti/ pasta
holiday
knowledge
homework
gossip
overtime
money/ cash
housework
jewellery
crockery
poultry
shopping
hair
potential
furniture
rubbish
(garbage) /
waste
lightning/
thunder
underwear
machinery
litter (trash)
research
china
luggage/ baggage
damage
business
Greek/ English/
etc
C1: Nouns without Plural – Features
In English these would simply be (U) nouns
but they merit special attention because
they are PLURAL in Greek. Careful NOT to
use
a/ an
BUT
some/ any/ no
plural verb
“”
singular
these/ those/
many/ few
“”
this/ that/ much/
little
they/ them/
their(s)
“”
it/ its
• When we want to isolate a certain amount/
number of these, we can use a countable word
with them, like: piece, item, article, flash, peal/
clap, head etc.
C1: Nouns without Plural [(U)] II
Some of them may have different meanings when used as (C):
As Uncountable
As Countable
litter = (μικρο)σκουπίδια
litters/ a litter of puppies/ kittens =
γέννα, «φουρνιά»
waste = απόβλητα
---/ a waste = απώλεια
gossip = κουτσομπολιό/ -ά
gossips/ a gossip = κουτσομπόλης
(πρόσωπο)
hair = μαλλιά
hairs/ a hair = τρίχα
holiday = διακοπές, άδεια
holidays/ a holiday = γιορτή, αργία,
παραθερισμός
business = δουλειές, συναλλαγές
businesses/ a business = επιχείρηση,
εταιρεία
score= είκοσι (there is no word for scores/ a score = βαθμολογία,
‘δεκάδα’ in English, so dozen/ score) προκείμενο θέμα, παρτιτούρα
C2: Nouns without Singular (U)
clothes/ pyjamas/
trousers/ jeans/
pants/ slacks/
dungarees/ shorts/
tights, leggings/
(c)overalls
scissors/ scales/ glasses/
tongs, tweezers, spectacles/
pliers/ pincers,
binoculars
shears/ bellows/
compasses/
handlebars
billiards/ the
pools/ draughts,
checkers (Am)
outskirts/
barracks/ stairs/
surroundings
belongings/
possessions/
riches
wages (but also:
‘wage’)
feelings
looks
arms
customs
contents
thanks
ashes
accounts (dept.)
goods
ashes
ratings
pains
damages
C2: Nouns without Singular – Features
The opposite of C1 Nouns because they are
always found in plural form in English but we
tend to translate with a SINGULAR in Greek.
Careful NOT to use
a/ an
BUT
some/ any/ no
singular verb
“”
plural
this/ that/ much/
little
“”
these/ those/
many/ few
it/ its
“”
they/ them/
their(s)
• Here again, when we want to isolate a certain
amount/ number of these, we use a countable
word with them, namely, the word ‘pair’.
C2: Nouns without Singular II
Some of them may have different meanings when used as
inflected forms:
As Plural
As Inflected Forms
clothes = ρούχα
cloths/ a cloth = πανί/ ιά
(U) cloth (material noun) = ύφασμα
glasses = γυαλιά
glasses/ a glass = ποτήρι/ -ια
(U) glass (material noun) = γυαλί
the pools = ΠΡΟΠΟ
pools/ a pool = λιμνούλα, πισίνα,
σύμπραξη, τμήμα (προσωπικού σ’
ετοιμότητα) (& πληθ.)
arms = όπλα
arms/ an arm = αγκαλιά, μπράτσο,
βραχίονας (& πληθ.)
scales = ζυγαριά
scales/ a scale = διαβάθμιση,
κλίμακα, λέπι (& πληθ.)
compasses =διαβήτης
compasses/ a compass = πυξίδα (&
πληθ.)
C2: Nouns without Singular II (cont’d)
As Plural
As Inflected Forms
ashes =στάχτες
ash (U) = στάχτη (ειδ. τσιγάρου)
customs =τελωνείο
customs/ a custom = έθιμο/ -α,
συνήθεια/ ες, (U) custom = πελατεία,
κίνηση πελατών, προτίμηση (πελάτη)
accounts =λογιστήριο
accounts/ an account = λογαριασμός,
αιτιολογία, αφήγηση (& πληθ.)
draughts = ντάμα (παιχνίδι)
draughts/ a draught = έλξη, γουλιά,
ρεύμα (αέρα), πούλι
ratings= ακροαματικότητα, τηλεθέαση ratings/ a rating = κατάταξη,
αξιολόγηση, βαθμοφόρος (& πληθ.)
pains = κόπος
pains/ a pain = πόνος/ -οι
looks = εμφάνιση, παρουσιαστικό
looks/ a look =βλέμμα, ματιά, όψη (&
πληθ.), ύφος
The case for cases in English (A)
• Case of a noun= the form we give it to show how it
relates to the other words in the sentence.
• Case comes from the Latin casus, meaning falling.
This is because the nominative is supposed to be the
only right ‘case’ (so not a ‘case’ in fact) while the
other forms ‘fall from grace’.
• The only case with some sort of ending today is
the Possessive of animate beings (there is also a
form for inanimate). The Nominative and Objective
are identically the same, except for their position in
the sentence, and so is the Vocative, except that it
cannot have an article before it and comes before or
after a comma.
The case for cases in English (B)
• The Dative used to be the case of the indirect
object but is now the same as the Objective and the
Nominative. Only the Pronouns have different forms.
• So, we have what would look like:
CASES
Singular
Animate
Plural
Animate
Singular
Inanimate
Plural
Inanimate
Nominative
an/ the artist
the artists
a/ the room
the rooms
Possessive
an/the artist’s the artists’
of a/ the room
of the rooms
Objective
an/ the artist
the artists
a/ the room
the rooms
Vocative
(-) artist
(-) artists
-------
-------
The Plural Form (a)
Easily formed by adding an -s at the end of a singular (both animate
& inanimate) noun.
There are nouns, though, worth noting because:
• they have the same singular and plural forms:
(a) means, (a) series, (a) species, (a) gallows, (a) summons,
(a) crossroads
• they may end in –s but are singular, like:
Illnesses/ Subjects/ Sciences/ Sports/ Games: measles, mumps,
arthritis, lupus, rabies/ physics, mathematics, economics,
politics/ athletics, aerobics, darts
The Plural Form (b)
• They may NOT end in –s but are plural
cattle, police, people, the media
• they are usually only found in the plural and are treated as such
odds, amends, findings, minutes, greens, etc
Other than that, the Plural itself has Spelling Rules that deviate from
the –s ending as well as some Irregular plural forms to bear in mind.
The Plural Form (c)
Spelling
Rule 1: noun in –s, -ss, -ch, -sh, -x +
es
e.g. aliases, classes, breaches,
bushes, faxes
Exceptions: nouns in -ch not
pronounced / tʃ/
e.g. stomachs
Rule 2: noun in -o + es
e.g. torpedoes, tomatoes
Exceptions : 1. (abbreviations of)
foreign words
e.g. mambos, aficionados, pianos,
kilos
2. some nouns with both forms
e.g. placebos/ placeboes,
mosquitoes/ mosquitos
Rule 3: noun in consonant + y + ies
e.g. cabbies, cries
Exception: vowel + y + s
e.g. bays, motorways
Rule 4: noun in -f OR -fe + ves
e.g. sheaves, halves, midwives
Exception: some nouns in -f + s
e.g. oafs, chefs, cliffs, safes
The Plural Form (d)
Irregular Forms 1
man = άντρας, άνθρωπος
men = άντρες, άνθρωποι
woman = γυναίκα
women = γυναίκες
child = παιδί
children = παιδιά
ox = βόδι
oxen = βόδια
mouse = ποντικός
mice = ποντικοί
louse = ψείρα
lice = ψείρες
The Plural Form (e)
Irregular Forms 2
die = ζάρι
dice = ζάρια
foot = πέλμα, πόδι
feet = πέλματα, πόδια
tooth = δόντι
teeth = δόντια
goose = χήνα
geese = χήνες
person[1] = πρόσωπο (γραμματικής),
άτομο, άνθρωπος
people[2] = άτομα, άνθρωποι
The Plural Form (f)
Irregular Forms 3 - Some stay the same:
food
sheep
deer/ reindeer
bison
fish (& their kinds: cod, trout, salmon, etc), seafood/ shellfish
craft (and thus: aircraft, spacecraft)
fruit
The Plural Form (g)
Foreign Nouns
GREEK:
-is
-on
→ -es e.g. crisis → crises
→ -a e.g. criterion → criteria
FRENCH:
-eau
→ -eaux e.g. bureau → bureaux
(αλλά υπάρχει & ομαλό -s)
LATIN:
-ix
→ -ices e.g. index → indices
(αλλά & ομαλό (-ix)es)
-um
→ -a e.g. stratum → strata
(αλλά & ομαλά: ultimatums)
-us
→ -i/ -era e.g. stimulus → stimuli
ΑΛΛΑ genus → genera
-a
→ ae e.g. alga → algae
The Possessive Case (a)
We saw that the Possessive case can have two
forms:
• an inanimate possessive [of (a/ an/ the)]
• an animate possessive ['s/ s']
We’ll see the inanimate possessive later in
Compound Nouns.
The animate possessive rules are as follows:
a) singular noun + 's
e.g. Jack’s mobile, the boy’s toy, a teacher’s book
The Possessive Case (b)
b) singular noun in –s + 's
e.g. the class’s standard, the boss’s rules, James’s
briefcase [pronounced /ɪz/]
Exception to Rule b: historical names in –s:
apostrophe only (but pronounced /ɪz/)!
e.g. Socrates’ punishment, Oedipus’ cautionary tale
c) regular plural noun in –s + '
e.g. the boys’ toys, teachers’ training
d) irregular plural noun + 's
e.g. some people’s excuses, the children’s computer
The Possessive Case (c)
e) 2 (or more) possessors with 1 possession:
ʹs after the last possessor only
e.g. Julia and Peter’s poodle
f) 2 (or more) possessors with a possession
each:
ʹs after each possessor’s name
e.g. Julia’s and Peter’s cars
SPECIAL USES OF THE 'S POSSESSIVE
Exceptionally, the 's possessive can be used with
inanimate objects, esp. in:
The Possessive Case (d)
• distance, measurement & time expressions. [see
Adjectives also]
e.g. a two miles' walk, a twenty pounds’ worth
remote, a ten minutes' interview
• with poetic licence
e.g. the temple’s stones splitting in two
• with names of unions/ associations etc & place
names
e.g. Europe’s member-states, UN’s definitive
resolutions
Compound Nouns (a)
Nouns consisting of two or more words. Note:
A) how they are formed:
• NOUN + NOUN – door knob (instead of the inanimate
possessive with of)
• ADJECTIVE + NOUN – deep-(fat) fryer
• VERB (-ING) + NOUN – racing car
• PREPOSITION + NOUN – downtown
• NOUN + VERB (& SUFFIX) – lawn mower
• NOUN + PREPOSITION – passer-by
• VERB + PREPOSITION – hangover
• PREPOSITION + VERB (& ING) – input
• FAMILY NOUN + -IN-LAW – mother-in-law
Compound Nouns (b)
B) how they are written:
• (AS TWO WORDS) morning sickness
• (HYPHENATED) take-off
• (AS ONE WORD) intake
C) what they may be showing:
• USE: toothbrush
• LOOKS: whiteboard
• PERSON: runner-up
• PROCESS/ RESULT: check-out
Turning (U) into (C) Nouns (a)
PACKAGES, SHAPES
& MEASUREMENTS
BROAD
DISTINCT
a bit/ lump/ piece/ slice of …
a loaf/ kilo of …
a glass/ bottle/ pot/ cup/ jug/
mug of …
a can/ jar/ bowl/ carton/ tin of
…
a pack/ packet/ sack/ sachet/
bag/ box/ tub of …
a
a
a
a
a
a
a
a
bar of …
rasher of …
drop of …
pinch of …
grain of …
coat of …
tube of …
sheet of …