Classifying Nouns!

The Categories• Once we figure out which words are

being used as nouns, we have to figure out what kind of nouns they are.

• Nouns can be categorized as:common OR propersingular OR pluralconcrete OR abstract

collectivepossessive

Singular v. Plural• Singular means that there is only

ONE of something, just like when you pay in “singles,” you pay in $1 bills.

• Plural means there are MORE THAN ONE. Plural nouns often end in “s,” but not always!

Foot

Feet

Singular v. PluralSingular

foot

penguin

city

shoe

book

tooth

Plural

feet

penguins

cities

shoes

books

teeth

Singular v. Plural

•If you can’t figure out if something is singular or plural, just put the word “one” in front of it. If it makes sense, it’s SINGULAR!

Singular v. PluralSingular

one foot

one penguin

one city

one shoe

one book

one tooth

Plural

one feet (EEK!)

one penguins (NO WAY!)

one cities (WHAT?)

one shoes (BARF!)

one books (ICK!)

one teeth (??????)

Common v. Proper• A common noun is a general name for a

person, place, thing, or idea. They are usually NOT capitalized.

• A proper noun is a particular person, place, thing, or idea. It is ALWAYS capitalized. – Hint: A way to remember it is that a

commoner might be hunched over, like a lower case letter, while a rich, proper individual may walk with more pride standing upright like a capital letter.

Common v. Proper

This king is standing tall and upright, like the valiant royal individual he is! Much

like this, proper nouns must also stand tall and upright, beginning with a capital

letter!

Common v. Proper

This individual is a regular commoner, and much like

common nouns, he is bowing low to the ground like a lower

case letter.

Common v. Proper

Common (general)

city

state

guitarist

museum

lake

month

Proper (specific)

Cleveland

Ohio

George Harrison

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Lake Michigan

September

Concrete v. Abstract • Concrete nouns are nouns that can be

perceived by the senses, which means they can be seen, touched, tasted, smelled, or heard. – Hint: The way I remember this is that concrete (the

stuff that makes sidewalks) can be seen and touched. (“…like the concrete under my feet.”)

• Abstract nouns are the “idea” nouns. They are concepts in the mind, but not something that can be detected with the senses. – For example: We can’t say, “The hatred came into

the room and sat down.” We can’t see “hatred” itself. We can only see things that result from hatred, like a mean face.

Concrete v. Abstract

Concrete

sand

fireplace

song

window

light

Ms. Uebler

Abstract

independence

curiosity

pride

uncertainty

sadness

faith

Can be seen, touched, tasted,

smelled, or heard “like the concrete under

your feet!”

Possessive•Possessive nouns show

ownership. This is most easily recognized by the use of an apostrophe.

• Because of this trick, you should be able to look at a sentence and immediately identify if it has any possessive nouns! Just look for the apostrophe!

Possessivedog’s bowl (the bowl is OWNED/POSSESSED by the dog,

making “dog’s” the possessive noun)tree’s leaves (the leaves are OWNED/POSSESSED by the

tree, making “tree’s” the possessive noun)brother’s idea (the idea is OWNED/POSSESSED by the

brother, making “brother’s” the possessive noun)

Collective• A collective noun is a singular noun

that refers to a group of people or things (represents a plural concept).

• Remember, a noun is singular if you can put the word “one” in front of it!

For example: band, choir, crew, class, herd, gaggle, staff

Let’s Practice Classifying Nouns! Wahoo!

Traincommon or proper?singular or plural?

concrete or abstract?collective?

possessive?No.

No.

Kitten’scommon or

proper?singular or plural?

concrete or abstract?collective?

possessive?

No.

Chicagocommon or proper?singular or plural?

concrete or abstract?

collective?possessive?

No.

No.

Hopecommon or proper?singular or plural?

concrete or abstract?

collective?possessive?

No.

No.

Choircommon or proper?singular or plural?

concrete or abstract?

collective?possessive?

No.

The End!…or is it?