Nouns

What is so important about nouns?

Nouns allow us to communicate about things or ideas around us.

Without nouns, we would not be able to communicate with others.

Assuming you were only allowed to communicate in writing, what would society look like if you couldn’t communicate with nouns?

What is the definition for a noun?

• A noun is a word that names a person, place, thing or idea.

Examples:Car, leader, Texas, exploration

Kinds of Nouns

• Common nouns vs. Proper nouns• Concrete nouns vs.Abstract nouns• Singular nouns vs. Plural nouns• Collective nouns• Compound nouns• Possessive nouns

Common vs. Proper Nouns

• A common noun is a general name for a person, place, thing, or idea.

• A proper noun is the name of a particular person, place, thing, or idea.

Example:singer vs. Jennifer Lopezplayer vs. Michael Jordan

Identity a correct proper noun for each in the right hand column.

Common Noun

• country• lake• day • singer• restaurant• city• president• holiday• month • planet

Proper Noun

• _________________• _________________• _________________• _________________• _________________• _________________• _________________• _________________• _________________• _________________

Concrete vs. Abstract Nouns

• A concrete noun names a thing that can be seen, heard, smelled, tasted, or touched.

• An abstract noun names an idea, feeling, quality, or characteristic.

Love vs. flowersHappiness vs. food

Noun ExerciseWrite each noun and label it concrete or abstract and common or

proper.

1. We went to Graywood Park and got an idea when we saw the birds in the pond.

2. Using a piece of wood, we saw that Robert could actually lift the men sitting on the benches next to us.

3. Because we live in Hawaii, all we see is water, sand, and waves.

4. Communication is a very important process for all people.

5. Mary is filled with happiness today because justice has been served by the judge.

Answers:

1. Graywood Park - concrete, proper; idea - abstract, common; birds - concrete, common; pond - concrete, common__

2. piece - concrete, common; wood - concrete, common; Robert - concrete, proper; men - concrete, common; benches - concrete, common_

3. Hawaii - concrete, proper; water - concrete, common; sand - concrete, common; waves -concrete, common_

4. communication - abstract, common; process - abstract, common; people - concrete, common_

5. Mary - concrete, proper; happiness - abstract, common, justice - abstract, common, judge -concrete, common__

Noun Exercise (continued)

6. My folder fell out of my briefcase and landed somewhere on Green Drive.

7. During the storm, the Raymonds lost their power, but nevertheless, they were still happy.

8. The Statue of Liberty displays love to everyone.

9. The ability to talk is a very powerful advantage.

10.The muffins sat in the oven as the fire crackled.

Answers (continued)

6. folder - concrete, common; briefcase - concrete, common; Green Drive - concrete, proper

7. storm - concrete, common; Raymonds - concrete, proper; power - concrete, common

8. Statue of Liberty - concrete, proper; love - abstract, common

9. ability - abstract, common; advantage - abstract, common

10. muffins - concrete, common; oven - concrete, common; fire - concrete, common

Collective Nouns

• A collective noun is a word that names a group of people or things.

Examples: crew, team, neighborhood, colony

Can you think of any others?group of fish; group of birds; group of cattle; group of whales.

Activity

• Workbook Assignment:– Do pages 31, 32, & 33A.

Singular vs. Plural Nouns

• A singular noun names ONE person, place, thing, or idea.

• A plural noun names more than one person, place, thing, or idea.

Car vs. carsGoose vs. geeseBus vs. buses

Plural Noun Exercise

Write each singular noun in plural form.

1. dress - ___________________2. church - __________________3. half - ____________________4. boy - ____________________5. kite - ____________________

Plural Nouns (continued)

6. colony - _________________7. knife - __________________8. box - __________________9. computer - ______________10. key - ___________________

Answers

1. dress - _dresses_

2. church - _churches

3. half - _halves

4. boy - _boys__

5. kite - _kites__

6. colony - __colonies_

7. knife - __knives_

8. box - __boxes_

9. computer - _computers_

10.key - __keys_

Activity

• Workbook pages:34, 35, & 36A&B

Compound Nouns• A compound noun is a noun that is made up of two

or more words. Most compound nouns in English are formed by nouns modified by other nouns or adjectives.

For example:• The words tooth and paste are each nouns in their own

right, but if you join them together they form a new word - toothpaste.

• The word black is an adjective and board is a noun, but if you join them together they form a new word - blackboard.

Compound nouns can also be formed using the following combinations of words:

Noun + Noun toothpaste

Adjective + Noun blackboard

Verb + Noun swimming pool

Noun + Preposition hanger on

Preposition + Noun underground

Noun + Verb haircut

Adjective + Verb dry-cleaning

Preposition + Verb output

Collective & Compound Nouns

Write each collective and compound noun and label it collective or compound.

1. We saw a flock of birds fly across the sky.

2. My son-in-law brought me a pair of tennis shoes.

3. The doghouse was broken after a herd of cattle ran stomp.

4. A fleet of ships headed for San Francisco.

5. Don't forget to put on your seat belt!

Collective & Compound Nouns (cont.)

6. We added a flashlight to our playground.

7. We saw a school of dolphins at the Mediterranean Sea.

8. At high school, you get to observe a colony of ants.

9. I am the editor-in-chief of the school paper.

10. My family is obsessed over the printing press.

Answers1. flock – collective

2. son-in-law - compound; pair - collective; tennis shoes – compound

3. doghouse - compound; herd – collective

4. fleet - collective; San Francisco – compound

5. seat belt - compound

6. flashlight - compound; playground – compound

7. school - collective; Mediterranean Sea – compound

8. high school - compound; colony – collective

9. editor-in-chief - compound; newspaper - compound; school – collective

10. family - collective; printing press - compound

Possessive Nouns• 1. If a singular noun does not end in s, add 's

• The delivery boy's truck was blocking the driveway.

• Bob Dole's concession speech was stoic and dignified. • The student's attempts to solve the problem were rewarded

• 2. If a singular common noun ends in s, add 's—unless the next word begins with s. If the next word begins with s, add an apostrophe only. (This includes words with s and sh sounds.)

• The boss's temper was legendary among his employees.

• The boss' sister was even meaner.

• The witness's version of the story has several inconsistencies.

• The witness' story did not match the events recorded on tape.

Possessive Nouns• 3. If a singular proper noun ends in s, add an apostrophe.

• Chris' exam scores were higher than any other students.

• 4. If a noun is plural in form and ends in an s, add an apostrophe only, even if the intended meaning of the word is singular (such as mathematics and measles.)

• The instructor asked us to analyze ten poems' meanings.

• The dog catcher had to check all of the dogs' tags.

• It is hard to endure the Marine Corps' style of discipline.

• 5. If a plural noun does not end in s, add 's

• Many activists in Oregon are concerned with children's rights.

• Everyone was disappointed with the American media's coverage of the Olympics in Atlanta.

Possessive Nouns Exercise

Complete each sentence by filling in the blanks with the possessive form of the nouns in the parentheses.

1. The _____________ bikes were seen left on the ground. (brothers)

2. The _____________ helmets were very shiny. (policemen)

3. Mary could not catch the ___________ ball. (children)

4. That was _________ idea. (Melissa)

5. The __________ car is a Ford. (Henrys)

Possessive Nouns Exercise (cont.)

Write each group of words using a possessive noun 6. the room of the teachers

7. the bubbles of the four fish

8. the house of Mr. Williams

9. the baton of the conductor

10. the cameras of the photographers

Answers

1. The brothers' bikes were seen left on the ground. (brothers)

2. The policemen's helmets were very shiny. (policemen)

3. Mary could not catch the children's ball. (children)

4. That was Melissa's idea. (Melissa)5. The Henrys' car is a Ford. (Henrys)

Answers (cont.)

6. the room of the teachers the teachers' room___

7. the bubbles of the four fish the fish's bubbles_____

8. the house of Mr. Williams Mr. Williams's house___

9. the baton of the conductor the conductor's baton_

10. the cameras of the photographers the photographers' cameras

Activity

Write a short letter to your best friend about a trip that you took

this summer. Describe where you went, what you saw and what you

did.(5 minutes)

Assignment

With a highlighter, highlight all the nouns. Then, place each word in the appropriate category on the handout provided.

Workbook Assignment

Complete pages 31, 32A, 33A