Test Yourself

Overview of Nouns

[Harbrace 1c(2) & Glossary of Terms, G-34, G-35]

Review

• Introduction: Overview of Nouns 
• Noun Classifications 
• Singular and Plural Forms 
• Possessive Forms 

Introduction

Nouns name people, places, things, ideas, qualities, and emotions. 

EXAMPLES:
Andrew, teacher, Toronto, pineapple, chair, characterization, compassion, justice 

Noun Classifications

Nouns can be classified as proper, common, abstract, mass, and collective. Below are descriptions and examples of these various types of nouns.

• Proper nouns name specific people, places, or things and are capitalized. [See also Harbrace 23a.] 

EXAMPLES:
Sandra Jordan; Professor Plum; Regina, Saskatchewan; Valley Forge; Sky Dome; August 

• Common nouns name any of a class of people, places, or things and are not capitalized. 

EXAMPLES:
woman, coffee, disk, software, car, hometown, computer, instructor, month, baseball, football 

• Abstract nouns refer to an intangible idea or quality. 

EXAMPLES:
love, anger, fear, prejudice, pride, justice 

• Mass nouns name a quantity that is not countable. 

EXAMPLES:
work, time, dust, gold, sand, water 

• Collective nouns designate a group of people, places, or things thought of as a unit. [See also Harbrace 7a(8)] 

EXAMPLES:
class, team, audience, committee, band, family, faculty, army 

Singular and Plural Forms

Most nouns have one form for the singular and another for the plural. 

The plural is usually formed by adding a final -s or -es. 

For nouns whose plurals are not formed by adding -es or -s, indicate the plural in other ways:

Some nouns have identical singular and plural forms:

Some singular nouns ending in -y are changed to plural by changing the -y to -ies.

Some nouns are irregular; you should consult your dictionary whenever you are unsure of a noun's plural form.

Possessive Forms [See also Harbrace 19]

Nouns also change form to indicate possession or ownership.

• Singular noun + 's.

EXAMPLES:
cat's, John's, Jones's

• Plural noun (if no final -s) + 's.

EXAMPLES:
children's, women's

• Plural noun (with final -s) + '.

EXAMPLES:
girls', cats'