Nouns
Learning Goal: In this lesson, you will learn the basic forms & functions of the noun.
The most basic definition of a noun: A word that names a person, place, thing, or idea.
Four main classes of nouns:
Common Noun: Names a person, place, or thing in general (ex. doctor, building, hat)
Proper Noun: Names a specific person, place, or thing. Proper nouns begin with a capital letter (ex. City Hall, Stanley Cup, Doctor Jones)
Collective Noun: Names a whole class or group of objects or people (ex. jury, committee, herd)
Abstract Noun: Names an idea, emotion, feeling, quality, or other abstract feeling, quality, or other abstract of intangible concept, as opposed to a concrete item, or physical object (ex. love, fear, happiness)
See if you can see the difference in the following quiz:
Four main classes of nouns:
Common Noun: Names a person, place, or thing in general (ex. doctor, building, hat)
Proper Noun: Names a specific person, place, or thing. Proper nouns begin with a capital letter (ex. City Hall, Stanley Cup, Doctor Jones)
Collective Noun: Names a whole class or group of objects or people (ex. jury, committee, herd)
Abstract Noun: Names an idea, emotion, feeling, quality, or other abstract feeling, quality, or other abstract of intangible concept, as opposed to a concrete item, or physical object (ex. love, fear, happiness)
See if you can see the difference in the following quiz:
Complements: Direct Objects, Indirect Objects, and Subject Complements
A noun may function as a subject, direct object, indirect object, or subject complement in a sentence.
Example: Dr. Smith (subject) is the doctor (subject complement) who give our daughter (indirect object) its immunization shots (direct object).
When a noun follows a preposition, such as "in", "of", "with", "through", "by", and "between", it usually functions as the object of the preposition.
Example: Without doubt, an earthquake of that magnitude (Object of Preposition) would knock dishes from the cupboards (OP) and leave cracks in the sidewalk (OP).
Example: Dr. Smith (subject) is the doctor (subject complement) who give our daughter (indirect object) its immunization shots (direct object).
When a noun follows a preposition, such as "in", "of", "with", "through", "by", and "between", it usually functions as the object of the preposition.
Example: Without doubt, an earthquake of that magnitude (Object of Preposition) would knock dishes from the cupboards (OP) and leave cracks in the sidewalk (OP).
Plural and Possessive Nouns
The following chart shows how to pluralize most nouns:
And, here's how to form the possessive noun in most cases: