Common and Proper Nouns

Singular and Plural Nouns

Possessive Nouns

A common noun names a person, place, or thing that is not specific.

Common nouns are not capitalized, unless the common noun is the first word in the sentence.

A proper noun names a particular person, place, or thing.

Proper nouns are always capitalized.

Proper nouns include:

names of people and pets

days of the week

months languages

book titles

holidays titles like Mr. Mrs. Ms. Dr.

countries

states cities

COMMON PROPER boy

schooldaycitylady

monthriver

StevenSouth SalemWednesdayNew York

Mrs. HumphreyOctober

James River

Singular Nouns name one person, place, or thing.

One Cat:

Plural Nouns name more than one person, place, or thing.

Three Cats:

Usually, you just add –s

dog, dogscat, cats

shoe, shoescar, cars

pillow, pillows

Add –es to nouns that end in s, ss, sh, ch, or x

bus, busesdress, dresses

church, churchesbox, boxes

If a noun ends in a consonant followed by a –y, change the

y to i and add –es

baby, babies lady, ladies pony, ponies

If a noun ends in a vowel followed by –y, just add –s

key, keys boy, boys

monkey, monkeys

For most nouns that end in an –f or –fe, change the f or fe to v

and add –es

knife, knives leaf, leaves

Exceptions: roof, roofs giraffe, giraffes

Some nouns change their spelling

foot, feet tooth, teeth

child, children mouse, mice

man, menwoman, women

Some nouns are the same singular and plural

deer, deermoose, moose sheep, sheep

Add ‘s to make a singular noun possessive.

 Example:

The dog’s bowl is empty. singular

The bowl of the dog. singular

 

Add ‘ to a plural noun that ends with an s.

 Example:

The boys’ team won the game. plural

The team of the boys. plural

Add ‘s to a plural noun that ends in a letter other than s.

Example:

The children’s teacher is nice. plural

The teacher of the children.

plural