Nouns and Pronouns

Nouns

• A noun is a word that can describe a:

• Person – architect

• Place – neighborhood

• Thing – money

• Idea – courage

There are two basic kinds of nouns:

• Common nouns

• Proper nouns

Common nouns

• Common nouns name a person, place, thing, or idea

• Common nouns can be either

• CONCRETE

• ABSTRACT

Concrete nouns

• Concrete nouns name things that can be seen, heard, smelled, touched, or tasted. (Five senses)

• Example: city, calendar, student

Abstract nouns

• Abstract nouns name ideas, qualities, feelings, or characteristics that do not use the five senses.

• Examples: time, culture, anger

Proper nouns

• Proper nouns name specific persons, places, things, or ideas.

• Examples: Monday, African American, Green Bay Packers!

Compound Nouns

• A compound noun is two or more words used together as a single noun.

• A compound noun can be written “3” different ways:

» One word – videocassette

» Separated words – compact disc

» Hyphenated word – self-esteem

Collective Nouns

• A collective noun is a word that names a group.

• Examples: committee, flock, team

Collective Nouns

• Every collective noun can have either a

• SINGULAR meaning

• PLURAL meaning

Collective Nouns

• SINGULAR meaning

• When speaking about a group as a unit, the noun has a singular meaning

• Example: The entire audience applauds the performance.

Collective Nouns

• PLURAL meaning

• When referring to the individual members of the group, the noun has a plural meaning

• Example: The committee argue with one another over the rules

Important hint*

• If you can substitute the word it for the collective noun, the collective noun is singular.

• If you can substitute they, the collective noun is plural.

• Example: The family eat their sandwiches.• It eat their sandwiches. (incorrect)• They eat their sandwiches (correct)

Possessive Nouns

• The possessive form of a noun shows ownership or relationship.

• Possessive nouns function as adjectives when they modify a noun.

• Examples: The duck’s feathers are colorful. I held Corey’s camera as she tied her shoe.

Did you get all of that?

• Take out one white board per group

• Take out one dry erase marker

• Put your notes in the GRAMMAR section of your 3 ring binder

1) What type of noun is milk?

A. Abstract, common noun

B. Abstract, proper noun

C. Concrete, common noun

D. Concrete, proper noun

C) Concrete, common noun

2) What type of noun is Georgia?

A. Abstract, common noun

B. Abstract, proper noun

C. Concrete, common noun

D. Concrete, proper noun

D. Concrete, proper noun

3) What type of noun is temper?

A. Abstract, common noun

B. Abstract, proper noun

C. Concrete, common noun

D. Concrete, proper noun

A) Abstract, common noun

4) team-pride is…

A. Concrete noun

B. Compound noun

C. Collective noun

D. Cooperative noun

B) Compound noun

5) What do you call a noun that names a group?

Collective noun

• 6) What do you call a noun that shows ownership or relationship?

Possessive noun

7) The fisherman’s hook was caught on the pier.

• What part of speech is the possessive noun in the sentence

A. Noun

B. Adjective

C. Adverb

D. Preposition

B) Adjective

Do you remember the hint about singular and plural collective nouns?

• Use the hint to help answer this question.

8) Is the word tribe a singular or plural collective noun in the sentence below?

• The tribe act to prevent fires near their settlement.

Plural collective noun!

• The tribe act to prevent fires near their settlement.

• It act to prevent fires near their settlement.

Incorrect

• They act to prevent fires near their settlement.

Correct

For THREE points!

• Name the three ways that a compound noun can be written.

Compound nouns can be written as:

• One word - videocassette

• Separated words – compact disc

• Hyphenated word – self-esteem