Structure of English 01 - Nouns

What is a noun?

A noun is a word that names a person, place, thing, animal, or event.

Give three examples of nouns.

Cat, bicycle, Valentine’s Day.

What is a proper noun?

A specific name of a person, place, or thing that is always capitalized.

What is a common noun?

A generic name of an item in a class or group, not capitalized unless at the start of a sentence or in a title.

What are the three subtypes of common nouns?

Concrete nouns, abstract nouns, and collective nouns.

Define a concrete noun and give an example.

Something perceived by the senses; e.g., "doorbell."

Define an abstract noun and give an example.

Something that cannot be perceived by the senses; e.g., "courage."

What is a collective noun? Give an example.

A word that denotes a group or collection; e.g., "pride of lions."

What are countable nouns? Give an example.

Nouns that can be counted; e.g., "three cats."

What are uncountable nouns? Give an example.

Nouns that cannot be counted individually; e.g., "furniture."

What does the possessive case of a noun show?

Ownership, possession, relationship, or association.

How do you form the possessive of a singular noun?

Add an apostrophe + "s" (’s).

How do you form the possessive of a plural noun ending in -s or -es?

Add only an apostrophe (’).

What are the functions of nouns in sentences?

They can be subjects, objects, complements, appositives, or modifiers.

What is a noun as a subject? Give an example.

It performs the action of the verb; e.g., "Maria played the piece."

What is a noun as a direct object? Give an example.

It receives the action of the verb; e.g., "Cleo passed the salt."

What is a noun as an indirect object? Give an example.

It receives the direct object; e.g., "Cleo passed Otto the salt."

What is a subject complement? Give an example.

A noun that follows a linking verb and gives more info about the subject; e.g., "Mary is a teacher."

What is an object complement? Give an example.

A noun that gives more info about the direct object; e.g., "I now pronounce you husbands."

What is a noun as an appositive? Give an example.

A noun that renames another noun; e.g., "My brother, Michael, is six years old."

What is a noun as a modifier? Give an example.

A noun that acts like an adjective to modify another noun; e.g., "speed demon."