Nouns

Noun

A word that describes a person, place, thing, or idea.

Common noun

Names a group or type, not one specific person, place, or thing.

Proper noun

A specific person, place, or thing that is recognized by its own name.

Standard American English (SAE)

The expected form of English in academic, professional, and formal contexts, treated as 'neutral' but socially privileged.

Dialect

A complete grammatical system with its own rules, patterns, and logic, distinct from Standard American English.

Code-switching

The practice of shifting grammar systems depending on context.

Concrete noun

A physical object in the real world, such as a dog or a ball.

Abstract noun

An idea or concept that does not exist in the physical world, such as freedom or happiness.

Irregular plural

Nouns that do not form their plural by simply adding 's'; they often undergo a change in spelling.

Mutant plural

Nouns that change their vowel sound when making the plural form, such as foot to feet.

Foreign plural

Plural forms borrowed from other languages that retain original endings.

Sentence fragment

A group of words that looks like a sentence but is not complete, usually lacking a subject or a verb.

Base plural

Nouns that do not change form when plural, like deer or fish.

Conventions

Accepted ways people use language in writing, which are social agreements rather than laws.

Vowel sound

A speech sound produced without blocking the airflow, as opposed to consonants, which involve blockage.

I-mutation

A historical process where a vowel change indicates plurals in certain nouns.

Pluralization rules for Latin-based words

Patterns such as -us to -i (cactus to cacti) and -um to -a (bacterium to bacteria).

Pluralization rules for Greek-based words

Patterns such as -is to -es (crisis to crises) and -ex to -ices (index to indices).

Noun

A word that describes a person, place, thing, or idea.

Common noun

Names a group or type, not one specific person, place, or thing.

Proper noun

A specific person, place, or thing that is recognized by its own name.

Standard American English (SAE)

The expected form of English in academic, professional, and formal contexts, treated as 'neutral' but socially privileged.

Dialect

A complete grammatical system with its own rules, patterns, and logic, distinct from Standard American English.

Code-switching

The practice of shifting grammar systems depending on context.

Concrete noun

A physical object in the real world, such as a dog or a ball.

Abstract noun

An idea or concept that does not exist in the physical world, such as freedom or happiness.

Irregular plural

Nouns that do not form their plural by simply adding 's'; they often undergo a change in spelling.

Mutant plural

Nouns that change their vowel sound when making the plural form, such as foot to feet.

Foreign plural

Plural forms borrowed from other languages that retain original endings.

Sentence fragment

A group of words that looks like a sentence but is not complete, usually lacking a subject or a verb.

Base plural

Nouns that do not change form when plural, like deer or fish.

Conventions

Accepted ways people use language in writing, which are social agreements rather than laws.

Vowel sound

A speech sound produced without blocking the airflow, as opposed to consonants, which involve blockage.

I-mutation

A historical process where a vowel change indicates plurals in certain nouns.

Pluralization rules for Latin-based words

Patterns such as -us to -i (cactus to cacti) and -um to -a (bacterium to bacteria).

Pluralization rules for Greek-based words

Patterns such as -is to -es (crisis to crises) and -ex to -ices (index to indices).

Descriptive Grammar

The study of how speakers actually use language in practice without judging it as right or wrong.

Prescriptive Grammar

A set of rules that dictate how language "should" be used, often based on social status or historical preference.

Sociolect

A variety of language (dialect) associated with a specific social class, ethnic group, or age group.

Regional Dialect

A variety of language used by people living in a specific geographic area.

Example: Man to Men

A mutant plural where the vowel (a) changes to (e) to indicate plurality.

Example: Mouse to Mice

A mutant plural characterized by a change in both the vowel sound and the final consonant spelling.

Pluralization of -a (Latin)

A foreign plural rule where words ending in -a change to -ae, such as "larva" to "larvae."

Pluralization of -on (Greek)

A foreign plural rule where words ending in -on change to -a, such as "criterion" to "criteria."