Nouns

The smallest finger will indicate the parts of speech which includes the most words: nouns — A noun is a word used to name a person, place, or thing.

Kinds of Nouns
There are several kinds of nouns, and they are used in different ways.

1. A proper noun names a specific person, place, or thing:
President George Bush, Washington, D.C., Holy Bible.

2. A common noun names any of a class of persons, places, or things:
man, city, book.

3. A collective noun names a group:
class, team, jury, family.

4. A concrete noun names something that may be perceived by one or more of the senses:
tree, flower, food, book, cloud.

5 An abstract noun names an idea or a quality:
justice, loyalty, friendship, neatness.

6. A verbal noun (gerund) names an action:
studying, playing, swimming.

Number — Plurals of Nouns

1. Most nouns for their plural by adding s or es to the singular

2. Many nouns form their plural by change of vowel within the words

3. A few nouns for their plural in en

4. Most nouns ending in f or fe form their plural by changing f to v and add es

5. Nouns ending in y preceded by a consonant change the y to i and add es

6. Many nouns adopted from a foreign language have retained their original plural form.

7. Letters, figures, signs, and words regarded merely as words for their plural by adding ’s

8. Compound nouns usually for their plural by pluralizing the principal, though there are exceptions to this rule

9. Proper nouns usually form their plural by adding s or es

10. A few nouns have the same form in both numbers, singular and plural

Gender - Gender Denotes Sex

There are three genders: masculine, feminine, and neuter: rooster, hen, barn.

Nouns such as bird, person, writer used to denote members of either sex are common gender.

How Nouns Are Used

1. Subject of a sentence.
Birds fly.

2. Complements - Words that make the verb complete.

a. Direct Object
I opened the package.
We met Alice at the airport.

b. Objective complement follows and relates to the direct object.
We elected him president. (noun)
Music makes her happy. (adjective)

c. Subjective  complement  or predicate noun completes the verb and refers to the subject.
You are his friend.  Florence is our hometown.
Only the following verbs are followed by subjective complements:
Forms of to be: am, are, is, was, were, and been; verbs of the five senses: look, taste, smell, sound, feel, seem, appear, grow, remain, and prove.
Pronouns and adjectives may be subjective complements.
It was she who called.
The flower smells sweet.

3. Objective of Preposition
My brother lives in Florence.
The children enjoyed swimming in the pool.

4. Indirect object preceds the direct object.
A nooun may be used as an indirect object preceding the direct object.
To or for is expressed or understood.
Lend [to] me your pencil.
Tell us the time. ("to us" is understood)
She gave [to] her mother a quick answer.
He brought [for] us a good report.

5. Appositive (In apposition) Two nouns, the second identifying the first.
Appositive means coming right after.
My alma mater, Dartmouth College, is not as old as Harvard or William and Mary.

6. Direct address (nouns naming a person spoken to)
Are we ready to begin the story, John?
John, are we ready to begin the story?
Are we ready, John, to begin the story?

Case of a Noun

Case indicates the relationship of a noun, pronoun, or adjective to other words in the sentence.  There are three cases: nominative, objective, and possessive. You must know the case to be a precise speaker.

Nominative Case

1. Subject of a finite verb in a tense.
The book is on the library table.

2. Nominative of direct adress.
You, Thomas, may close the door.

3. Predicate nominative.
John is a cheerleader.

4. Predicate adjective.
Today the sky is blue.

5. Nominative of exclamation.
Snake! Run to the car.

6. In apposition.
William Wordsworth, and outstanding English poet, is my favorite.

Objective Case

1. Direct object of a verb.
Dad mowed the lawn.

2. Indirect object of a verb.
We gave [to] our captain the latest report.

3. Predicate objective.
The team elected George captain.

4. Cognate object.
The actress laughed a scornful laugh. (It is cognate because you understand the verb and noun are the same thing.

5. Object of a preposition.
The camper sat on a log by the fire.

6. Adverbial objective.
We walked a mile. (This is a noun used as an adverb because it hass to do with space.)

7. In apposition.
I met my friend, Paul, in the mall.

8. Subject of an infinitive.
They believed the stranger [to be] the culprit.

Possessive Case

1. The possessive case singular of most nouns is formed by adding ’s.

2. The possessive case of most nouns ending in s is formed by placing an apostrophe after the s.

If the plural of a noun does not end in s, the possessive plural is formed by adding 's

3. The possessive case of compound nouns is formed by adding the proper possessive sign to the last word only.
My brother-in-law's car.
The attorney general's opinion.
If several nouns modify the same noun, the possessive sign is placed after the last noun only, if the possession is common.
Sue, Tommy, and Jack's mother.
If the possession is individual, the possessive sign follows each noun.
Sue's, Tommy's, and Jack's mothers.

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