Activity Write a short letter to your best friend about a trip that you took this summer. Describe where you went, what you saw and what you did. (5 minutes)

With a highlighter, highlight all the nouns. Assignment With a highlighter, highlight all the nouns.

Nouns

What is so important about nouns? Nouns allow us to communicate about things or ideas around us. Without nouns, we would not be able to communicate with others. Assuming you were only allowed to communicate in writing, what would society look like if you couldn’t communicate with nouns?

What is the definition for a noun? A noun is a word that names a person, place, thing or idea. Examples: Car, leader, Texas, exploration

Kinds of Nouns Common nouns vs. Proper nouns Concrete nouns vs.Abstract nouns Collective nouns & Mass nouns Compound nouns Possessive nouns Pronouns

Common vs. Proper Nouns A common noun is a general name for a person, place, thing, or idea. A proper noun is the name of a particular person, place, thing, or idea. Example: singer vs. Jennifer Lopez player vs. Michael Jordan

Identity a correct proper noun for each in the right hand column. Common Noun country  lake day singer restaurant city president holiday  month  planet Proper Noun _________________

Activity Worksheet page 1 – “Common Nouns and Proper Nouns” 9

Concrete vs. Abstract Nouns A concrete noun names a thing that can be seen, heard, smelled, tasted, or touched. An abstract noun names an idea, feeling, quality, or characteristic. Love vs. flowers Happiness vs. food

Noun Exercise Write each noun and label it concrete or abstract and common or proper. We went to Graywood Park and got an idea when we saw the birds in the pond. Using a piece of wood, we saw that Robert could actually lift the men sitting on the benches next to us. Because we live in Hawaii, all we see is water, sand, and waves. Communication is a very important process for all people. Mary is filled with happiness today because justice has been served by the judge.

Answers: Graywood Park - concrete, proper; idea - abstract, common; birds - concrete, common; pond - concrete, common__ piece - concrete, common; wood - concrete, common; Robert - concrete, proper; men - concrete, common; benches - concrete, common_ Hawaii - concrete, proper; water  - concrete, common; sand - concrete, common; waves -concrete, common_ communication - abstract, common; process - abstract, common; people - concrete, common_ Mary - concrete, proper; happiness - abstract, common, justice - abstract, common, judge -concrete, common__

Noun Exercise (continued) My folder fell out of my briefcase and landed somewhere on Green Drive. During the storm, the Raymonds lost their power, but nevertheless, they were still happy. The Statue of Liberty displays love to everyone. The ability to talk is a very powerful advantage. The muffins sat in the oven as the fire crackled.

Answers (continued) folder - concrete, common; briefcase - concrete, common; Green Drive - concrete, proper storm - concrete, common; Raymonds - concrete, proper; power - concrete, common Statue of Liberty - concrete, proper; love - abstract, common ability - abstract, common; advantage - abstract, common muffins - concrete, common; oven - concrete, common; fire - concrete, common

Collective Nouns & Mass Nouns A collective noun is a word that names a group of people or things. Examples: crew, team, neighborhood, colony A mass noun is a word that names something that cannot be separated into individual units. Examples: sand, water, wood, fruit, bread, Can you think of any others?

Activity Worksheet page 2 – “Collective Nouns and Mass Nouns

Compound Nouns A compound noun is a noun that is made up of two or more words. Most compound nouns in English are formed by nouns modified by other nouns or adjectives. For example: The words tooth and paste are each nouns in their own right, but if you join them together they form a new word - toothpaste. The word black is an adjective and board is a noun, but if you join them together they form a new word - blackboard.

Combine words from column one with words from column two to create compound nouns. tooth + cut black cleaning swimming board under put hair paste dry pool out ground

Collective & Compound Nouns Write each collective and compound noun and label it collective or compound. We saw a flock of birds fly across the sky. The doghouse was broken after a herd of cattle ran over it. We brought a flashlight to the playground. At high school, you can observe a colony of ants. My family is obsessed over the printing press.

Answers flock – collective doghouse - compound; herd – collective flashlight - compound; playground – compound high school - compound; colony – collective family - collective; printing press - compound

Possessive Nouns 1. If a singular noun does not end in s, add 's The delivery boy's truck was blocking the driveway. Bob Dole's concession speech was stoic and dignified. The student's attempts to solve the problem were rewarded 2. If a singular common noun ends in s, add 's—unless the next word begins with s. If the next word begins with s, add an apostrophe only. (This includes words with s and sh sounds.) The boss's temper was legendary among his employees. The boss' sister was even meaner. The witness's version of the story has several inconsistencies. The witness' story did not match the events recorded on tape.

Possessive Nouns 3. If a singular proper noun ends in s, add an apostrophe. Chris' exam scores were higher than any other students. 4. If a noun is plural in form and ends in an s, add an apostrophe only, even if the intended meaning of the word is singular (such as mathematics and measles.) The instructor asked us to analyze ten poems' meanings. The dog catcher had to check all of the dogs' tags. It is hard to endure the Marine Corps' style of discipline. 5. If a plural noun does not end in s, add 's Many activists in Oregon are concerned with children's rights. Everyone was disappointed with the American media's coverage of the Olympics in Atlanta.

Possessive Nouns Exercise Complete each sentence by filling in the blanks with the possessive form of the nouns in the parentheses. The _____________ bikes were seen left on the ground. (brothers) The _____________ helmets were very shiny. (policemen) Mary could not catch the ___________ ball. (children) That was _________ idea. (Melissa) The __________ car is a Ford. (Henrys)

Possessive Nouns Exercise (cont.) Write each group of words using a possessive noun the room of the teachers the bubbles of the four fish the house of Mr. Williams the baton of the conductor the cameras of the photographers

Answers The brothers' bikes were seen left on the ground. (brothers) The policemen's helmets were very shiny. (policemen) Mary could not catch the children's ball. (children) That was Melissa's idea. (Melissa) The Henrys' car is a Ford. (Henrys)

Answers (cont.) the room of the teachers the teachers' room___ the bubbles of the four fish      the fish's bubbles_____ the house of Mr. Williams      Mr. Williams's house___ the baton of the conductor      the conductor's baton_ the cameras of the photographers      the photographers' cameras

Pronouns Pronouns take the place of one or more nouns. The noun or phrase replaced by the pronoun is called the antecedent. Example: When Robert was fixing the car, he cut his hand. (Robert is a noun. He is a pronoun that refers to the antecedent, Robert.)

Personal Pronouns Refer to people or things Examples: I, me, you, we, us, our

Fill in the correct pronouns. Skateboards are fun, but _______ can be dangerous. Speed bumps help to slow down cars. _______ are found in many parking lots. Marisa and Nora made their own costumes because ________ wanted to save money.

Activity Worksheet page 3 – “Pronouns” 30