Lecture 3: Noun and Noun Phrase 1. Classification of nouns 2. Number forms of nouns 3. Unit nouns

1. Classification of nouns 1.1 Simple, compound and derivative nouns 1.2 Proper and common noun 1.3 Countable and uncountable nouns

1.1 Simple, compound and derivative nouns a---A simple noun is a noun that contains only one free morpheme. e.g. man, boy, rice, snow, water, etc. b---A compound noun is composed of two or more morphemes. e.g. forget-me-not, pick-me-up, walkman, armchair, roommate, etc. c---A derivative noun comes from a verb, an adjective or a simple noun with affix. e.g. arrangement (arrange—V), greatness (great— A), questionnaire (question—N)

1.2 Proper and common noun a---A proper noun is a name used for a single person, place or thing, and spelt with a capital initial letter (e.g. United Nations) b---A common noun is a name common to a class of people, things or abstract ideas. Common nouns can be further classified into individual, collective, material, and abstract nouns. Individual------boy, student, teacher, etc. Collective------team, family, machinery, police, etc. Material--------air, snow, water, etc. Abstract--------honesty, education, etc.

1.3 Countable and uncountable nouns individual collective countable Common noun material abstract uncountable Proper noun

2. Number forms of nouns 2.1 Number forms of collective nouns 2.2 Number forms of material nouns 2.3 Number forms of abstract nouns 2.4 Number forms of compound nouns

2.1 Number forms of collective nouns Some collective nouns are countable (e.g. a team, two teams). Some collective nouns are uncountable. If we want to count the number, we have to use a kind of individual noun related to the collective (e.g. poetry—collective uncountable; poem—individual countable/ police—C. U; policeman—I.C). There is also a kind of collective noun which can be used either in the singular or in the plural sense but different in meaning and in verb forms. e.g. His family is a very happy one. His family have been to Beijing.

2.2 Number forms of material nouns Material nouns are generally uncountable and have no plural forms. But there are some such items which can be used either uncountably or countably. When used to mean the material itself, they are uncountable, but when used in other senses, for example, two coffees in the sense of “two cupfuls of coffee”, they are countable. e.g. Beer is refreshing in summer. They had two beers (=two glasses of beer).

2.3 Number forms of abstract nouns a)A few abstract nouns are countable like individual nouns. e.g. a victory; two victories; successive victories b)Some abstract nouns have plural endings but they are uncountable. e.g. He is in financial difficulty/difficulties. He is in several difficulties. (right or wrong) c)Some are different in meaning when used as countable or uncountable nouns. We meet once a year to exchange our teaching experience. We told each other our experiences in foreign countries. My life in China was an unforgettable experience.

2.4 Number forms of compound nouns Generally, the plural is formed by adding –s or –es to the base of the noun (e.g. armchairs).   The following points should be noted. a---By adding –s to the principal word, usually a noun. e.g. sister-in-law sisters-in-law looker-on lookers-on passer-by passers-by editor-in-chief editors-in-chief runner-up runners-up

2.4 Number forms of compound nouns b---By adding –s to the base of the compound if it is composed of “a verb or a v-ed + adverb”. e.g. grown-up grown-ups go-between go-betweens hold-up hold-ups stand-by stand-bys

3. Unit nouns They can be classified into the following categories: a---General unit nouns With uncountable nouns the expression of quantity can be achieved by means of such unit nouns as piece, bit, item, followed by an of-phrase. e.g. a piece of furniture/music/advice/paper a bit of advice/trouble/bread b---Unit nouns related to the shape of things e.g. a bar of chocolate a slice of meat a drop of water a loaf of bread

3. Unit nouns c---Unit nouns related to volume e.g. a bottle of ink a cup of tea a glass of beer a bowl of rice d---Unit nouns denoting pairs, groups, flocks, etc. e.g. a pair of shoes a school of whales a flock of birds a group of people e---Unit nouns related to the state of action The use of these partitives is limited to certain set phrases. e.g. a fit of anger/coughing/laughter a flash of hope/light

Home assignments: P56 (4A) P66 (4B/4C) P69 (4D/4E) Thank you.