Grammar & Composition Parts of Speech Noun Notes Grammar & Composition Parts of Speech

Basics A noun is a word that names a person, place, thing or idea. Persons: brother, scientist, Rita, Governor Granholm Places: porch, stadium, Chicago, Africa Things: television, cactus, hurricane, Holland Tunnel Ideas: truth, democracy, ability, safety

Common and 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; these need to be capitalized. Common nouns Proper nouns man Albert Einstein, Michael Jordan, _____________ holiday Earth Day, Labor Day, ______________ city Miami, London, Dallas, Beijing, _______________ language Spanish, English, Hebrew, __________________

Singular, Plural & Collective Nouns Singular nouns name one person, place, thing or idea. Plural nouns name more than one. A collective noun names a group – people or things that are regarded as a unit. Example: tribe, litter, flock, committee, ________________

Abstract and Concrete Nouns A concrete noun names something perceptible to the senses – something that can be seen, heard, smelled, touched, or tasted. An abstract noun names something that cannot be perceived through the senses such as an idea, quality, emotion or state. Concrete Nouns Abstract Nouns coin, hand, fire, computer, _________ jealousy, freedom, laziness, _________

Compound Nouns A compound noun consists of two or more words used together as a single noun. A compound noun may be written as one word, as two words, or as a hyphenated word. As one word As two words As hyphenated words bookcase, candelight, _________ ice cream, New York, ________ great-grandmother, one-third, _________

Possessive Nouns A possessive noun shows ownership or belonging. Add an apostrophe and s to a singular noun to make it possessive. Example: Ricky Martin’s first CD, a dog’s bark. Add only an apostrophe to a plural noun ending in s to make it possessive. Example: horses’ mane, book-lovers’ delight