NOUNS

Definition: A noun is the name of a thing. Everything that exists has a name, whether you
can see it or not. A blind person cannot see something, but that does not mean that it isn’t
there! It may only exist in our minds, like hope, beauty or calories. There are four kinds of
nouns.

1. Common Nouns
These are names of everyday things that we can see, hear or touch.
For example:
table, banana, volcano, song
We can put the word ‘the’ in front of them and make sense, as in:
the rope, the poison
If it does not make sense, the word cannot be a noun.

2. Proper Nouns
Proper nouns are the special names that we give to people, places and particular things
like the days of the week, months of the year, or even the titles of books or TV shows.
For example:
Jason, Town Hall, China, French, The Wishing Chair
Because they are special and individual names, they start with a capital letter and, apart
from people, most of these things have only one proper name.

3. Competitive Nouns
These are names for groups of things, animals or people, which go together, or have
something in common.
For example:
 A number of people in a group singing is a choir.
 A number of cows in a group is a herd.
Note here that if the group word is singular then the verb following must also be
singular.
For example:
 Correct – The choir was rehearsing in the chapel.
 Incorrect – The choir were rehearsing in the chapel.
There may, of course, be more than one group. In which case the verb will be plural.
 The choirs were competing in the final.

4. Abstract Nouns
Abstract nouns form what can be the most difficult group to understand, as they
represent ideas, and have no physical substance that you can see or touch. The idea may
be of quality, for example:
beauty, greed, intelligence
or the idea may be a state that is felt or suffered, for example:
joy, misery, neglect
It may be the act of something, for example:
 duty, aggression
It may even be an event or happening, for example:
conversation, pause

Important things to keep in mind when using nouns are which article to use and how to
form the plural and how to form the possessive case.

a) Article
Direct article – the
example: the house
Indirect article a / an
 a - if the first letter of the following word is pronounced like a consonant
example: a car, a university
 an - if the first letter of the following word is pronounced like a vowel
example: an apple, an hour

b) Plural
 general rule: singular form + s
example: a car - two cars
 after s, ch, x, z the plural is formed by adding es
example: a box - two boxes
 y after a consonant is changed to ie before the plural s
example: a city - two cities
But:
 y after a vowel is not changed
example: a boy - two boys
 After o the plural is usually formed by adding es (this is not the case, however, with
words used for electric gadgets and music: radio, video, disco)
example: a tomato - two tomatoes

c) Possessive Case of Nouns

adding 's of phrase
usually used for people usually used for things
Ronny's brother the name of the school

 If there is a relation to people when using the possessive case with unanimated
things, often the s is added instead of using an of phrase.
example: Germany's economy or the ecomony of Germany
 When using the possessive case with a time, s is added.
example: a three weeks' holiday
 EXERCISE
Indirect Articles
1. A key
2. An orange
3. An umbrella
4. A university
5. An 8-year-old girl
6. An hour

Direct Articles
Decide whether you must or must not use the direct article.
1. We went to the cinema.
2. We usually have A dinner.
3. He plays ____ tennis very well.
4. Can you play the guitar?
5. This is my last year at the school.
6. Jane loves listening to ____ radio.
7. They went to London by the plane.
8. We are going to see my cousins on ____ Sunday.
9. Last night at eight we were watching ____ news on BBC.
10. That was an important day in ____ history.

Singular or Plural
Fill the gaps with the correct form of the nouns (singular or plural).
1. They ate some (tomato)tomatoes
2. You can put (sugar) sugars in your tea.
3. We have to buy new (furniture)
4. I need to wash my (hair) ________
5. We had lots of (fun) ________
6. The Milfords have a lot of (money) ________
7. How many (people) ________ were at the cinema with you?
8. Could you give some (information) informations_ on your project?
9. In this hotel, (family) families_ are very welcome.
10. Those (man) ________ seem to be very tired.

Possessive Case
Decide whether you have to use 's or an of phrase.
1. The boy has a toy. → It's the boy’s toy.
2. Peter has a book. → It’s the book's of peter.
3. The magazine has my picture on its cover. → My picture is on ____________.
4. Our friends live in this house. → It’s ____________.
5. There is milk in the glass. → It’s ____________.
6. This house has a number. → What is ____________?
7. The walk lasts two hours. → It's ____________.
8. John has a sister, Jane. → Jane is ____________.
9. The film has a name, "Scream". → "Scream" is name of film
10. This school is for girls only. → It's a ____________.