NOUNS 

noun-person, place, thing, idea

 Proper Noun- specific person, place, thing, idea

       ex.: Native American, Winter Olympics, English

common noun-any person, place, thing, idea

       ex.: board, cake, side (walk finishes all words)

 concrete nouns-name things you can see or touch (senses)

       ex.: dolphin, field, volleyball

abstract nouns-name ideas, qualities, or feelings that cannot be seen or touched

ex.: honesty, determination, history, slavery

COMPOUND NOUNS

 compound noun-made up of 2 or more words

     one word

       ex.: housekeeper, volleyball, showcase

     hyphenated (-)

       ex.: mother-in-law, runner-up, great-grandma

     more than one word

       ex.: ice cream, music box, dining room

 To form plural compound nouns:

one word-add –s to most words; add –es to x, ch, sh, and s endings

       ex.: headlights, churches, boxes

hyphenated and more than one word-make most important part of compound noun plural

ex.: runners-up, mothers-in-law, great-grandmas, maids of honor, music boxes

POSSESSIVE NOUNS

 possessive noun-names who or what owns or has something

       *can be common, proper, singular, plural

       ex.: Mr. Upton’s jokes are funny.

Forming Possessive Nouns

PLURALS, POSSESSIVES, AND CONTRACTIONS 

contraction-two words combined
ex.: isn’t (is not)

      Mike’s here. (Mike is here.)

      We should’ve waited. (We should have waited.)

COLLECTIVE NOUNS 

collective noun-a group that is made up of individuals

       ex.: family, flock, team, class, crowd, jury, club, herd, audience, committee, orchestra

problem-agreement  problems             

       *Speak about group as a unit: Singular

       *Refer to individual members of group: Plural

       ex.: The crowd cheers the team.
              The crowd move to their favorite spots.
To check:
       If you can substitute “it”, the collective noun
       is singular.
       If you can substitute “they”, the c.n. is plural.
       ex.: The team (work, works) on its serve. Sub “It” and use “works.”

              It……………..its
              They..........their

APPOSITIVES
appositive-a noun that is placed next to another noun to identify it or add info about it

       ex.: JP’s brother, Isaac, is tall.  (Lindquists)

              *Isaac-appositive (adds info)

 appositive phrase-group of words that includes an appositive

       ex.: Washington, our first president, was a great leader.
              *president-appositive
              *our first president-appositive phrase

*Most appositive phrases are set off with commas.

**If appositive is needed, don’t use commas.