Noun NotesNoun Notes

A person, place thing or idea.A person, place thing or idea.

Common NounsCommon Nouns

A A general general name for a person, place thing name for a person, place thing or ideaor idea

Not usually capitalizedNot usually capitalized Examples: astronaut, planet, missionExamples: astronaut, planet, mission Sentence: The space Sentence: The space missionmission was a was a

disaster.disaster.

Proper NounsProper Nouns

The name of a The name of a particularparticular person, place, person, place, thing or idea.thing or idea.

Always capitalizedAlways capitalized Examples: Sally Ride, Jupiter, Apollo 13Examples: Sally Ride, Jupiter, Apollo 13 Sentence: The Sentence: The ChallengerChallenger exploded soon exploded soon

after takeoff.after takeoff.

Concrete NounsConcrete Nouns

A thing that can be seen, heard, smelled, A thing that can be seen, heard, smelled, touched, or tasted.touched, or tasted.

Examples: sunlight, explosion, fuel, Examples: sunlight, explosion, fuel, rocks, moon, icerocks, moon, ice

Sentence: The Sentence: The astronautsastronauts collected collected rocks rocks from the from the moonmoon..

Abstract NounsAbstract Nouns

An idea, feeling, quality or characteristicAn idea, feeling, quality or characteristic Examples: exploration, excitement, Examples: exploration, excitement,

lightness, couragelightness, courage Sentence: They felt great Sentence: They felt great excitementexcitement as as

they explored.they explored.

Collective NounsCollective Nouns

Names a group of people or thingsNames a group of people or things Examples: Community, audience, panel, Examples: Community, audience, panel,

crowd, class, government, staffcrowd, class, government, staff Sentence: A Sentence: A panelpanel of scientists presented of scientists presented

their findings.their findings.

Singular NounsSingular Nouns

Names Names oneone person, place, thing, or idea. person, place, thing, or idea. Examples: star, planet, galaxy, beliefExamples: star, planet, galaxy, belief Sentence: An Sentence: An astronomerastronomer saw a saw a starstar..

Plural NounsPlural Nouns

Names Names more than onemore than one person, place, person, place, thing, or idea.thing, or idea.

Examples: stars, planets, galaxies, Examples: stars, planets, galaxies, beliefsbeliefs

Sentence: The Sentence: The astronomersastronomers saw many saw many starsstars

Spelling Rules: PluralsSpelling Rules: Plurals

1) Add –s to most nouns1) Add –s to most nounsstar = stars planet = planetsstar = stars planet = planets

2) Add –es to a noun that ends in “s”, “sh”, 2) Add –es to a noun that ends in “s”, “sh”, “ch”, “x”, or “z”“ch”, “x”, or “z”

gas = gasesgas = gases dish = dishesdish = dishes3) Add –s to most nouns that end in “o”3) Add –s to most nouns that end in “o”

radio = radiosradio = radios Add –es to a few nouns that end in “o”Add –es to a few nouns that end in “o”

hero = heroeshero = heroes

Spelling Rules: PluralsSpelling Rules: Plurals

4) For most nouns ending in “y” change the “y” to 4) For most nouns ending in “y” change the “y” to an “i” and add –esan “i” and add –es

galaxy = galaxiesgalaxy = galaxies When a vowel comes before the “y”, just add When a vowel comes before the “y”, just add

–s–sray = raysray = rays

5) For most nouns ending in “f” or “fe” change the 5) For most nouns ending in “f” or “fe” change the “f” to a “v” and add –es or –s“f” to a “v” and add –es or –s

half = halveshalf = halves life = liveslife = livesJust add –s to a few nouns that end in “f” or “fe”Just add –s to a few nouns that end in “f” or “fe”

belief = beliefsbelief = beliefs

Spelling Rules: PluralsSpelling Rules: Plurals

6) For some nouns, keep the same spelling6) For some nouns, keep the same spelling

sheep = sheepsheep = sheep species = species = speciesspecies

7) Some plurals of some nouns are formed 7) Some plurals of some nouns are formed in irregular waysin irregular ways

man = menman = men child = childrenchild = children

foot = feetfoot = feet mouse = micemouse = mice

Possesive NounsPossesive Nouns

The form of a noun showing ownershipThe form of a noun showing ownership Sentence: Sentence: Rudy’sRudy’s teacher discussed the teacher discussed the

Martian atmosphere.Martian atmosphere. Sentence: Inez could see Mars through Sentence: Inez could see Mars through

her her father’sfather’s telescope. telescope.

Spelling Rules: Spelling Rules: PossessivesPossessives

1) If the possessive noun is singular, add an 1) If the possessive noun is singular, add an apostrophe and an –sapostrophe and an –s

Mars = Mars’sMars = Mars’s planet = planet’splanet = planet’s2) If the possessive noun is plural and ends with 2) If the possessive noun is plural and ends with

an “s” just add an apostrophean “s” just add an apostrophecanals = canals’canals = canals’ rocks = rocks’rocks = rocks’

3) If the possessive noun is plural and doesn’t end 3) If the possessive noun is plural and doesn’t end with an “s”, add an apostrophe and an –swith an “s”, add an apostrophe and an –s

women = women’swomen = women’s children = children = children’schildren’s

Compound NounsCompound Nouns

2 or more words combined to make a 2 or more words combined to make a single noun.single noun.

Could be written as:Could be written as:1) A single word – liftoff, spacecraft1) A single word – liftoff, spacecraft2) 2 or more separate words - rocket 2) 2 or more separate words - rocket engine, peanut butterengine, peanut butter3) Hyphenated word – light-year, mother-3) Hyphenated word – light-year, mother-in-lawin-law

Compound NounsCompound Nouns

When making a compound noun written When making a compound noun written as 2 or more separate words or as 2 or more separate words or hyphenated words plural, make the main hyphenated words plural, make the main noun pluralnoun plural

rocket engine = rocket rocket engine = rocket enginesengines

mother-in-law = mother-in-law = mothersmothers-in-law-in-law