Nouns

Nouns

Common vs. Proper

Common nouns:

• Name general items. Are not specific.
• dog - city - couch - computer
• The computer crashed last night.

Proper nouns:

• Specific people, places, things. Always capitalized.
• John - Amsterdam - Wednesday
• I went to Amsterdam last week.

Which of the following is a proper noun?

1. New York
2. Plant
3. Bicycle
4. Lamp

Which of the following is a common noun?

1. Australia
2. Teacher
3. James
4. Washington

Identify the proper noun in this sentence: "The students went to Paris for a field trip."

1. Paris
2. Field trip
3. Students
4. Went

Countable vs. Uncountable

Countable nouns:

• Can be counted. Singular and plural form.
• Car/cars - flower/flowers - key/keys
• He has seven cars!

Uncountable nouns:

• Substances or concepts that can't be counted
• Knowledge - water - snow
• There is snow outside.

Give an example of a countable noun

Give an example of an uncountable noun

Concrete vs. Abstract

Concrete nouns:

• Things that can be experienced with the five senses.
• Music - bread - grass
• The music is very loud.

Abstract:

• Ideas, qualities, or concepts that cannot be perceived by the senses.
• Love - justice - sadness
• He really values justice.*

Which of the following is an abstract noun?

1. Friendship
2. Sand
3. Tree
4. Dog

Identify the concrete noun in this sentence: The smell of roses filled the garden.

1. Smell
2. Filled
3. Roses
4. Garden

Which of these contains both countable and uncountable nouns?

1. She gave me a lot of advice.
2. They ran through the city.
3. We saw a bird in the tree.
4. I need more water and a pencil.

Which of the following nouns is concrete but uncountable?

1. Music
2. Chair
3. Advice
4. Information

Look around you and write down three concrete nouns you can see and two abstract nouns you feel. Explain the difference between the two types.