Chapter 2: Using Nouns
Good, clear sentences are not accidents. They result from understanding how words work. The words used in sentences fall into certain groups or classes. You can talk and write without knowing these labels. However, skilled speakers and writers understand the different classes of words.
In this chapter you will learn about one important group of words: nouns.
What Are Nouns?
You use words to name the people, places, and things around you. Words that name are called nouns. A noun is used to name a person, place, or thing. Nouns name things that can be seen like cities, streets, furniture, and books. They name things you cannot see, such as feelings, ideas, and beliefs.
Persons: landlord, Greg, Anne Murray, actor
Places: Wyoming, kitchen, Savannah, hotel
Things: blanket, mirror, energy, concern
Self-Test
Make three columns on a sheet of paper. Label them Names of Persons,Names of Places, and Names of Things. Find the nouns in the following paragraph. List each one in the proper column. To avoid columns write Persons and then the nouns which fall into that classification; do the same with Places and Things.
Thirty years ago Frisbees began as tin plates from pies. The plates came from the Frisbee Baking Company in Connecticut. People played with the plates. Now the game is not just play. Frisbee has become a sport. The championships are held in Pasadena. Entrants compete in five events. Players even come from other countries.
Answers
Names ofNames ofNames of
PersonsPlacesThings
peopleFrisbee Baking Companyyears
entrantsConnecticutFrisbee
playersPasadenaplates
countriespies
plates
plates
game
play
Frisbee
sport
championships
events
Exercise 1 to Be Submitted
Exercises 1 through 10 constitute Assignment 3. Follow the directions for the Self-Test above.
A commentator in New York states that eating used to be just plain fun. Nutritionists advised people to choose plenty of protein—including cheese, eggs, and steak. People didn't complain: these foods were favorites. Advisors in major cities talked about starches like bread and beans. The most serious problem then was running out of Bosco before bedtime.
Proper Nouns and Common Nouns
How do these two italicized nouns differ?
One sailor, George Ruiz, jumped from the ship.
The word sailor is a general term. It refers to many people. It is a common noun. A common noun is a general name. The noun George Ruiz, on the other hand, refers to only one person. It is a proper noun. A proper noun is a specific name. A common noun is the name of a whole group of persons, places, or things. It is a name that is common to the group. A proper noun is the name of a particular person, place, or thing. It is capitalized.
Look at the following examples of common nouns and proper nouns. As you can see, some nouns are made up of more than one word.
Common NounsProper Nouns
magazineSports Illustrated
mountainMount Everest
cartoonistGary Trudeau
gameSuper Bowl
cityBurlington
senatorSenator Hayakawa
Self-Test
Make two columns on your paper. Label one column Common Nouns and the other Proper Nouns. Place each of the following nouns in the correct column. Capitalize all proper nouns. You can avoid columns by listing the common nouns after the word Common and the proper nouns after the word Proper.
1.holiday inn, motel, seabreeze motel, shores hotel
2.restaurant, diner, burger king, cafeteria
3.singer, lou rawls, album, willie nelson, ballad
4.allentown, town, village, ridgeville, asheville
5.court, judge, judge ellen rodriguez, jury
Answers
Common NounsProper Nouns
1.motelHoliday Inn
Seabreeze Motel
Shores Hotel
2.restaurantBurger King
diner
cafeteria
3.singerLou Rawls
albumWillie Nelson
ballad
4.townAllentown
villageRidgeville
Asheville
5.courtJudge Ellen
judgeRodriguez
jury
Exercise 2 to Be Submitted
Write 10 sentences of your own, using at least one proper noun in 5 of them. List the common and proper nouns after each sentence.
How Are Nouns Used?
Nouns Used as Subjects
As you learned in Chapter 1, the subject of a sentence tells who or what is being talked about. Nouns are frequently used as subjects.
Scientists can predict earthquakes. (The noun scientists is the subject of the verb can predict.)
Ace Hardware in Bellwood sponsors our bowling team. (The noun Ace Hardware is the subject of the verb sponsors. Notice that in this sentence, the subject is not next to the verb.)
Two or more nouns may form a compound subject.
The divers and crew planned the voyage carefully. (The nouns divers and crew are the subject of the verb planned.)
The bus and the truck collided in the intersection. (The nouns bus and truck are the subject of the verb collided.)
Self-Test
Number your paper from 1 to 10. Write the nouns used as the subjects of these sentences.
1. A factory dumps wastes into this river.
2. The comedian told terrible jokes.
3. The workers organized a car pool.
4. That legend has been told for centuries.
5. The networks and newspapers cover sports events.
6. Many businesses need computers.
7. Vanessa and Nicole have applied for jobs.
8. Sara's wages have gone up each year.
9. John has been saving money for a motorcycle.
10. Many families are cutting their expenses.
Answers
1. factory
2. comedian
3. workers
4. legend
5. networks and newspapers
6. businesses
7. Vanessa and Nicole
8. wages
9. John
10. families
Exercise 3 to Be Submitted
Follow the directions for the Self-Test above.
1. The cost of movie tickets has risen.
2. Sharon tape-records her friends' albums.
3. Many employees eat in the cafeteria.
4. Shoppers looked for bargains at the sale.
5. The photographer printed her film.
6. A group of soldiers patrolled the shore.
7. The explorers plunged into the wilderness.
8. Ansel Adams is a fine photographer.
9. Lynn and Rice are powerful sluggers.
10. The Russian spacelab returned to Earth.
Nouns Used as Direct Objects
A direct object completes the action of a verb. It answers whom or what about the verb. Nouns are frequently used as direct objects.
The magician fooled the audience. (The noun audience tells whom about the verb fooled.)
In the shop class the students wear goggles. (The noun goggles tells what about the verb wear.)
Roger shaped mugs and a pitcher out of clay. (Both the nouns mugs and pitcher are direct objects. They tell what about the verb shaped.)
Self-Test
Write the nouns used as direct objects in the following sentences.
1. Danielle pounded the ball for a home run.
2. Jim has a short, flat swing.
3. Weight-training built Reed's strength.
4. City folks wear boots, too.
5. Todd reads Time every week.
6. That apartment has no heat.
7. Josh piled blankets onto the bed.
8. Will made his own drums.
9. The truckers load crates at the warehouse.
10. Carrie plays softball and basketball.
Answers
1. ball
2. swing
3. strength
4. boots
5. Time
6. heat
7. blankets
8. drums
9. crates
10. softball and basketball
Exercise 4 to Be Submitted
Follow the directions for the Self-Test above.
1. Britt took a trip to San Francisco.
2. The judge instructed the jury.
3. The company hired a lawyer.
4. Our family has medical insurance.
5. Customers must pay the cashier.
6. That used car has a radio and whitewalls.
7. Kim put radial tires on her car.
8. Bryant tackled the quarterback.
9. The lifeguard rescued two young children.
10. Woods line the coast of Maine.
Nouns Used as Indirect Objects
Another use of the noun is as an indirect object. The indirect object tells to whom or for whom or to what or for what about the verb.
The coach showed the quarterback a new play. (The noun quarterback is the indirect object. It tells to whom about the verb showed.)
Sarah gave the bookcase and the shelves another coat of varnish. (The nouns bookcase and shelves are the compound indirect object, telling to what about the verb gave.)
An indirect object is used only with a direct object. The indirect object appears before the direct object in the sentence.
IndirectDirect
SubjectVerbObject(s)Objects
Gailshowedthe cabbiethe route.
Lesliefedthe dogits food.
Dairy QueenofferedJim and Alicejobs.
As you have seen, the word to or for is never used with an indirect object.
Self-Test
Find the nouns used as indirect objects in the following sentences.
1. Mr. Scott gave Bonita her paycheck.
2. Police read the suspect his rights.
3. Kent gave the operator the number.
4. The store sent Ms. Alvarez a bill.
5. Sheila handed the teller her deposit.
6. The catcher gave the pitcher a signal.
7. Mark showed Michelle the rabbit's nest.
8. Suzanne gave Les and Maureen her new address.
9. The waiter handed each diner a menu.
10. Andy Kaufman told the audience a joke.
Answers
1. Bonita
2. suspect
3. operator
4. Ms. Alvarez
5. teller
6. pitcher
7. Michelle
8. Les and Maureen
9. diner
10. audience
Exercise 5 to Be Submitted
Follow the directions for the Self-Test above.
1. The manager gave Kim a promotion.
2. The coach gave her team a workout.
3. Carolyn handed the conductor her ticket.
4. Debbie made her sister a club sandwich.
5. Cal owes Steve six dollars.
6. Jenny loaned Erin a dress for the dance.
7. Don gives his brother his old clothes.
8. The commander gave Phil his orders.
9. The doctor gave her patient some advice.
10. The interviewer asked the President a tough question about inflation.
Nouns Used as Predicate Words
Sometimes a noun in the predicate part of a sentence is linked to the subject. That noun is called a predicate noun. It always follows a linking verb. It means the same thing as the subject.
Carlos was a carpenter's assistant.
The counselors were former teachers.
Two early autos were the Model T and the Model A.
The nouns assistant, teachers, Model T, and Model A are predicate nouns.
Self-Test
Find the nouns used as predicate nouns in the following sentences.
1. Canada is the birthplace of ice hockey.
2. The Freeport team is our strongest rival.
3. Saturday is the best day for a party.
4. British coins are shillings and pence.
5. Tyrone's last game was a no-hitter.
6. Pauline is an Olympic contender.
7. Mr. Johnson became the varsity coach.
8. Carl's sister is a bus driver in the city.
9. Gary's construction job is hard work.
10. The running backs were Earl Campbell and Walter Payton.
Answers
1. birthplace
2. rival
3. day
4. shillings and pence
5. no-hitter
6. contender
7. coach
8. driver
9. work
10. Earl Campbell and Walter Payton
Exercise 6 to Be Submitted
Follow the directions for the Self-Test above.
1. Many young people will someday become parents.
2. Richard Pryor was the host of the talk show.
3. The Loop is the central area of downtown Chicago.
4. The stars of the movie were Bo Derek, Dudley Moore, and Julie Andrews.
5. Two parts of a brake are the drum and the shoe.
6. Cornelia Street is the subway's last stop.
7. The Marx brothers were comic actors.
8. "Satchmo" was Louis Armstrong's nickname.
9. The Steelers are tough defensive players.
10. The High and the Mighty was the late movie last night.
Exercise 7 to Be Submitted
Write three sentences in which you use nouns:
1. As subjects of the sentence.
2. As direct objects in the sentence.
3. As indirect objects in the sentence.
4. As predicate words in the sentence.
In each instance underline the noun, enclose it in quotation marks, or specify some other method that you will use in pointing it out.
The Plurals of Nouns
When a noun names one thing, it is singular. When a noun names more than one thing, it is plural. Here are some rules for forming the plurals of nouns.
1.To form the plural of most nouns, just add s:
prizesdreamscirclesstations
2.When the singular noun ends in s,sh,ch,x, or z, add es:
waitressesbrushesditchesaxesbuzzes
3.When the singular noun ends in o, add s:
soloshalosstudios photospianos
For a few words ending in o, add es:
heroestomatoespotatoesechoescargoes
4.When a singular noun ends in y with a consonant before it, change the y to i and add es:
army–armiescandy–candiesbaby–babies
When a vowel (a, e, i, o, u) comes before the y, do not change the y to i, just add s:
boy–boysway–waysjockey–jockeys
5.For some nouns ending in f, add s to make the plural:
roofschiefsreefsbeliefs
For many nouns ending in f or fe, change the f to v and add s or es. Since there is no rule to follow, you will have to memorize such words. Here are some examples:
life–livescalf–calves
knife–knivesloaf–loaves
6.Some nouns have the same form for both singular and plural. They must be memorized.
deersheepmoosesalmontrout
7.Some nouns form their plurals in special ways. They, too, must be memorized.
man–menchild–children
woman–womenox–oxen
goose–geesefoot–feet
tooth–teethlouse–lice
mouse–mice
Self-Test
Write the plural of each of these nouns. If you have access to a dictionary, you may need to use it; if not, and if your guess is wrong, memorize the forms given in the answers to this test.
1. leaf2. year
3. deer4. holiday
5. coach6. piano
7. knife8. tooth
9. radio10. fox
11. echo12. tomato
13. bunch14. window
15. ox16. spy
17. goose18. hoof
19. wish20. copy
Answers
1. leaves
2. years
3. deer
4. holidays
5. coaches
6. pianos
7. knives
8. teeth
9. radios
10. foxes
11. echoes
12. tomatoes
13. bunches
14. windows
15. oxen
16. spies
17. geese
18. hooves
19. wishes
20. copies
Exercise 8 to Be Submitted
Write each sentence. Correct the errors in plural forms of nouns.
1. The childs were told not to play ball in the alleys.
2. The donkeys carried pouchs of gold.
3. Several tooths from sharkes were found on the beachs.
4. These forkes and knifes are scratched.
5. Basketball hoops are ten foots from the floor.
6. Basketes measure eighteen inchs across.
7. Both halfs of the court have basketes.
8. There are many types of passs and shots in the game.
9. Many large citys have pro teames.
10. Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain are my heros.
The Possessives of Nouns
Nouns can indicate possession or ownership.
Mr. Lowe's car
a farmer's land
Betty's keys
Nouns can show that something is part of a person.
Meg's sense of humor
Harold's concern
The 's makes the above nouns show ownership. Words like farmer's, Meg's, and Harold's are called possessive nouns.
Usually, people and animals possess things. Sometimes, however, things are also used in the possessive. We speak of a week's wages,a day's work, or a city's growth.
Forming Possessives
There are three rules for forming the possessive of nouns.
1.If the noun is singular, add an apostrophe (') and s.
AmandaAmanda's arm
RossRoss's desk
2.If the noun is plural and ends in s, add just the apostrophe.
artistsartists' studios
SpencersSpencers' home (home of the Spencers)
3.If the noun is plural but does not end in s, add an apostrophe and s.
womenwomen's discussion
peoplepeople's choice
Self-Test
Write the possessive form of each of these nouns.
1. mayor2. Meg
3. country4. senator
5. today6. ranch
7. child8. player
9. Penny10. host
11. car12. Charles
13. runner14. store
15. secretary16. admiral
17. Jenny18. salesperson
19. boss20. Linda
Answers
1. mayor's
2. Meg's
3. country's
4. senator's
5. today's
6. ranch's
7. child's
8. player's
9. Penny's
10. host's
11. car's
12. Charles's
13. runner's
14. store's
15. secretary's
16. admiral's
17. Jenny's
18. salesperson's
19. boss's
20. Linda's
Exercise 9 to Be Submitted
Follow the directions for the Self-Test above.
1. people2. fans
3. brothers4. hours
5. experts6. guests
7. friends8. women
9. doctors10. teachers
11. mice12. wives
13. workers14. sheep
15. Jacksons16. families
17. men18. clerks
19. islands20. bodies
Exercise 10 to Be Submitted
Write the possessive form for each italicized word.
1. The Bears lineup looks strong.
2. Jerry car needs new shock absorbers.
3. Tuesday game features the Steelers and the Cowboys.
4. The voters choice is Ms. Marie Tonelli.
5. Reynolds beat the other racers times.
6. Louis pass landed in the end zone.
7. The assistant state attorney met with the reporters.
8. The children zoo has baby animals.
9. Everyone watched the astronauts splashdown.
10. Donna neighborhood has a softball league.
These 10 exercises constitute your third assignment. Send it to your teacher with proper identification.
Chapter 2: Using Nouns1