Grammar: Parts of Speech Notes
Diagnostic
Noun
Definition: A noun is a word used to name a person, place, thing, or idea.
All nouns can be divided into two categories: proper and common.
 Proper nouns name a particular person, place, or thing. It is always capitalized.
 Common nouns are any one of a group. They are not usually capitalized.
All nouns can be divided into another set of two categories: concrete and abstract.
 Concrete nouns can be sensed (seen, heard, smelt, tasted, or touched).
 Abstract nouns are insensible ideas, feelings, qualities, or characteristics.
Some nouns are compound nouns. Compound nouns have two or more words joined to make a
single noun. They can be written in three ways:
 One word – a compound word {flowerpot}
 Two or more separate words – one person {second baseman},one place {New York
City}, one thing {curtain rod}, or one idea {freedom of religion} that is expressed in
more than one word. This is different from a noun and adjective. {love seat versus hard
chair}
 Hyphenated word – words connected by hyphens {attorney-at-law}
Nouns
Concrete
Proper
Peter
Brunswick Academy
Bible
Common
boy
school
book
Abstract
Tuesday
Catholic Church
time
faith
Functions of a Noun






Subject
Predicate nominative
Object of the preposition
Direct object
Indirect object
Objective complement
The dog slept.
That is my dog.
I gave a bone to the dog.
I fed the dog.
I fed the dog a bone.
I called Joe a dog.
Nouns Don’t
Describe
I went to the dog pen.
Act
The pilot dogged the other plane.
To determine noun, consider the definition and usage. English lets words slide between
categories.
Collective – refers to a group as a unit
The unit is singular.
The committee is meeing.
The parts of the unit are plural.
The committee are arguing.
Possessive – show ownership; acts like an adjective
Singular nouns add ‘s
Sam’s Tess’s man’s
Plural may add ‘s or may add ‘ if it ends in s actresses’
Name:
Ms. Callis
Grammar & Lit.
Date:
Noun Notes
Definition: A noun is a word used to name a
,
or
,
,
.
All nouns can be divided into two categories: proper and common.

nouns name a particular person, place, or thing. It is always
capitalized.

nouns are any one of a group. They are not usually capitalized.
All nouns can be divided into another set of two categories: concrete and abstract.

nouns can be sensed (seen, heard, smelt, tasted, or touched).

nouns are insensible ideas, feelings, qualities, or characteristics.
Some nouns are compound nouns. Compound nouns have two or more words joined to make a
single noun. They can be written in three ways:
 One word – a compound word {flowerpot}
 Two or more separate words – one person {second baseman},one place {New York
City}, one thing {curtain rod}, or one idea {freedom of religion} that is expressed in
more than one word. This is different from a noun and adjective. {love seat versus hard
chair}
 Hyphenated word – words connected by hyphens {attorney-at-law}
Fill in the chart with noun which fit both categories. Circle any compound nouns.
Nouns
Concrete
Abstract
Proper
Common
Pronoun
Definition: Pronouns are used in place of one or more nouns.
Definition: An antecedent is the nouns(s) to which pronoun refers. It may be stated directly or
implied.