English Noun

A noun is a word that names a person, a place, a thing or an idea. PERSONS PLACES THINGS IDEAS Athlete, Grandfather, Faiz Ahmad Faiz Parlor, seashore, Karachi Chair, milk, atom loneliness, harmony, capitalism

Dates and days of the week are also classified as nouns. 1492 KINDS OF NOUNS Nouns are divisible into different kinds: Common and Proper Nouns Sunday July 4, 1976

A common noun refers to one of a class of people, places, things, or ideas. It does not begin with a capital letter unless it begins a sentence. A proper noun gives the name or title of a particular person, place, thing or idea. It always begins with a capital letter.

COMMON NOUN: PROPER NOUN: Compound Nouns

The sailors spotted an island. The largest continent is Asia.

A compound noun consists of two or more words used together to form a single noun. There are four kinds of compound nouns. One kind is formed by joining two or more words: wallpaper. A second kind consists of words joined by hyphens: dinner-dance. A third kind consists of words that are often used together even though they are not joined: bulletin board. The fourth kind is a name that consists of more than one word: Old Faithful. Collective Nouns A collective noun refers to a group of people , places, things or ideas. The multitude of people gathered in front of the stadium. The museum has an excellent collection of Egyptian mummies.

Concrete and Abstract Nouns Concrete nouns refer to material things, to people, or to places. Some concrete nouns name things that you can perceive with your senses: bell, odour, breeze. Other concrete nouns name things that can be measured or perceived with the aid of technical devices. Although you may not be able to see helium, the noun helium is concrete because it names something that has a definite material existence. The nouns in boldface type in the following sentences are concrete. On his face was a large smile. The explosion of the tank could be heard two miles away. I could smell the fumes of gasoline in the air. People need oxygen in order to live. [Even though you cannot see, hear, smell, or taste oxygen, it is a substance that can be measured.] Abstract nouns name ideas, qualities, emotions, or attitudes. The nouns in boldface type in the following sentences are abstract. J.S. Mills named liberty and the pursuit of happiness as two peoples rights. Noreens face showed great concentration as she awaited the start of the race. In a meritocracy, people assume leadership because of ability and talent. Count Nouns and Non-count Nouns Most English nouns are count nouns. They refer to object which are thought of as separate and distinct entities and they have both singular and plural forms. I have bought a new book. Books are a source of knowledge. Crocodiles live in water. We saw a crocodile in the zoo. Non-count nouns do not have a singular or a plural form. In a sentence, a non-count noun is treated like a singular noun and uses the verb form for singular nouns. A and an cannot be used with non-count nouns. However, non-count nouns that represent a collection or a mass may be preceded by a phrase that indicates quantity, orquantifier, such as a lot of, a little, some much, any. Example: I like some butter on my toast. (Not: I like a butter on my toast) Now study the following sentences:

Cows eat grass. Put some butter on the potatoes. Fill our pens with ink. Honesty pays in the long run. In the sentences given above, grass, butter, ink and honesty are uncountable Nouns. We cannot count them or we do not count them. We do not even use a, an, one, two, three etc. before them. We can group the following into Uncountable Nouns: i. ii. Abstract Nouns: honesty, courage, youth, freedom etc. Material Nouns: gold, silver, wood, paper etc.

iii. Things that are not considered in numbers but in mass or quantity: grass, wheat, rice, sugar etc. iv. v. vi. vii. 1. Liquids: ink, milk, water, oil etc. Gases: Oxygen, Hydrogen, Steam, Smoke etc. Natural Phenomena: heat, cold, sun-light etc. Branches of learning: Economics, Politics, Mathematics

The Noun: Gender

The Gender of any Noun tells us whether the person or object talked about belongs to the male sex, female sex or to neither of the two sexes. Only living beingshave sex whereas both living (beings) and non-living (objects) have Genders. Therefore,Gender and Sex are totally different things. Pen and boat have a Gender but they have no sex. There are four Genders: 1. 2. Nouns denoting the male sex are of Masculine Gender: Father, Cock, Colt, Wizard etc. Nouns denoting the female sex are of Feminine Gender: Mohsina, hen, filly, witch etc.

3. Nouns used for both male and females are of Common Gender: Baby, infant, child, friend, patient etc. 4. Nouns denoting things without life are of Neuter Gender: Pen, book, slate, chair, pencil etc.

Remember that Uncountable Nouns, Lower animals and young ones are considered as Neuter Gender. When lifeless objects are personified, they are considered as males or females.

1. Things indicating strength, greatness, courage, awe etc. are regarded asMasculine Gender: Anger, death, ocean, sun, thunder, revenge etc. The sun sheds his beams on the rich and the poor alike. 2. Things noted for beauty, gentleness, grace, weakness etc. are regarded asFeminine Gender: Moon, peace, mercy, spring, truth etc. The moon hid her face behind a cloud. Peace has her victories no less renowned than war. A ship, a boat, a railway train, a country and a nation are also treated as Feminine Gender. 2. The Noun: Number

There are only two numbers in English: The Singular Number and The Plural Number Nouns denoting one person or thing are in the Singular Number: Book day, bench, potato, wife etc. Nouns denoting more than one person or thing are in the Plural Number:Books, days, benches, potatoes, wives etc. The following are the rules for forming the Plurals of Nouns: Rule 1: By adding s to the Singular:

Singular Action Author Book

Plural Actions Authors Books

Singular Eagle Pan Tail

Plural Eagles Pans Tails

Rule 2:

By adding s to the Nouns ending in y and preceded by a Vowel (a,e,io,u):

Singular Day Essay Storey

Plural Days Essays Storeys

Singular Boy Monkey Toy

Plural Boys Monkeys Toys

Rule 3:

By adding ;s to Nouns ending in o preceded by a Vowel:

Singular Radio Ratio

Plural Radios Ratios

Singular Bamboo Cuckoo

Plural Bamboos Cuckoos

Rule 4:

By adding s to Nouns ending in f or fe; as\

Singular Belief Chief

Plural Believs Chiefs

Singular Proof Safe

Plural Proofs Safes

Rule 5: Singular Bench Bush

By adding es to the Nouns ending in sh, s, or x; as Plural Benches Bushes Singular Ass Box Plural Asses Boxes

Rule 6:

By adding es to the Nouns ending in o preceded by a consonant; as

Singular Echo Hero

Plural Echoes Heroes

Singular Potato Motto

Plural Potatoes Mottoes

Exception to the above Rule Singular Dynamo Plural Dynamos Singular Piano Plural Pianos

Photo

Photos

Mosquito

Mosquitos

Rule 7: By changing y into i' and then adding es to Nouns ending in y and preceded by a consonant; as

Singular Army Country Duty

Plural Armies Countries Duties

Singular Diary Reply Story

Plural Diaries Replies Stories

Rule 8

By changing f and fe into v and then adding es to Nouns ending in f orfe; as

Singular Calf Thief Knife

Plural Calves Thieves Knives

Singular Sheaf Wife Himself

Plural Sheaves Wives Themselves

Rule 9:

By changing the inside Vowel or Vowels of the Nouns; as

Singular (a) Man Gentleman (b) Foot Goose (c) Louse (d) Axis Basis

Plural Men Gentlemen Feet Geese Lice Axes Bases

Singular Woman Watchman Tooth

Plural Women Watchmen Teeth

Mouse Crisis Oasis

Mice Crises Oases

Rule 10:

By adding apostrophes to Abbreviations and Numbers; as

Singular B.A. A 3

Plural B.A.s As 3s

Singular B.T. T 5

Plural B.T.s Ts 5s

Rule 11:

By adding s to the chief word in the Compound Nouns; as

Singular Passer-by Race-horse Maid-servant Son-in-law Commander-inChief

Plural Passers-by Race-horses Maid-servants Sons-in-law Commanders-inchief

Singular On-looker Looker-on Step-mother Father-in-law Governorgeneral

Plural On-lookers Lookers-on Step-mothers Fathers-in-law Governorgenerals

The following Compound Nouns take Double Plurals:

Singular Man-servant

Plural Men-servants

Singular Woman-servant

Plural Womenservants Knights-templers

Lord-justice Rule 12:

Lords-justices

Knight-templer

The following Nouns are used as the Singular:

Mathematics Innings Hair

News Scenery Abuse

Summons Bedding Advice

Physics Information Furniture

Offspring (issue) Examples:

Mechanics

This news was published in the Tribune. Here is a summons for you. Mathematics is my favourite subject. Her hair is very long You gave him much abuse. My advice carries no weight with him. The furniture in this office is broken. His offspring has died The innings lasts till all the players are not out This information has been sent to all the offices. The scenery of Nainital is very charming. My bedding has been stolen. Note: If required, the sense of some of the above Nouns may be expressed in Plural in the following ways: Pieces of advice, pieces of information, pieces of poetry, articles of furniture, articles of clothing, rolls of bedding. Her hairs are partly black and partly grey. I pulled out four of her hairs.

Rule 13:

The following Nouns are always used as Plural: (They take plural verb)

(a) Collective Nouns which are Singular in form; as Cattle, Poultry, Folk, People, Gentry, Vermin etc. The cattle are grazing. These poultry are mine. The village folk are credulous

The gentry were invited to the function. The people of India are enterprising. Vermin carry disease. (b) Names of instruments of two parts forming kinds of pair; as Tongs, scissors, bellows, pincers, spectacles etc. These tongs are made of iron. These scissors are made of fine steel. Your spectacles are costly. (c) Names of certain articles of dress; as Trousers, drawers, breeches, shoes etc., Your trousers are torn out. These shoes are old now. (d) Certain other Nouns; as Alms Quarters Annals Proceeds (of a sale) Environs Eaves Thanks Pains Goods Odds

Tidings Riches Vegetables etc.

Assets Measles

Mumps Billiards

My thanks are due to your brother for my appointment. Those quarters are newly built. The odds were against the English. The mason will finish the eaves today. Alms were given to the poor. Riches have wings. He takes pains in doing his work. Note: We also say a pair of scissors, a pair of spectacles, a pair of shoes etc.

Rule 14.

The following Nouns are used in both numbers, the Singular and the Plural:

This proved a means to an end. The means which he adopted were unfair. Her means are small, but she lives well. (Means when it has the meaning of wealth is always plural.) Politics is an interesting subject. Your politics are known to me. Great pains were (or pain was) taken by them to solve the problem. The wages of sin is death. The wages of labourers have increased. The public is (are) the best judge (judges) in this matter. You will have to make amend (or amends) for his lose. Rule 15. The following Nouns have the same form for both the Singular and Plural:

(a) He keeps a deer. There are many deer in the forest. He is a black sheep in the class. The sheep are grazing. A swine lives on dirty things. He owns many swine. (pig) I gave the beggar one pice. The price of this piece of blotting paper is two pice. The fisherman caught a little fish. Fish abound in this tank. One cannon was fired. Two cannon were fired. (b) I bought three dozen oranges and two score bananas.

He sold the cow for two hundred rupees. The cost of this radio-set is one thousand rupees. He has twenty head of cattle. I do not like this kind of books. I keep three brace of pigeons. (c) Ten hundred kgs make one metric ton. He weights ten stone. Note: We always say hundreds of students, thousands of people, many kinds of fishesetc. But if one, two, three, four etc. precede them their form is singular. Study the following sentences carefully. I bought this three-foot-rule for one rupees. He lost his two-year-old child. I have two five-rupee-notes in my pocket. I shall return within a fort-night. Rule 16. The following Nouns have different meanings in Singular and Plural:

Singular Advice Air Compass Force Good Iron Physic Return Sand

Meaning Counsel Atmosphere Range or extent Strength Benefit A metal Medicine Coming back A substance

Plural Advices Airs Compasses Forces Goods Irons Physics Returns Sands

Meaning Information (or instructions) Pride An instrument Army Movable things (property) Fetters (chains) Natural science Income or (statistics) A sandy tract of land, sea shore Springs or a large quantity of

Water

A liquid

Waters

water Content Respect Rule 17. Satisfaction Regard Contents Respects Things contained Compliments

The following Nouns have two Plurals which have different meanings:

Singular Brother {

Plural 1. brothers 2. brethren

Meaning Sons of the same father. Members of the same society. Pieces of kinds of cloth. Garments Stamps of coining. Small cubes used in games. Men of talents. Fabulous spirits. Tables of contents in books Signs used in Algebra Separate coins A sum of money considered collectively. Walking sticks or the lines used in music. Bodies of clerks or officers.

Cloth

1. cloths 2. clothes

Die

1. dies 2. dice

Genius

1. geniuses 2. genii

Index

1. indexes 2. indices

Penny

1. pennies 2. pence

Staff

1. staves 2. staffs

Rule 18: Singular Abuse {

The following Nouns have two meanings in the Singular and one in the Plural: Meaning 1. reproach 2. wrong use Plural Abuses Meaning Wrong uses

Foot

1. a part of the body 2. infantry

Feet

Parts of the body

Horse

1. animal

Horses

Many horses

2. cavalry Issue { 1. subject 2. offspring Light { 1. light 2. a lamp People { 1. persons 2. nations Note: The form of people remains singular but its meaning is plural (many persons). Rule 19: Singular Arm The following Nouns have one meaning in the Singular and two in the Plural: Meaning A part of the body Hue Plural Arms { Meaning 1. Parts of the body 2. Weapons Colours { 1. hues 2. flags of a regiment Custom Habit Customs { 1. habits 2. duties levied on imports Effect Result Effects { 1. results 2. property Manner Method Manners { 1. methods 2. correct behaviour Pain Suffering Pains { 1. sufferings 2. troubles Part Portion Parts { 1. portions 2. talents, abilities Provision Condition Provisions { 1. conditions 2. food Peoples Nations Lights Lamps Issues Subject

Colour

Quarter

A fourth part

Quarters

1. fourth part 2. lodgings

Spectacle

A sight

Spectacles

1. sights 2. eye glasses

3.

The Noun: Case The Case of a Noun or a Pronoun shows its relation with some other sentence; as Shilas sister, boys slates, etc. There are three Cases in English:

1. 2. 3.

The Nominative (or subjective) The Objective (or Accusative) The Possessive

1. The Subject of a Verb is in the Nominative Case; the Object to a verb or Preposition is in the Objective Case and the possessor or owner of a thing s in the Possessive Case:

Birds fly The policeman caught a thief Boys are in the room Rahims Horse is lame 2.

(Subject to the Verb fly) (Object to a Verb (Object to the Preposition in) (Possessor of a horse)

The Noun defining another Noun is said to be in apposition with the Noun it defines;

Rafiq, the barber; Dara, the dacoit Persons addressed are in the Vocative Case: Manzoor, do not make mischief. It is also called the Nominative of address. 3. The Possessive Case is formed:

(a) By using of with Objects without life: The door of the house; the pages of the book; the leg of a table etc. (b) By adding an apostrophe and s (s) to Singular and Plural Nouns (not ending in s) having life; as

(i)

Umas mother; My uncles friend; Mans suit; Childrens toys etc.

(ii) My mother-in-laws house, Sheroo, the cobblers shop; Sadar-i-Riyasat of Kashmirs palace etc. (c) By adding an apostrophe() only to Plural Nouns ending in s: as (Cows tails; girls ribbons; boys pens etc. 4. An apostrophe is also used with Nouns denoting: (a) Time, space or weight; as Two months leave; two days notice; a stones throw; a pounds weight etc. (b) Personified Objects; as Deaths call, the Countrys honour, Mercys sake.