## [Noun](/hypergrammar-2/what-is-a-noun) ## Avertissement Ce contenu est offert en anglais seulement. A noun is a word used to name a person, place or thing, an animal or abstract idea. The highlighted words in the following [sentences](subject-and-predicate) are all nouns: - Late last *year* our *neighbours* bought a *gazebo*. - *Maureen Forrester* was an *opera singer*. - The *bus inspector* looked at all the *passengers’ passes*. - According to *Plutarch*, the *library* at *Alexandria* was destroyed by *fire*. - *Philosophy* is of little *comfort* to the *starving*. A noun can function in a sentence as a [subject](subject-and-predicate#subject), a [direct object](objects-and-complements#directobject), an [indirect object](objects-and-complements#indirectobject), a [subject complement](objects-and-complements#scmplmnt), an [object complement](objects-and-complements#objcom), an [appositive](apposition), an [adjective](what-is-an-adjective#adjective) or an [adverb](what-is-an-adverb#whatisadv). ## Noun Gender Many common nouns, like *engineer* or *teacher*, refer to both men and women. In the past, many English nouns would change form depending on their [gender](noun-and-pronoun-characteristics#gender)—for example, a man was called an *author*, a woman an *authoress*. This use of gender-specific nouns is very rare today. As far as possible, job titles should not imply that the job can be filled only by members of one sex. Use feminine nouns when women are referred to, or gender-inclusive nouns when a man or woman is not specifically referred to: - spokeswoman/spokesperson/representative **not** spokesman - chairwoman/chairperson/chair **not** chairman - councillor **not** councilman **or** alderman - technician **not** repairman - trade worker **not** journeyman - cleaner **not** cleaning woman ## Noun Plurals Most nouns change their form to indicate [number](noun-and-pronoun-characteristics#number) by adding *s* or *es*, as illustrated in the following pairs of sentences: - Matthew rarely told the *truth* if he thought he was going to be reprimanded. - Many people do not believe that *truths* are self-evident. - As they walked through the empty house, they were startled by an unexpected *echo*. - Bridget liked to shout into the quarry and listen to the *echoes*. - Joe tripped over a *box* carelessly left in the hallway. - Since we are moving, we will need many *boxes*. Other nouns form the [plural](noun-and-pronoun-characteristics#plural) by changing the last letter before adding *s*. Some nouns ending in *f* form the plural by deleting the *f* and adding *ves*. Some nouns ending in *y* form the plural by deleting the *y* and adding *ies*, as in the examples below: Some nouns ending in *f*. - The harbour at Marble Mountain has one *wharf*. - There are several *wharves* in Halifax Harbour. Some nouns ending in *y*. - Warsaw is their favourite *city* because it reminds them of their courtship. - The vacation my grandparents won includes trips to twelve European *cities*. Other nouns form the plural irregularly. - The women shouted, "Are you a *mouse* or a man?" - All five men admitted that they were afraid of *mice*. If English is your first language, you probably know most of them already: when in doubt, consult a good dictionary. ## Possessive Nouns In the [possessive case](noun-and-pronoun-characteristics#poscase), a noun or [pronoun](what-is-a-pronoun#whatispronoun) changes its form to show that it owns or is closely related to something else. Usually, nouns become possessive by adding an [apostrophe](the-apostrophe) and the letter *s*. You can form the possessive case of a [singular](noun-and-pronoun-characteristics#singular) noun that does not end in *s* by adding an apostrophe and *s*, as in the following examples: - The red suitcase is *Cassandra’s*. - The only luggage that was lost was the *minister’s*. - The exhausted recruits were woken before dawn by the *drill sergeant’s* screams. - The *miner’s* face was covered in coal dust. You can form the possessive case of a singular noun that ends in *s* by adding an apostrophe alone or by adding an apostrophe and *s*, as in the following examples: - The *bus’s* seats are very uncomfortable. - The *bus’* seats are very uncomfortable. - The zoologist accidentally crushed the *platypus’s* eggs. - The zoologist accidentally crushed the *platypus’* eggs. - *Felicia Hemans’s* poetry was once more popular than Lord Byron’s. - *Felicia Hemans’* poetry was once more popular than Lord Byron’s. You can form the possessive case of a plural noun that does not end in *s* by adding an apostrophe and *s*, as in the following examples: - The *children’s* mittens were scattered on the floor of the porch. - The *sheep’s* pen was mucked out every day. - The *men’s* hockey team will play as soon as the *women’s* team is finished. - The hunter followed the *moose’s* trail all morning and all afternoon. You can form the possessive case of a plural noun that ends in *s* by adding an apostrophe, as in the following examples: - The speech was interrupted by the *dogs’* barking, the *ducks’* quacking and the *babies’* squalling. - The *janitors’* room is downstairs and to the left. - My uncle spent many hours trying to find the *squirrels’* nest. - The archivist quickly finished repairing the *diaries’* bindings. - Politics is often the subject of my *roommates’* many late night debates. ## Using Possessive Nouns Note that a noun in the possessive case frequently functions as an adjective modifying another noun. In the following example, - The *miner’s* face was covered in coal dust. the possessive noun *miner’s* modifies the noun *face* and together with the [article](what-is-an-adjective#articles) *the*, they make up the [noun phrase](the-function-of-phrases#phrsubj) that is the sentence’s subject. In the sentence below, - The speech was interrupted by the *dogs’* barking, the *ducks’* quacking and the *babies’* squalling. each possessive noun modifies a [gerund](verbals#thegerund). The possessive noun *dogs’* modifies *barking*, *ducks’* modifies *quacking*, and *babies’* modifies *squalling*. In the example below, - The zoologist accidentally crushed the *platypus’s* eggs. the possessive noun *platypus’s* modifies the noun *eggs* and the noun phrase *the platypus’s eggs* is the direct object of the [verb](what-is-a-verb#whatisverb) *crushed*. In the following sentence, - My uncle spent many hours trying to find the *squirrels’* nest. the possessive noun *squirrels’* modifies the noun *nest* and the noun phrase *the squirrels’ nest* is the [object](objects-and-complements#objects) of the [infinitive phrase](the-function-of-phrases#infinitivephrase) *to find*. ## Types of Nouns There are many different types of nouns. Some nouns, such as *Canada* or *Bridget*, are capitalized and others, such as *badger* or *tree*, are not (unless they start a sentence or appear in a title). In fact, grammarians have developed a whole series of noun types: proper, common, concrete, abstract, countable (also called the count noun), non-countable (also called the mass noun) and collective. You should note that nouns may belong to more than one type. For example, a noun may be proper or common, abstract or concrete, **and** countable or non-countable or collective. ## Proper Nouns Always capitalize a proper noun, as it represents the name of a specific person, place or thing. The names of days of the week, months, historical documents, institutions, organizations, religions and their holy texts and adherents are all proper nouns. Note that a proper noun is the opposite of a common noun. In each of the following sentences, the proper nouns are highlighted: - The *Maroons* were transported from *Jamaica* and forced to build the fortifications in *Halifax*. - Many people dread *Monday* mornings. - *Labour Day* is celebrated on the first *Monday* in *September*. - *Abraham* appears in the *Talmud* and in the *Koran*. - Last year, I had a *Baptist*, a *Buddhist*, and a *Sikh* as roommates. ## Common Nouns A common noun refers to a person, place or thing in a general sense and is the opposite of a proper noun. It should be written with a capital letter only when it begins a sentence. In each of the following sentences, the common nouns are highlighted: - According to the *sign*, the nearest *town* is 60 *kilometres* away. - All the *gardens* in the *neighbourhood* were invaded by *beetles* this *summer*. - Some *people* insist on having six different *kinds* of *mustard* in their *cupboards*. - The road *crew* was startled by the *sight* of three *moose* crossing the *road*. - *Workers* in Third-World countries are often underpaid. You may sometimes make proper nouns out of common nouns, as in the following examples: - The tenants in the *Garnet* *Apartments* are appealing the high increase in their rent. - The meals in the Bouncing *Bean* *Restaurant* are less expensive than meals in the cafeteria. - Many witches refer to the *Renaissance* as the Burning *Times*. - The *Diary* of Anne Frank is often a child’s first introduction to the history of the *Holocaust*. ## Concrete Nouns A concrete noun names anything (or anyone) that can be perceived through the physical senses (touch, sight, taste, hearing and smell). A concrete noun is the opposite of an abstract noun. The highlighted words in the following sentences are all concrete nouns: - The *judge* handed the *files* to the *clerk*. - Whenever they take the *dog* to the *beach*, it spends *hours* chasing *waves*. - The real estate *agent* urged the *couple* to buy the second *house* because it had a new *roof*. - As the *car* drove past the *park*, the *thump* of a disco *tune* overwhelmed the string *quartet’s* *rendition* of a *minuet*. - The *bookbinder* replaced the flimsy paper *cover* with a sturdy, cloth-covered *board*. ## Abstract Nouns An abstract noun names anything that cannot be perceived through the five physical senses (touch, sight, taste, hearing and smell), and is the opposite of a concrete noun. The highlighted words in the following sentences are all abstract nouns: - Buying the fire extinguisher was an *afterthought*. - Tillie is amused by people who are nostalgic about *childhood*. - *Justice* often seems to slip out of our grasp. - Some scientists believe that *schizophrenia* is transmitted genetically. ## Countable Nouns A countable (or count) noun has both a singular and plural form, and names anything (or any being) that can be counted. A countable noun can be made plural and take a plural verb in a sentence. It is the opposite of a non-countable noun and a collective noun. In each of the following sentences, the highlighted words are countable nouns: - We painted the *table* red and the *chairs* blue. - Since he inherited his *aunt’s library*, Jerome spends every *weekend* indexing his *books*. - Miriam found six silver *dollars* in the *toe* of a *sock*. - The oak *tree* lost three *branches* in the *hurricane*. - Over the *course* of twenty-seven *years*, the *doctor* delivered just over eight hundred *babies*. ## Non-Countable Nouns A non-countable (or mass) noun does not have a plural form and refers to something that is usually not counted. A non-countable noun always takes a singular verb in a sentence. It is similar to a collective noun, and is the opposite of a countable noun. The highlighted words in the following examples are non-countable nouns: - Joseph Priestly discovered *oxygen*. - *Oxygen* is essential to human life. The word *oxygen* cannot normally be made plural. Since *oxygen* is a non-countable noun, it takes the singular verb *is* rather than the plural verb *are*. - We decided to sell the *furniture* rather than take it with us when we moved. - The *furniture* is heaped in the middle of the room. As a non-countable noun, *furniture* has no plural and takes the singular verb *is heaped*. - The crew spread the *gravel* over the roadbed. - *Gravel* is more expensive than I thought. The noun *gravel* has no plural. Since *gravel* is a non-countable noun, it takes the singular verb form *is*. ## Collective Nouns A collective noun names a group of things, animals or persons. You could count the individual members of the group, but you usually think of the group as a whole. It is important to recognize collective nouns in order to maintain subject-verb agreement. A collective noun is similar to a non-countable noun, and is roughly the opposite of a countable noun. In each of the following examples, the highlighted word is a collective noun: - The *flock* of geese spends most of its time in the pasture. The collective noun *flock* takes the singular verb *spends*. - The *jury* is dining on take-out chicken tonight. The collective noun *jury* is the subject of the singular [compound verb](compound-verbs#verbcmp) *is dining*. - The steering *committee* meets every Wednesday afternoon. Here the collective noun *committee* takes the singular verb *meets*. - The *class* was startled by the bursting light bulb. *Class* is a collective noun and takes the singular compound verb *was startled*. ## Avis de droit d’auteur pour l’outil HyperGrammar 2 © Département d’anglais, Faculté des arts, Université d’Ottawa Un outil mis en ligne par le Bureau de la traduction, Services publics et Approvisionnement Canada ## Rechercher par thèmes connexes Vous voulez en apprendre davantage sur un thème abordé dans cette page? 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