Nouns

A noun is a word that names a person, place, thing, or idea.

Example: Miss Gonzalez is a teacher in our classroom.
Ricardo plays soccer on the field.
There are two classes of nouns:
- A common noun names any normal not specific object.
Examples: dog, house, car
- A proper noun names a particular person, place, or thing. It always
begins with a capital letter.
Examples: Honduras, Francisco Morazon , Volvo
Miss Bayes is a teacher at the American School of Tegucigalpa.
When a noun means one only, it is said to be a singular noun.
Examples: boy, girl, book, church, box
When a noun means more than one, it is said to be a plural noun.
Examples: boys, girls, books, churches, boxes
Rule #1
The plural of nouns is usually formed by adding - s to a singular noun.
Examples: kid, kids; cake, cakes; bike, bikes
Rule #2
Nouns ending in s, z, x, sh, and ch form the plural by adding - es.
Examples: dish, dishes; church, churches; couch,
couches
Rule #3
Nouns ending in - y preceded by a consonant is formed into a plural by
changing
the - y to - ies.
Examples: lady, ladies; city, cities; army, armies
Rule #4
Nouns ending in y preceded by a vowel form their plurals by adding - s.
Examples: boy, boys; day, days
Rule #5
Most nouns ending in “o” preceded by a consonant is formed into a plural
by adding es.
Examples: hero; heroes; potato, potatoes
Rule #6
Some nouns ending in f or fe are made plural by changing f or fe to - ves.
Examples: knife, knives; wife, wives
Rule #7
Some nouns have the same form in the singular and plural
Examples: fish, moose, deer, sheep
Rule #8
 Some nouns are irregular and change the word.
Examples: foot, feet; child, children; mouse, mice
Rule #9
Many two-word or three-word compound nouns add-s to the main
word.
Examples: son-in-law, sons-in-law; merry-go-round, merry-
go-rounds

Rule #10
Some nouns have no singular form so they don’t change.
Examples: scissors, pants, jeans

Rule #11
Letters, numbers, signs and words that are used as words add an
apostrophe and –s
Examples: n, n’s; 7, 7’s, √-, √-’s

A possessive noun shows possession of the noun that follows it.

Examples: Eduardo’s ball, Roberto’s camera

To form the possessive of most singular nouns add an apostrophe (’)

and -s.

Examples: Farid’s paper, Isabella’s notebook

To form the possessive of most plural nouns ending in –s add only an

apostrophe.

Examples: birds’ nests, kids’ homework, teachers’ books

To form the possessive of plural nouns that do not end in –s add an

apostrophe and – s.

Examples: women’s bags, children’s coats