NOUNS

What are nouns?

A noun is a word used as the name of a
person, place or thing. There are different
kinds of nouns.
Read the following sentence:
Solomon was a wise king.
Here the noun Solomon refers to a particular
king, but the noun king may refer to any
other king as well.
Here Solomon is a proper noun and king is
a common noun.
Similarly, Alice is a proper noun and girl is
a common noun.
France is a proper noun and country is a
common noun.
A proper noun is the name of a particular
person or thing. A common noun is a name
given in common to every person or thing of
the same class or kind.
Note that proper nouns always begin with a
capital letter. Common nouns include what
are called collective nouns and abstract
nouns.
Collective nouns
A collective noun is the name of a
collection of persons or things taken together
and spoken of as one whole.
Examples are: jury, committee, class,
family, team, folk, fleet, nation etc.
An abstract noun is the name of a quality,
action or state which we can only think of.
Examples are: kindness,
goodness, honesty, bravery, ignorance,
stupidity, wisdom, laughter etc.
Note that the names of arts and sciences are
also considered abstract nouns.
Abstract nouns are formed from adjectives,
verbs or common nouns. For example, the
abstract noun kindness is formed from the

adjective kind whereas the abstract noun

obedience is formed from the verb obey.
Countable and uncountable nouns
Nouns are also classified as countable and
uncountable. Countable nouns are the
names of objects that we can count.
Examples are: book, pen, apple, doctor,
sister, boy etc. Uncountable nouns are the
names of things which we cannot count.
Examples are: rice, gold, wheat, honesty,
beauty, oil etc.
Note that countable nouns have plural
forms and can be used with the indefinite
article a/an. Uncountable nouns do not have
plural forms and cannot be used with the
indefinite articles.
Formation of plural nouns
The plural noun is generally formed by
adding -s to the singular.
Cow (singular), cows (plural)
Boy, boys
Girl, girls
Book, books
Tree, trees
Dog, dogs
Pen, pens
Nouns ending in -s, -sh, -ch or -x form the
plural by adding -es to the singular.
Class (singular), classes (plural)
Brush, brushes
Kiss, kisses
Match, matches
Dish, dishes
Most nouns ending in -o also form their plural
by adding -es to the singular.
Mango (singular), mangoes (plural)
Hero, heroes
Potato, potatoes
Volcano, volcanoes

Note that a few nouns ending in -o merely

add -s.
Dynamo (singular), dynamos (plural)
Piano, pianos
Photo, photos
Logo, logos
Kilo, kilos
Nouns ending in a consonant + y form their
plural by changing -y into -i and adding -es.
Baby (singular), babies (plural)
Lady, ladies
City, cities
Story, stories
The following nouns ending in -f or -fe form
their plural by changing -f or -fe into v and
adding -es.
Thief (singular), thieves (plural)
Wife, wives
Leaf, leaves
Half, halves
Self, selves
Calf, calves
Loaf, loaves
Knife, knives
Elf, elves
Wolf, wolves
Shelf, shelves
Most other nouns ending in -f or -fe add -s.
Chief (singular), chiefs
Gulf, gulfs
Safe, safes
Proof, proofs
A few nouns form their plural by making
some changes to inside vowels.
Foot (singular), feet (plural)
Man, men
Woman, women
Tooth, teeth
Mouse, mice
Goose, geese

Formation of plurals Part II

Some nouns have identical singular and
plural forms. Examples are: swine, sheep,
deer, cod, salmon, aircraft, spacecraft,
series, species etc.
The following nouns are always used in the
singular form after numerals: pair, dozen,
score, gross, hundred and thousand
I bought three dozen mangoes. (NOT I
bought three dozens mangoes.)
The music player cost me two hundred
dollars.
He weighs above nine stone.
Note that the plural of fish is fish or fishes. In
modern English, fishes is used to talk about
different kinds of fish.
Some nouns are used only in the plural.
Examples are: bellows, scissors, tongs,
spectacles, trousers, drawers,
jeans, breeches, tights, shorts etc.
A number of nouns ending in -s are in fact
singular. Examples are: mathematics,
physics, electronics, news, measles, mumps,
rickets, billiards, innings etc.
Mathematics is his favourite subject.
No news is good news.
West Indies won by an innings and three
runs.
Measles is highly contagious.
A few collective nouns, though singular in
form, are always used as plurals. Examples
are: cattle, poultry, people, gentry etc.
These poultry are mine. (NOT This poultry
is mine.)
Vermin destroy property and spread
disease.
Who are these people?
The following nouns are always used in the
singular. Examples are: luggage, news,
advice, information, news, furniture, scenery
etc.
Kashmir is known for its scenery. (NOT
Kashmir is known for its sceneries.)

We have received no information. (NOT no

informations)
We need to buy some furniture. (NOT
some furnitures.)
Noun: Gender
Living beings are of either the male or the
female sex. Now compare the following pairs
of words.
Boy, girl
Man, woman
Husband, wife
Lion, lioness
Here the first word of each pair is the name
of a male animal. The second word of each
pair is the name of a female animal. A noun
that denotes a male animal is said to be of
the masculine gender. A noun that denotes
a female animal is said to be of the feminine
gender.
A noun that denotes either a male or a
female is said to be of the common gender.
Examples are: parent, child, friend, servant,
thief, enemy, cousin, student, baby, teacher,
writer etc.
A noun that denotes a thing that is neither
male nor female is said to be of the neuter
gender. Examples are: book, pen, room,
house, tree etc.
It is thus seen that in modern English, the
gender of a noun is entirely a matter of sex
or the absence of it. It has nothing to do with
the form of a noun, which determines its
gender in many other languages.
Note that inanimate objects are often
personified, that is, spoken of as if they were
living beings. We then regard them as males
or females.
The masculine gender is often applied to
lifeless objects known for strength or
violence. Examples are: sun, summer,
winter, time, death etc.
The feminine gender is often applied to
lifeless objects known for beauty or

gracefulness. Examples are: moon, earth,

spring, autumn, nature, liberty, justice,
peace, mercy, hope etc.
Formation of the Possessive Case
Singular nouns form their possessive case
by adding s to the singular.
The boys dog
My fathers office
Only the apostrophe () without s is added if
the noun contains too many hissing sounds.
For goodness sake
For conscience sake
For Jesus sake
Moses laws
Plural nouns ending in -s form their
possessive case by adding only an
apostrophe.
Boys school
Girls hostel
Plural nouns that do not end in -s, form the
possessive case by adding s.
Childrens books
Womens club
Uses of the possessive case
The possessive case is now used chiefly with
the names of living things.
The lions mane
The ministers bodyguards
The Kings palace
The possessive case is not normally used
with the names of lifeless things; instead, we
use a structure with of
The leg of the table (NOT The tables leg)
The cover of the book (NOT The books
cover)
The roof of the house (NOT The houses
roof)
Exceptions
The possessive case is often used with the
names of personified objects.
Natures laws
Fortunes favourites

At dutys call
At wits end
The possessive case is also used with nouns
denoting time, space and weight.
In a years time
A days work
At a stones throw
A pounds weight
The possessive of a proper noun denoting a
trade, profession or relationship can often be
used to denote a building or place of
business.
She has gone to the bakers. (= bakers
shop)
Tonight we are dining at Smiths (= Smiths
house)
Ways of forming the Feminine Gender
There are three ways of forming the feminine
gender.
1) By using an entirely different word.
Bachelor (masculine) / spinster or maid
(feminine)
Boy / girl
Uncle / aunt
Man / woman
Husband / wife
Father / mother
Brother / sister
Son / daughter
Horse / mare
Monk / nun
Buck / doe
King / queen
Cock / hen
Dog / bitch
Drake / duck
Earl / countess
Gander / geese
Gentleman / lady
Nephew / niece
2) By adding a syllable (-ess, -ine, -trix
etc) to the masculine gender
Author (masculine) / authoress (feminine)
Baron / baroness Count / countess
Giant / giantess
Heir / heiress
Host / hostess
Lion / lioness
Mayor / mayoress Poet / poetess
Priest / priestess
In the following -ess is added after
dropping the vowel of the masculine

ending.
Actor (masculine) / actress (feminine)
Enchanter / enchantress
Duke / duchess
Emperor / empress
Prince / princess
Tiger / tigress
Waiter / waitress
Master / mistress
Sorcerer / sorceress
3) By placing a word before or after
Grandfather / grandmother
Manservant / maidservant
Landlord / landlady
Peacock / peahen
Salesman / saleswoman
Washerman / washerwoman
Notes
A mayor can be a man or a woman. In British
English, a mayoress is the wife of a male
mayor.
Some words ending in -ess are no longer
used. Examples are: authoress and
poetess. Author and poet are now used for
both men and women. The words steward
and stewardess are being replaced by other
terms like flight attendant. Note that a flight
attendant can be a man or a woman.
Countable Nouns
Countable nouns are the names of objects,
people and places that can be counted.
Examples are: flower, boy, apple, book, tree,
room, house, window etc.
Countable nouns have singular and plural
forms and can be used with indefinite articles
(a / an) and numbers.
Generally, a singular countable noun always
takes an article or another determiner with it.
I saw a boy in the store. (BUT NOT I saw
boy in store.)
The child was playing with his toy. (BUT
NOT Child was playing with toy.)

A plural noun can be used with or without an

article.
Children were playing in the park. (This
style is preferred when you dont expect the
listener to know which children you are
talking about.)
OR The children were playing in the park.
(This style is preferred when you are talking
about children who have already been
mentioned.)
Uncountable nouns refer to objects or ideas
that cannot be counted. Examples are: rice,
sand, milk, honey, honesty, integrity etc.
Uncountable nouns cannot be used with
numbers. It is also not possible to use the
articles a / an with uncountable nouns.
Uncountable nouns are always singular
and should be used with a singular verb.
Honesty is the best policy. (NOT Honesty
are the best policy.)
Rice is the staple food of Indians. (NOT Rice
are the staple food of Indians.)
Note that some nouns which are countable in
one language can be uncountable in another
language. For example, the word grapes is a
plural countable noun in English. However, it
is uncountable in many other languages.
Nouns that exist only in the singular or
plural form
In English, there are several nouns that exist
only in the plural form. Except for a few, they
all end in s.
Examples are:
Amends (to make amends for causing some
loss)
Annals (pages of books of history)
Archives
Arms (weapons)
Arrears
Ashes (of a dead cremated body)
Auspices (patronage)
Bowels
Brains (intellect)

Contents
Customs (duty)
Earnings
Entrails
Fireworks
Funds (money)
Goods
Guts (bowels, courage)
Letters (in the expression a man of letters)
Looks (e.g. She has got attractive looks)
Manners (in the expression good manners)
Odds (in the expression heavy odds)
Outskirts
Pains (e.g. to take pains)
Premises (building)
Riches (wealth)
Stairs (e.g. a flight of stairs)
Surroundings (environment)
Thanks
Troops
Tropics
Valuables
Wages
Proceeds
Tidings
Nuptials
Alms
Drawers
The following are unmarked plurals which do
not end in s. Examples are: cattle and
plural.
Some words ending in s do not change in
the plural. Examples are:
Barracks
Crossroads
Headquarters
Means
Series
Species
Works (= factory)
Swiss
Special cases
Some singular uncountable nouns end in s.
They have no plural forms. Examples are:

news, billiards, draughts, measles etc.

Measles is highly contagious.
Most words ending in ics are also usually
singular uncountables and have no plurals.
Examples are:
mathematics, physics, athletics, politics.
Politics is a dirty game.
Mathematics isnt the easiest of all subjects.
Other nouns which do not change in the
plural are craft, sheep, fish and deer.
Using if
If is a subordinating conjunction. It is mainly
used to introduce a condition that must exist
before something else can happen.
If you dont work hard, you will fail.
If she is late, we will have to go without her.
If she doesnt pay the fee, she will not be
allowed to take the test.
If clauses may also introduce a situation that
may happen or may be real.
If you miss this opportunity, you will have
to regret later.
If you want / like
This expression is used to suggest that
somebody has the freedom to do what they
want.
She can join us if she wants / likes.
If so
If so means if this is true.
Do you like our lessons? If so, would you
mind sharing them on your favorite
bookmarking sites?
If can be used to introduce a situation that
always produces the same result.
If you heat ice, it melts.
I always get a headache if I dont sleep well.
Indirect yes / no questions
If is used to introduce indirect yes / no
questions. Whether is also possible in this
case.
Are you ready? Rani asked me.

Rani asked me if I was ready.

Do you like classical music? she asked.
She asked me if I liked classical music.
I still havent decided if I am moving to
another city.
Plural uncountable nouns
Most uncountable nouns are singular in
number. Therefore, we use the singular form
of the verb with them.
Dont hurry there is plenty of time. (NOT
There are plenty of time.)
Practice makes the man perfect. (NOT
Practice make the man perfect.)
Uncountable nouns are often treated as
countables if we are talking about different
kinds of material, liquid etc.
Most washing powders are not very kind to
your hands.
Although powder is an uncountable noun,
here we are talking about different kinds of
the material.
Abstract nouns are usually uncountable.
Some abstract nouns can have both
countable and uncountable uses.
When used with a general meaning, these
nouns are usually uncountable. When used
with a particular meaning,
these nouns are usually countable.
We had a nice time when we went to the
beach yesterday. (countable)
I couldnt finish the report because I didnt
get enough time. (uncountable)
Plural uncountables
Some uncountable nouns are plural. They
have no singular forms with the same
meaning, and cannot be used with numbers.
Common examples are: groceries, arms,
remains, goods, customs, clothes, thanks,
regards, police etc.
The police are searching for a white man in
his twenties.
Have you bought the groceries? (NOT Have

you bought the grocery?)

Many thanks for your help.
Other plural uncountable nouns include
trousers, jeans, pyjamas, pants, scissors,
spectacles etc.
Common mistakes in the use of
uncountable nouns
Read the following sentences.
The sceneries here are not good.
The scenery here is not good.
Which of the two sentences is the correct
one?
The word scenery is uncountable in English.
It may be countable in some other
languages. However, in English,
we cant say sceneries or a scenery.
As you know, uncountable nouns do not
have plural forms and they cannot be used
with numbers or the article a/an. And hence
the sentence The sceneries here are not
good, isnt correct.
More examples are given below.
Incorrect: They have got lots of furnitures.
Correct: They have got lots of furniture.
Incorrect: We have received no
informations about the accident.
Correct: We have received no information
about the accident.
Incorrect: I heard these news in the
morning.
Correct: I heard this news in the morning.
Incorrect: He asked me to pack my
luggages.
Correct: He asked me to pack my luggage.
The nouns information, furniture, news,
luggage etc., are uncountable.
Incorrect: Please excuse the troubles.
Correct: Please excuse me for the trouble.
The word trouble is mainly used as an
uncountable noun. It doesnt usually have a
plural form.
Also the word excuse should be followed by
an indirect object.

However, the plural form troubles can be

used to refer to all the problems that a
person has. In this case, it is usually
preceded by a possessive.
All of us have our troubles and we must find
ways to deal with them.
Incorrect: He provided the blinds with food.
Correct: He provided the blind with food.
The expressions the blind, the deaf, the
unemployed, the dead, the poor etc., are
plural. The blind
means all blind people. We cant say the
blinds or the deafs.
Rules regarding the formation of plurals
In English, we form the plurals of nouns by
adding s to the singular. Examples are
given below.
Boy -> boys
Girl -> girls
Book -> books
There are several exceptions to this rule.
Nouns ending in s, -sh, -ch and x, form
their plurals by adding es to
the singular.
Examples are:
Box -> boxes
Class -> classes
Branch -> branches
Brush -> brushes
Watch -> watches
Most nouns ending in o, generally form their
plurals by adding es.
Examples are:
Mango -> mangoes
Hero -> heroes
Potato -> potatoes
Volcano -> volcanoes
Some singular nouns ending in o, form their
plurals by simply adding s.
Examples are:
Piano -> pianos
Photo -> photos

Stereo -> stereos

Dynamo -> dynamos
Nouns ending in a consonant + -y, form
their plurals by changing that y into i and
adding es.
Baby -> babies
Lady -> ladies
City -> cities
Story -> stories
Most nouns ending in f or fe form their
plurals by changing f or fe into v and
adding es.
Leaf -> leaves
Life -> lives
Thief -> thieves
Knife -> knives
There are several exceptions to this rule and
the following nouns form their plurals by
simply adding s.
Examples
Roof -> roofs
Proof -> proofs
Dwarf -> dwarfs
Belief -> beliefs
A few nouns form their plurals irregularly.
Examples are given below.
Man -> men
Woman -> women
Tooth -> teeth
Mouse -> mice
Some nouns have the singular and the plural
alike. Examples are: swine, sheep, deer
The nouns dozen, score, pair, hundred and
thousand do not have a plural form when
they are used after a
number.
The car cost me five lakh rupees. (NOT
five lakhs dollars)
Abstract nouns
An abstract noun is the name of a quality,
action or state. Abstract nouns refer to ideas
that we cannot see or touch.
Examples are given below.

Quality goodness, kindness, beauty,

intelligence, generosity, cleverness,
obedience, honesty, brightness, wisdom,
bravery, courage, hardness, softness
Action laughter, theft, movement, judgment
State childhood, boyhood, manhood,
youth, slavery, sickness, poverty, death,
sleep
The names of the arts and science are also
abstract nouns. Examples are: physics,
chemistry, grammar, music
Abstract nouns can be formed from
adjectives, verbs and common nouns.
From adjectives
Kindness from kind
Bravery from brave
Illness from ill
Honesty from honest
From verbs
Obedience from obey
Growth from grow
Pleasure from please
From common nouns
Childhood from child
Slavery from slave
Common mistakes in the use of nouns
In this lesson, we will take a look at some
common mistakes in the use of nouns.
Incorrect: There is no place on this bus.
Correct: There is no room on this bus.
Incorrect: I am learning a new poetry.
Correct: I am learning a new poem.
Poetry means poems collectively.
Incorrect: He is leaving his service.
Correct: He is leaving his job.
Incorrect: All of my relations are poor.
Correct: All of my relatives are poor.
Incorrect: The clock has struck five hours.
Correct: The clock has struck five.
Incorrect: The boarding is full.
Correct: The boarding house is full.
Incorrect: I saw two females in the store.
Correct: I saw two women in the store.
Incorrect: He enquired about your state of
health.
Correct: He enquired about the state of

your health.
Incorrect: My English is very weak.
Correct: I am very weak in English.
Incorrect: The weather of Chennai does not
suit me.
Correct: The climate of Chennai does not
suit me.
Incorrect: Why are you standing in the center
of the street?
Correct: Why are you standing in the middle
of the street?
Incorrect: I visit them once in a week.

Correct: I visit them once a week.

Incorrect: Her hairs are grey.
Correct: Her hair is grey.
Incorrect: I bought two dozens pencils.
Correct: I bought two dozen pencils.
Incorrect: He took insult at this.
Correct: He took offence at this.
Incorrect: He put your sign here.
Correct: He put your signature here.