Page 25 - Basic English Grammar Student Textbook short

Study Section 4: Noun Basics

4.1 Connect

A noun is a word that functions as the name of some specific thing or set of things, such as living
creatures, objects, places, actions, qualities, states of existence, or ideas. Every sentence must
have either a noun or a pronoun (takes the place of a noun) or the sentence is incomplete. Nouns
can be common such as a dog, cat, book, etc. or a noun can be proper which means it is the specific
name of someone, some place, or some special thing. Examples would be a person’s name like
John, Mary, or Jonas. Examples of a place would be Chongwe (a city). A thing might be a college like
Ambassador International University.

4.2 Noun Basics

A noun is a word that names a person, place, thing, or idea.
• person - cousin, Paul, Miss Tammy, pastor
• place - city, house, kitchen, Zambia, Kearney
• thing - potato, horse, soccer, book
• idea - faith, love, justice, honor

Practice 4A: Nouns. Underline the nouns:
1. Pastor Kelly and Tammy are husband and wife.
2. Judy prepares food in the kitchen.
3. Jonas rode the horse to the river.
4. My friend laughed at my joke.
5. The students study very hard.
6. The mouse stepped into my bedroom.
7. The Americans are guest professors at the college.
8. Judy prepares food in the kitchen at Moody College.
9. Jonathan rode his bicycle to the Chongwe River.
10. John heard the story from Paul.
11. The boys went to their uncle’s house, which is on Deer Road.
12. She told me that Aunt Hannah served fish for dinner.
Capitalizing Nouns

Common and Proper Nouns * Compound nouns are
A common noun is a person, place, thing, or idea that is not named. two or more words that
A proper noun is a specific and named person, place, or thing and always function together as a
begins with a capital letter. single noun.
Common (not named) Proper (named)
student Noah, John, Joshua
teacher Mr. Larsen, Professor Johnson, Pastor Kelly
city Lusaka, Chicago, Chongwe
country United States*, Zambia
university Ambassador International University*
aunt Aunt Rebecca* (capitalize the family title if it comes directly before a name)

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