1.1 The Meaning of Nouns

A Noun is a person, a place, a thing or an idea.

1.1.1 How to Make a Noun Plural

The plural forms of Nouns can be created in the following ways:

1. Add an s to form the plural of most words.

• elephant - elephants
• stereo - stereos

2. For words that end in s, z, x, ch, sh, add an es to form the plural.

• box - boxes
• church - churches

3. If the word ends in a vowel plus y (ay, ey, iy, oy, uy), add an s to the word.

• enemy - enemies
• baby - babies

4. If the word ends in a consonant plus y, change the y into ie and add an s to form the plural.

• tray - trays
• key - keys

5. For words that end in -is, change the -is to -es to make the plural form.

• synopsis - synopses
• thesis - theses

6. Some words that end in -f or -fe have plural that end in ves.

• knife - knives
• self - selves

7. The plural of words ending in -o are formed by either adding -s or by adding -es. To determine whether a particular word ends in -s or -es (or if t he word can be spelled either way). Check your dictionary or the list below. There are two helpful rules:

a. All words that end in a vowel plus -o (ao, eo, io, oo, uo) have plural that end in just -s:

b.All musical terms ending in -o have plural ending in just -s.

Plural forms of words ending in -o:

Other forms

        Excercise 1

Now it's your turn. Change the following nouns into their plural form.

1.2 Different Types of Nouns

We are going over two different types of nouns: Countable and Non-countable. As a first example, we are going to use "money". Do you think it is countable or non-countable? If you said countable you are very...WRONG! The word money is a non-countable noun because it is a word that refers to many different nouns, like "coins", "bills","checks" or even "credit cards". These are countable. Tricky right? Let's see each type of noun separately.

1.2.1 Countable Nouns

Countable Nouns are items that can be counted. These nouns may be preceded b y an/a in the singular and they need a final -s or -es for the plural.

Example:

1.2.2 Non-countable Nouns

Non-countable Nouns refer to a "whole" that is made up of different parts. They are not immediately preceded by a/an and have no plural form. They do n ot need a final -s or -es.

In the first example, furniture represents whole groups of things that are made u p of similar but separate items. In the second example sugar and coffee represent whole masses made up of individual particles or elements. In the third example luck is an abstract concept, an abstract "whole". It has no physical f orm; you cannot touch it. In the fourth example phenomena of nature, such as sunshine, are frequently used as Non-countable Nouns.

Some Common Non–countable Nouns: The following are typical of nouns that a re commonly used as non-countable Nouns. Many others nouns can be used as N on–Countable Nouns. This list serves only as a sample.

1. Whole groups made up of similar items: Baggage, clothing, equipment, food, fruit, furniture, garbage, hardware, jewelry, junk, luggage, machinery, m ail, make up, money, cash, change, postage, scenery, traffic.

2. Fluids: Water, coffee, tea, milk, oil, soup, gasoline, blood, etc.

3. Solids: Ice, bread, butter, cheese, meat, gold, iron, silver, glass, paper, wood, cotton, wool, etc.

4. Gase: Steam, air, oxygen, nitrogen, smoke, smog, pollution, etc.

5. Particles: Rice, chalk, corn, dirt, dust, flour, glass, hair, pepper, salt, sand, sugar, wheat, etc.

6. Abstractions: Beauty, confidence, courage, education, enjoyment, fun, happiness, health, help, honesty, hospitality, importance, intelligence, justice, s leep, knowledge, laughter, truth, luck, music, patience, peace, pride, progress, recreation, significance, violence, wealth, advice, information, news, e vidence, proof, time, space, energy, homework, work, grammar, slang, v ocabulary, etc.

7. Languages: Arabic, Chinese, English, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, etc.

8. Fields of study:Chemistry, Engineering, History, Literature, Mathematics, Psychology, etc.

9. Recreation:Baseball, soccer, tennis, chess, bridge, poker, etc.

10. General activities:Driving, studying, swimming, traveling, walking and other gerunds.

11. Natural phenomena:Weather, dew, fog, hail, humidity, heat, lightning rain, sleet, snow, thunder, wind, darkness, light, sunshine, electricity, fire, gravity.

        Excercise 2

Look at the italicized nouns in the following sentences. Mark with C the Countable Nouns and with NC the Non–countable Nouns. Piece of cake!

Example:

I bought some chairs, C tablesC and desks.C In other words, I bought some furniture.NC

1. I have some pennies , nickles and dimes in my pocket. In other words, I have some money.

2. Ann likes to wear jewelry.Today she is wearing four rings,six bracelets, and a necklace.

3. We saw beautiful mountains,fields,and lakes on our trip. In other words, we saw beautiful scenery.

4. Would you like some food?How about a sandwichand an apple?

5. We had meat,rice,bread, butter,cheese,fruit,vegetables,and teafor dinner.

6. Gold and iron are metals .

7. I used an iron to press my shirt because it was wrinkled.

8. I wish you happiness,health, and luck in your life.

        Excercise 3

Complete the sentences with the given nouns. Add final -s or -es if necessary. Use each noun once.

Example:

I have some coins in my pocket. In other words, I have some change in my pocket.

1. The Mississippi, the Amazon, and the Nile are well known in the world.

2. I like to listen to operas, symphonies and folk songs. I enjoy .

3. Since I came to the United States, I have visited Chicago, New York and Miami. I want to visit other before I return to my country.

4. The street is full of cars, trucks and busses. This street always has heavy , especially during rush hour.

5. In the last couple of years, I've gone to France, India, and the Soviet Union. I like to take .In other words is one of my f avorite activities.

6. I put some banana peels, rotten food, and broken bottles in the waste can. T he can is full of .

7. They have a rusty car without an engine, broken chairs and an old refrigerator in their front yard. Their yard is full of .

8. Paul has books, pens, paper, notebooks, a clock, scissors, a tape recorder and some other things on his desk. He has a lot of on his desk.

9. The children got scared when they heard during the storm.

10. Tools that are used to fasten screws into wood are called .

11. I went to the store to get some nails, hammers, and screws. In other words, I bought some .

12. Tonight I have to read 20 pages in my history book, do 30 algebra problems, and write a composition for my English teacher. In other words, I have a lot of to do tonight.

13. Ann took three suitcases, a shoulder bag, and a cosmetic case. In other words, she took a lot of on her trip.

14. Toronto is 356 ft./109m above sea level. The average annual precipitation in Toronto is 32 in./81 cm. The population of the metropolitan area is over 3 .000.000. I found (this, these) in the encyclopedia.

15. I didn't feel good. Ann said, "you should see a doctor". Tom said, "you should go home and go to bed". Martha said, "you should drink fruit juice and rest". I got from three people.

16. My English is slowly getting better. My vocabulary is increasing. It's getting easier from me to write and I make fewer mistakes. I can often understand p eople even when they talk fast. I'm satisfied with the I have made in learning English.

        Excercise 4

Add final -s or -es to the nouns in italics if necessary. Do not add or change any other words.

Example:

1. Outside my window, I can see a lot of tree, bush, grass, dirt, and flower.

2. Tom gave me some advice. Millie also gave me some good suggestion.

3. Yoko learned several new word today. She increased her vocabulary today.

4. I drank two glass of water.

5. Window are made of glass.

6. Jack wears glass because he has poor eyesight.

Many nouns can be used as either Non-Countable or Countable Nouns, but the meaning is different. Look at these examples.

   Hair:

   Light:

1.2.3 The Use of Unit Expressions

Unit expressions are words that come before a noun to specify an amount.

Example:

1.2.4 The Use of Quantity Expressions

An expression of quantity may precede a noun. Some expressions of quantity are used only with Countable Nouns, some only with Non-countable Nouns; some with both, Countable and Non-countable Nouns. Take a look at this chart.

Example:

You could also use a unit expression in the last case.

I have many bags of rice in my cupboard.

The quantity expression many refers to bags which is a countable noun. The unit expression bags of refers to rice, which is non-countable.

        Excercise 5

Check yourself. Draw a line through the expressions that can't be used to complete the sentence correctly.

Example:

I bought ____________ furniture.

Some

a couple of

too much

several

too many

four

        Excercise 6

Write the plural form of the following nouns and use much or many with these words.