Noun Notes - Lessons 3 & 4

Unit 2
Singular & Plural Nouns

Singular noun - a noun that names one person, place, thing or idea

Example of singular nouns – book, radio, school, box, buzz, hero, fly

Plural noun - more than one person, place, thing or idea

to form a plural noun we already know to add -s to the singular noun.

Remember many plural nouns require spelling changes so think before writing down an answer.

Regular Forms

Rules for Forming Plurals

Add -s to form the plurals of these nouns: globes Michaels
most singular nouns

most nouns ending in o preceded by a vowel radios stereos

many nouns ending o pianos altos

nouns ending in y preceded by a vowel donkeys valleys

proper nouns ending in y Bradys Malloys

some nouns ending in f or fe roofs safes

Add -es to form the plural of these nouns boxes buzzes
nouns ending in s, x, sh, ch, z

some nouns ending in o preceded by a consonant echoes heroes

nouns ending in y preceded by a consonant (change y to i first) flies

some nouns ending in f or fe (change f to v first) calves

Irregular Forms
Unusual Noun Forms

1. Some plurals are formed by irregular spelling changes.

2. Some nouns have the same singular and plural forms.

3. Some nouns are used only in the plural form.

4. Some nouns end in s but have a singular meaning.

5. Some nouns from other languages are made plural as in the original language.

6. Compound nouns usually are made plural by adding -s to the most important word in the compound.

7. Compound nouns that are written as one word or do not have a noun part are made plural by adding -s at the end.

8. Letters, numbers in mathematics, symbols, and words used as words are made plural by adding an apostrophe and an -s ('s).

Unit 2
Possessive Nouns

Possessive nouns - show ownership or relation to something

examples of possessive nouns: Mrs. Hayes's classroom - the classroom belongs to Mrs. Hayes,

Steven's pencil, the pencil belongs to Steven

Rules for Forming Possessive Nouns

Most singular nouns:
Add an apostrophe and -s ('s).
Mrs. Hayes - Mrs. Hayes's
Tom - Tom's

Plural nouns ending with s:
Add only an apostrophe (').
Girls - Girls'
babies - babies'
Joneses - Joneses'

* keep in mind how the noun is given to you - for instance Joneses is plural (meaning ALL of the Joneses in the family not ONE Jones family member)

Other plural nouns:

add an apostrophe and -s ('s) to the end.
Children - Children's
geese - geese's

Compound nouns:

add an apostrophe and -s ('s) to the end.
Sister-in-law - sister-in-law's
sisters-in-law - sisters-in-law's

if two or more person own a single thing, place the apostrophe after the last person's name!!!
ex: Miguel and Scott's basketball.

If each owns a thing separately, make each noun possessive.
Ex: Miguel's and Scott's basketballs.