Chapter 1Nouns

Les Hanson 2002

Nouns Definition of nouns Capitalization pluralization

When to capitalize nouns Names of particular people, places, or

things E.g. Stockwell Day, Alberta, Canadian Alliance

But not general references party leader, communist, fascist, right wing

In general, specific names require capitals

Lake Superior, Fred, Great DepressionGeneral names do not require capitals

the prairies, my uncle, a recession

Names and Titles Capitalize titles that precede names

Prime Minister Chretien, Aunt Polly

But not when used alone, or after names

The minister was demoted to the back benches Bill, my uncle, sat beside Gary Doer, premier of

Manitoba

Sentences Capitalize the first word of a sentence And the first word of a quoted sentence

She said, “You are stupid.” Don’t capitalize the second part of a

fragmented quotation “You are stupid,” she said, “and your

mother dresses you funny.” Don’t capitalize partial quotes

He talked of the “plausible deniability” of the scheme.

Titles of books, articles, and songs

Capitalize the first, last, and all important words in a title

Don’t capitalize short articles, prepositions, and conjunctions As You Like ItThe Merry Wives of WindsorLove’s Labours LostTaming of the ShrewThe Merchant of Venice

Dates and Directions Capitalize days of the week, months,

holidays Monday, June, Thanksgiving

But not seasons summer, fall, winter

Don’t capitalize directions I drove north for two blocks

Unless it refers to a specific location Fighting broke out in the Middle East Winter roads are common in the North

Names of Groups

Capitalize races, religions, nationalities and languages

Bosnian, Buddhism, French, Cree

Product Names

Capitalize brand names and trademarks Coke, Kleenix, Roller Blades, Popsicle

Do not capitalize generic product names cola, tissues, inline skates, flavoured

ice

Course Names Capitalize specific names of courses

History 101, Intermediate Basket-weaving, a Bachelor of Arts degree

But not general references to courses geography, communication, accounting He is studying engineering

Pluaralization Regular plurals Adding –s Adding-es (-s, --ss, -sh, ch, -x, -z)Nouns ending in –yNouns ending in ay,ey,oy,uyNouns ending in oNouns ending in –f

The pronunciation of the plural endings –s and -es

Iz (After –s,-ss,-z, -x, se, dge, -ge) Bus, horse, buzz, wish, match, wage Z (After vowel sounds and voiced

consonants) Day, car,dog,home S After other unvoiced consonants Book, lip,cliff

OtherPlurals Irregular plurals Words of foreign origin Nouns which do not change in the

plural Nouns which look singular but are

in fact plural Nouns ending in –s which are in

fact singular

Irregular plurals Man\ woman\ Child foot/\tooth\goose Losue\ Mouse\ ox Penny ( pennies- pence)Pennies (to talk about the number of

coins) e.g there are 5 pennies on the table

pence(to talk about the value of something)e.g, the small apples are 5 pence each.

Words of foreign origin Ending in –us =-uses, -ICactus, fungus,stimulus. Ending in –a = -as, -aeAlga, formula, vertebra Ending in –um = ums, -aMemorandum, bacterium, datum Ending in –ex = exes, icesIndex ( indexes for books,

indices,used in math)

Ending in –ix= -ixes, -ices Appedix ( appendices in books,

appendexes in medicine) -on = -ons,-a Criterion, phenomenon Ending in –is = -ises, -es Analysis, hypothesis,

synopsis,diagnosis, oasis

Nouns which do not change in the plural

Series and speciesHe gave a series of lectures about

birdwatching.There have been several series of

programes on television about microchip technology.

Nouns of nationalities ending in –eseChina, Japan, Portugal Some animals and fishDuck, snipe,fish salmon,piketrout deer

Nouns which look singular but are in fact plural

Cattle,clergy, dice, people, police His cattle are the finestin this part

of England Dice are used in many board

games

Nouns ending in –s which are in fact singular

News Some diseses Rickets, mumps, measles Some games Billiards,darts,dominos Some activities or branches of

study Ceramics, phonetics, politics

Formation of Nouns Masculine or feminine Endings to describe size Endings which describe repeated

actions and small objects Professions Abstract nouns Gerunds Noun and verb Compound nouns

Masculine or feminine Different wordsBachelor-spinster, cock-hen,lad-lass,Husband-wife, king-queen, uncle-

aunt Change of endingActor-actress, duke-duchess,

emperor-empress, hero-heroine No distinctionCousin friend parent person guest

Endings to describe size -let: leaflet, booklet -ling: duckling, weaklingSometimes we use adjectives to

describe small things like big, little-ette: maisonette, kitchenette, Mini-: minicab, minicomputerMicro-, macro-: microchip macro-

economics.

Endings which describe repeated actions or small objects

-inkle: twinkle, winkle -ingle: jingle, tangle, tingle -ggle: giggle, wriggle -tter: mutter stutter, chatter -mble: mumble, stumble,rumble -bble: bubble pebble quibble -ddle: cuddle, muddle, paddle,

puddle -ttle: little, tittle-tattle

Professions -er: bake-baker, play-player, teach-

teacher, engine-engineer, photograph-photographer

-orActor, tailor, doctor, director -ist: piano-pianist, violin-violinist -ologist: geology-geologist -icist: physics-physician

Professions -ist: science-scientist -ian Mathematics-mathematician, _ian: History-historian -ant: account-accountant -ent: residence-resident