Classifying Nouns!

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Classifying Nouns!
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The Categories

• Once we figure out which words are being used as
  nouns, we have to figure out what kind of nouns
  they are.
• Nouns can be categorized as
• common OR proper
• singular OR plural
• concrete OR abstract
• collective
• possessive

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Singular v. Plural

• Singular means that there is only ONE of
  something, just like when you pay in singles,
  you pay in 1 bills. Likewise, if you are
  single on Facebook, you are alone! (Wuamp
  wuamp)
• Plural means there are MORE THAN ONE. Plural
  nouns often end in s, but not always!

Foot
Feet
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WHITE BOARDS OUT! (Level 0) 54321
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Singular v. Plural
singular! singular! plural! singular! singular! pl
ural! plural! singular!
Group Foot Penguins City Shoe Books Teeth
Class
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Common v. Proper

• A common noun is a general name for a person,
  place, thing, or idea. They are usually NOT
  capitalized
• Unless they are placed at the beginning of a
  sentence of course!
• A proper noun is a particular person, place,
  thing, or idea. It is ALWAYS capitalized.

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Common v. Proper
common! proper! common! common! proper! proper! p
roper!...and the best city of all time!
City Ohio Museum Teacher Survey of
Literature Halloween Cleveland
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Concrete v. Abstract

• Concrete nouns are nouns that can be perceived by
  the senses, which means they can be seen,
  touched, tasted, smelled, or heard.
• Hint The way I remember this is that concrete
  (the stuff that makes sidewalks) can be seen and
  touched.
• Abstract nouns are the idea nouns. They are
  concepts in the mind, but not something that can
  be detected with the senses.
• For example We cant say, The hatred came into
  the room and sat down. We cant see hatred
  itself. We can only see things that result from
  hatred, like a mean face. However, then were
  looking at a face (concrete), not the actual
  hatred.

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Concrete v. Abstract
concrete! concrete! abstract! abstract! concrete!
abstract! concrete! concrete!
Song Light Uncertainty Independence Monster
Impatience Cleveland Soil
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Possessive

• Possessive nouns show ownership. This is most
  easily recognized by the use of an apostrophe.
• Because of this trick, you should be able to look
  at a sentence and immediately identify if it has
  any possessive nouns! Just look for the
  apostrophe!
• Beware of contractions Its, couldnt, wont,
  etc.

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Possessive v. Contraction
contraction! contraction! possessive! (unless
boy is) possessive! contraction! contraction! po
ssessive! (unless) contraction!
Wasnt Couldnt Boys Desks Weve Whos Te
achers Im
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Plural Possessive v. Singular Possessive

• Why does the apostrophe sometimes come before the
  s (s) and sometimes after it (s)?
• This is how to differentiate plural v. singular
  possessives.
• The trick to determining this is to cover up the
  apostrophe and everything after it. If the word
  that is left is singular, its singular
  possessive, and vise versa.

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Possessive

• dogs bowl singular or plural possessive?
• One dog Singular!
• trees leaves singular or plural possessive?
• Two trees Plural!
• brothers ideas singular or plural possessive?
• Two brothers Plural!

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Collective

• A collective noun is a singular noun that refers
  to a group of people or things (represents a
  plural concept).
• Remember, a noun is singular if you can put the
  word one in front of it!
• For example band, choir, crew, class, herd,
  gaggle, staff, flock, gang, swarm

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Lets Practice Classifying Nouns! Wahoo!

• Train
• common or proper?
• singular or plural?
• concrete or abstract?
• collective?
• possessive?

No.
No.
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Kittens common or proper? singular or
plural? concrete or abstract? collective? possessi
ve?
No.
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Chicago common or proper? singular or
plural? concrete or abstract? collective? possessi
ve?
No.
No.
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Hope common or proper? singular or
plural? concrete or abstract? collective? possessi
ve?
No.
No.
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Choirs common or proper? singular or
plural? concrete or abstract? collective? possessi
ve?
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Why Does it Matter?

• Understanding how to classify nouns helps us
  understand the grammatical rules about the
  different types (possession, capitalization,
  pluralization, subject/verb agreement, etc.).
• Improves the quality of our writing!
• Concrete is always preferred.
• Can articulate ideas clearly and accurately!

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The End!
or is it?