Topic 4: Parts of
Speech - NOUN
EN110

WHAT IS PART OF SPEECH?
- It is a category to which a word is assigned
assigned in accordance with its syntactic
functions.
- In English, the main parts of speech are:
Noun, Pronoun, Adjective, Verb, Adverb,
Preposition, Conjunction, and Interjection

WHAT IS NOUN?
NOUN – is the name of a person, place,
thing or idea.
Whatever exists, we assume, can be
names, and that name is a noun.

TYPES OF NOUN
- Proper nouns
- Countable/Uncountable Nouns
- Plural Nouns
- Compound Nouns
- Collective Nouns
- Common Nouns
- Abstract Nouns
- Gerund

WHAT IS A PROPER NOUN?
Proper Nouns have two distinct features: They name specific
one-of-a-kind items, and they begin with capital letters, no
matter where they occur within a sentence.
Examples:
- Mrs. Hepburn
- Snoopy
- Oreo
- University of Santo Tomas

WHAT IS A COMMON NOUN?
A noun is a word that names a person, animal, place, thing or
idea. All nouns can be further classified as proper or common.
Common nouns are words used to name general items rather
than specific ones.
Examples:
- writer - teacher
- city - restaurant
- school - cookie

Types of common nouns
Common or generic nouns can be broken down into
three subtypes: concrete nouns, abstract nouns, and
collective nouns.
1. Concrete noun - is something that is perceived by the
senses; something that is physical or real.
Ex:
I heard the doorbell.
My keyboard is sticky.
Doorbell and keyboard are real things that can be sensed.

2. Abstract noun - something that cannot be perceived by the senses.
Ex: We can’t imagine the courage it took to do that.
( Courage is an abstract noun. Courage can’t be seen, heard, or sensed
in any other way, but we know it exists. )
3. Collective noun - denotes a group or collection of people or things.
Ex: That pack of lies is disgraceful.
( Pack of lies as used here is a collective noun. Collective nouns take a
singular verb as if they are one entity – in this case, the singular verb
is. )
Ex: A pride of lions roamed the savanna.
( Pride of lions is also a collective noun. )

MIDTERM – QUIZ NO 1
Choose the best answer.
1. Dr. Naismith wrote thirteen rules for basketball. Which is the common noun in this sentence?
A. Dr. Naismith B. Wrote C. Thirteen D. Rules
2. The ball can be thrown in any direction. __________ is a common noun in this sentence.
A. Ball B. Could C. Thrown D. Any
3. A player must not run with the ball. Identify the common noun in this sentence
A. Player B. Must C. Not D. With
4. Boston and Chicago have had great teams. ________is a common noun in this sentence
A. Boston B. Chicago C. Great D. Teams
5. Not all basketball players are Americans. Which is the common noun in this sentence?
A. Not B. Players C. Are D. Americans

6. Basketball is a popular sport in Asia. __________ is a common noun in this sentence.
A. Is B. Popular C. Sport D. Asia
7. The inventor of basketball was born in Canada. The proper noun in this sentence is _____.
A. The B. Basketball C. Born D. Canada
8. James Naismith attended a one-room school. Identify the proper noun in this sentence.
A. James Naismith B. Attended C. One-room D. School
9. He went to college in Montreal, Canada. ______________ is a proper noun in this sentence.
A. He B. College C. In D. Canada
10. While living in Massachusetts, he invented the game. What is the proper noun in this sentence?
A. While B. Living C. Massachusetts D. Game
11. There's a girl at Central High who is a basketball star. Is Central High a common or proper
noun?
12. She plays center on the all-state team for Maryland. Is Maryland a common or proper noun?
13. She averages 24 points a game. Game is a ________ type of noun.
14. Her name is Tonya Jumper. Tonya Jumper is a _________ type of noun.
15. That's a great name for a basketball player! Is 'name' a common or proper noun?

WHAT IS COUNTABLE/UNCOUNTABLE
NOUNS
Countable nouns : are individual people,
animals, places, things, or idea which can be
counted.
Uncountable nouns : are not individual
objects, so they cannot be counted.

CONTABLE NOUN EXAMPLES:
- There are at least twenty Italian restaurants in Little Italy.
- Megan took a lot of photographs when she went to the
Grand Canyon.
- Your book is on the kitchen table.
- How many candles are on that birthday cake?
- You have several paintings to study in art appreciation
class.
- There’s a big brown dog running around the neighborhood.

UNCONTABLE NOUN EXAMPLES:
- There is no more water in the pond.
- Please help yourself to some cheese.
- I need to find information about the incident.
- You seem to have a high level of intelligence.
- Please take good care of your equipment.
- Let’s get rid of the garbage.

WHAT ARE THE COMPOUND NOUNS?
Compound nouns are words for people, animals, places, things,
or idea, made up of two or more words. Most compound nouns
are made with nouns that have been modified by adjectives or
other nouns.
Compound nouns are sometimes one word, like toothpaste,
haircut, or bedroom. These are often referred to as closed or
solid compound nouns.

COMPOUND NOUN EXAMPLES
Compound nouns can be made with two nouns:
- Let’s just wait and this bus stop.
- I love watching fireflies on warm summer nights.
Compound nouns can be made with an adjective and a
noun:
- Let’s watch the full moon come up over the mountain.
- Please erase the blackboard for me.

MORE COMPOUND NOUN EXAMPLES:
Compound nouns can be made with a verb and a noun:
- Be sure to add bleach to the washing machine.
- Let’s be sure to stay somewhere with a swimming pool.
Compound nouns can be made with a noun and a verb:
- He always gets up before sunrise.
- I really could use an updated hairstyle.
Compound nouns can be made with a verb and a preposition:
- Checkout is at noon.
- Please remember to schedule your dog’s annual check-up.

MORE COMPOUND NOUN EXAMPLES:
Compound nouns can be made with a noun and a prepositional phrase:
- My mother-in-law is the kindest person I know.
Compound nouns can be made with a preposition and a noun:
- Do you believe in past lives?
- This city is vibrant, so it’s hard to believe it has a thriving criminal
underworld.
Compound nouns can be made with a noun and an adjective:
- We need a truckful of mulch for the garden.

MORE COMPOUND NOUN EXAMPLES:
Compound nouns can be made with a noun and a prepositional phrase:
- My mother-in-law is the kindest person I know.
Compound nouns can be made with a preposition and a noun:
- Do you believe in past lives?
- This city is vibrant, so it’s hard to believe it has a thriving criminal
underworld.
Compound nouns can be made with a noun and an adjective:
- We need a truckful of mulch for the garden.