3. NNoouunn FFoorrmmss aanndd
CCoonnttrraaccttiioonnss
Example Meaning
Plural Noun The students
wrote a play.
more than one
student
Plural
Possessive
Noun
The students’
play is good.
the play of the
students
Singular
Possessive
Noun
I saw the
student’s play.
the play of one
student
Contraction The student’s
the author.
The student is
the author.
13. NNoouunnss
AA nnoouunn iiss aa wwoorrdd tthhaatt nnaammeess aa ppeerrssoonn,,
ppllaaccee,, tthhiinngg,, oorr iiddeeaa..
People
farmer Alexander Graham
Bell
Places
Chicago waiting room
Things
flowers keys
Ideas
success happiness
18. KKiinnddss ooff NNoouunnss
Common Proper
Abstract Concrete
truth document Supreme Court
courage crown Queen Victoria
time snow December
history museum Museum of
Anthropology
heritage buffalo Native American
31. CCoommppoouunndd NNoouunnss
One Word Hyphenated More Than
One Word
housekeep
er
mother-in-law dining
room
showcase runner-up ice cream
bookmark
great-grandmother
maid of
honor
football kilowatt-hour music box
36. FFoorrmmiinngg PPlluurraall CCoommppoouunndd
NNoouunnss
Singular Plural
One word Follow plural
rules.
Exception:
footballs
headlights
strongboxes
rosebushes
passersby
Hyphenated Make the most
important part of
the compound noun
plural.
great-grandmothers
runners-up
More than
one word
Make the most
important part of
the compound noun
plural.
maids of honor
music boxes