Quick Notes

Quick Notes

English Chapter 3: Reading Skills
3.8 Nouns
 
A noun is a word that functions as the name of a specific object or set of objects, such as living creatures, places, actions, qualities, states of existence, or ideas. 
 
  Nouns  
  A word used to name a person, place, object, or animal.   
     

 
  Types of nouns  
 
(a) Concrete
  (i) Common
  (ii) Proper
  (ii) Gender
(b) Abstract
(c) Countable and Uncountable
 
     

 
1.1  Concrete Nouns
 
  Common noun  
  A name was given to every person, place, object, or animal of the same kind of group.  
  Examples: A textbook, exercise book, and sticker book are all books.   
     

 
  Proper noun  
  The name of the particular person, place, object, animal, day, or month.   
  Examples: Anisa, Selangor, Comot, and Monday.  
     

 
  Gender  
  The name of a common noun that tells us whether it is male, female, common, or neuter.  
     

 
The table below shows the examples of concrete noun 'gender':
 
  Definition Examples
Masculine Nouns that refer to the male policeman, actor, prince
Feminine Nouns that refer to the female policewoman, actress, princess
Common Nouns that can be both male or female teacher, child, neighbour
Neuter Nouns that do not have a gender or sex eraser, room, pencil
 
1.2  Abstract Nouns
 
  Abstract nouns  
  Used to describe something that cannot be seen or touched. It is used to describe qualities, states, and events, or actions.  
     

 
Abstract nouns are used:
 
  To describe the quality of things and of character.  
     
  Example:   
     
  Long (adjective) : Length (abstract noun)  
  What is the length of this wire? It is 20 centimetres long.   
     

 
  To describe the state of mind, a situation, or an idea.   
     
  Example:   
     
  Angry (adjective) : Anger (abstract noun)  
  She was angry with her brother. Her anger was so great that she broke the vase.   
     

 

  To describe an action or an event.  
     
  Example:  
     
  Arrive (verb) : Arrival (abstract noun)  
  The president will arrive in Putrajaya tomorrow. There will be a small ceremony at the airport to welcome his arrival.   
     

 
1.3  Countable Nouns
 
  Countable nouns  
  Refer to people, objects, or animals that can be counted in numbers. There are countable singular and countable plural nouns.   
  A countable singular noun denotes one person, place, object, or animal.   
  A countable plural noun denotes more than one.  
     

 
1.4  Spelling Plural Nouns
 
There are different ways to spell plural nouns based on the conditions. You can refer to the table below to see the correct ways to spell the plural nouns.
 
Conditions Examples
Add '-s' to regular words Boys, pencils, rulers
Add '-es' to words ending with '-s', '-sh', '-ch', or '-x'

bus \(\rightarrow \) buses

brush \(\rightarrow\) brushes

branch \(\rightarrow\) branches

box \(\rightarrow\) boxes
For special words ending with '-o', add '-es'

Tomatoes, potatoes
Add '-s' to the words ending with two vowels

radio \(\rightarrow\) radios

zoo \(\rightarrow\) zoos
Add '-s' to words ending with a vowel and '-y' Boys, days
Change '-y' into '-ies' if the word ends with '-y'

lady \(\rightarrow\) ladies

story \(\rightarrow\) stories
For some words, change the inside vowels(s) of the singular noun or the spelling

man \(\rightarrow\) men

foot \(\rightarrow\) feet
For some words, add '-ren/-en' to the singular noun. 

child \(\rightarrow\) children

ox \(\rightarrow\) oxen
 
1.5  Uncountable Nouns

 
  Uncountable nouns  
  Refer to objects that cannot be counted in numbers.  
     

 
  • These nouns cannot take the plural form. 
  • Examples: water, rain, hair, oil
  • However, uncountable nouns can be made into countable nouns by adding a quantifier (something to measure the object). 
    • Examples:

(a) a glass of water

(b) a dozen of milk

(c) a bottle of cooking oil 
1.6  Collective Nouns
 
  Collective nouns  
  Nouns denote a grouping of people, things, or animals regarded as a unit.   
     

 
Examples:
 
  1. an army of soldiers
  2. a band of musicians
  3. a bouquet of flowers
  4. a bunch of grapes
  5. a chest of drawers
  6. a comb of bananas
  7. a troop of monkeys
  8. a litter of kittens
  9. a gang of thieves
  10. a crew of sailors
1.7  Determiners
 
  Determiner  
  A word is placed in front of a noun to specify a quantity.  
     

 
Nouns Determiners & Examples
Countable Nouns

A few, many, some, a lot of, several

a) There are a few chocolates left in the box. 

(b) There are a lot of books in her room. 
Uncountable Nouns

A little, much, some, any, a lot of, plenty of

(a) I don't have much time to finish up my homework. 

(b) There’s no need to rush. We’ve got plenty of time.