Parts of Speech · Today with Nelson

Welcome to the Noun Office.

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I name a specific person, place, thing, or idea. It's a big responsibility, a responsibility that requires a certain attention to detail. Watch.

A noun names a person.

Examples

doctor, Beyoncé, brother, teacher

Library

My mom packs my lunch.

The teacher reads us a story.

A baby naps in the crib.

Now you try

A person can be specific or general. You could try a chef, or your grandma, or your best friend, or a librarian. Anyone counts.

A noun names a place.

Examples

wilderness, Antarctica, neighborhood, Houston

Library

We play at the park.

My school has a red door.

The cow lives on a farm.

Now you try

A location, a city, a country, or a room. You could try the kitchen, or Cleveland, or Mars, or your closet. Any place counts.

A noun names a thing.

Examples

clipboard, sandwich, lamp, kazoo

Library

I kick the ball.

A cat sits on the rug.

Please pass the cup.

Now you try

Anything you can pick up, point to, or photograph. You could try stapler, or banana, or clarinet, or paperclip. Things count.

A noun names an idea.

Examples

courage, boredom, justice, freedom

Library

I gave my friend my love.

A good nap fixes a grumpy day.

She showed real courage on the slide.

Now you try

A feeling, a quality, or a concept you cannot touch. You could try hope, or curiosity, or honesty, or sadness. Ideas count.

Common Nouns and Proper Nouns

A common noun names any person, place, or thing and is written in lowercase. A proper noun names a specific person, place, or thing and must be capitalized.

Common Noun : Names any general person, place, thing, or idea; written in lowercase.
Proper Noun : Names a specific person, place, thing, or idea; capitalized.

In a sentence

Watch the same word two ways. The proper noun gets a capital letter.

I have a dog.

My dog's name is Max.

We went to a park called Bell Park.

Now you try

A common noun names a general person, place, thing, or idea. You could try marker, or stapler, or snack, or paperclip. Common nouns stay lowercase.

Singular Nouns and Plural Nouns

A singular noun names one person, place, or thing. A plural noun names more than one. Most nouns add -s, but nouns ending in s, ss, ch, sh, x, z add -es. Nouns ending in consonant + y change to -ies. Some nouns are irregular (man/men, child/children).

Singular Noun : Names one person, place, thing, or idea.
Plural Noun : Names more than one person, place, thing, or idea.

In a sentence

Add an s for one to many. Watch the sneaky ones change shape.

One cat becomes two cats.

One toy becomes three toys.

One mouse becomes two mice.

Now you try

A singular noun names just one of something. You could try goose, or cactus, or child, or sandwich. One only.