kgrammesgrammar

Grammar

ofthe

Month

NOUNS

Common/Proper Nouns Possessive Nouns

Noun: a word that names a person, place, thing, or idea

Sam read a book about explorers in Key West.

Common noun: refers to any person, place, thing, or idea; no capitalization is necessary city, ocean, beach, building

Proper noun: identifies a particular person, place, thing, or idea; always capitalized New Orleans, Atlantic Ocean, Ocean City, Empire State Building

Practice: Look at the chart below. The left column includes a noun. Identify the noun as common or proper. Write the correct answer on your answer sheet. Then check your answers by highlighting the right side of the chart with your mouse. Don't be tempted to cheat!! Practice makes perfect!!

Example: pool	common
English	proper
Honda	proper
school	common
Penn State	proper
Jennifer	proper
science	common
Coca-Cola	proper

Possessive Nouns

Possessive nouns: express ownership or show a relationship Jerry's mother, my sisters' bikes, the mayor's speech

Rules:

1. Add an 's to make a singular noun possessive

Example: Chris's coat, the puppy's ears, Mark Twain's stories

2. Add only an ' to make a plural noun possessive

Example: doctors' offices, the Evanses' trip, soldiers' uniforms

3. Add an 's to a plural noun that does not end in s

Example: mice's hole, children's toys, women's dresses

4. Add an 's or only an ' to the end of a compound noun

Example: salesperson's smile, father-in-law's tool, police officers' badges

Practice: Look at the chart below. The left column includes a group of words. Try to make this group of words possessive. Write the correct answer on your answer sheet. Then check your answers by highlighting the right side of the chart with your mouse. Again, don't be tempted to cheat!! Practice makes perfect!!

Example: sweater of Miss Grammes Miss Grammes's sweater

bike of the child child's bike

principal of the school school's principal

cars of the Joneses the Joneses' cars

handkerchief of my father-in-law father-in-law's handkerchief

clothing of men men's clothing

advice of the coaches the coaches' advice

tray of the waitress waitress's tray

General vs. specific nouns:

general noun: any nonspecific noun
girl, language, country, fish

specific noun: a more specific, exact noun Sally, Spanish, United States, trout

Practice: Below is a short paragraph including many general nouns. Underline the general nouns on your worksheet, and make them more specific. Once you are done, highlight the box underneath the paragraph to see if you have identified all of the general nouns.

Example: The young girl was biking down the street in her hometown when she saw a car speed past her at a very rapid pace. She immediately noticed the bright color of this automobile. She then watched as the car raced through the sign and stop at the corner store. She saw a man get out of the car and start yelling in a different language. Because she wanted to know what was going on, the young girl stopped at the store too. She went in and bought candy, a drink, and a snack. She soon found out that the man was having a picnic in his yard, and he was panicking because he forgot something. He raced around the store, picked up seven items, and then raced to the counter. Once the man left, the store owner commented, "Geez, where's the fire?"

The young girl was biking down the street in her hometown when she saw a car speed past her at a very rapid pace. She immediately noticed the bright color of this automobile. She then watched as the car raced through the sign and stop at the corner store. She saw a man get out of the car and start yelling in a different language. Because she wanted to know what was going on, the young girl stopped at the store too. She went in and bought candy, a drink, and a snack. She soon found out that the man was having a picnic in his yard, and he was panicking because he forgot something. He raced around the store, picked up seven items, and then raced to the counter. Once the man left, the store owner commented, "Geez, where's the fire?"

Appositives:

Appositives: a word or group of words that follows another word, usually a noun, to explain or identify it
*A combination of two sentences
Alfred Nobel was born in 1833.
Alfred Nobel was a Swedish chemist.

Alfred Nobel, a Swedish chemist, was born in 1833.

Practice: Look at the chart below. The left column includes two sentences. Try to combine the two sentences to make one sentence which includes an appositive. Write your new sentence on your answer sheet. Then check your answers by highlighting the right side of the chart with your mouse. Again, don't be tempted to cheat!! Practice makes perfect!!

Example:
Have you ever been to Lake Tahoe?

Lake Tahoe is a large lake that lies in both California and Nevada.
Have you ever been to Lake Tahoe, a large lake that lies in both California and Nevada?

Summer is my favorite time of the year.
I usually vacation in the summer.
I usually vacation in the summer, my favorite time of the year.

Penn State University is a Big Ten University.
Miss Grammes attended Penn State University.
Miss Grammes attended Penn State University, a Big Ten University.

Washington D.C. is the nation's capital.
The White House resides in Washington D.C.
The White House resides in Washington D.C., the nation's capital.

Everyone loves to shop at the Lehigh Valley Mall.
The Lehigh Valley Mall is the largest mall in the area.
Everyone loves to shop at the Lehigh Valley Mall, the largest mall in the area.

GREAT JOB!!

Back to my home page

Common noun: refers to any person, place, thing, or idea; no capitalization is necessary	city, ocean, beach, building
Proper noun: identifies a particular person, place, thing, or idea; always capitalized	New Orleans, Atlantic Ocean, Ocean City, Empire State Building

Example: sweater of Miss Grammes	Miss Grammes's sweater
bike of the child	child's bike
principal of the school	school's principal
cars of the Joneses	the Joneses' cars
handkerchief of my father-in-law	father-in-law's handkerchief
clothing of men	men's clothing
advice of the coaches	the coaches' advice
tray of the waitress	waitress's tray

general noun: any nonspecific noun	girl, language, country, fish
specific noun: a more specific, exact noun	Sally, Spanish, United States, trout

Example: Have you ever been to Lake Tahoe? Lake Tahoe is a large lake that lies in both California and Nevada.	Have you ever been to Lake Tahoe, a large lake that lies in both California and Nevada?
Summer is my favorite time of the year. I usually vacation in the summer.	I usually vacation in the summer, my favorite time of the year.
Penn State University is a Big Ten University. Miss Grammes attended Penn State University.	Miss Grammes attended Penn State University, a Big Ten University.
Washington D.C. is the nation's capital. The White House resides in Washington D.C.	The White House resides in Washington D.C., the nation's capital.
Everyone loves to shop at the Lehigh Valley Mall. The Lehigh Valley Mall is the largest mall in the area.	Everyone loves to shop at the Lehigh Valley Mall, the largest mall in the area.