Common and Proper Nouns
Singular and Plural Nouns
Possessive Nouns
A common noun names a person, place, or thing that is not specific.
Common nouns are not capitalized, unless the common noun is the first word in the sentence.
A proper noun names a particular person, place, or thing.
Proper nouns are always capitalized.
Proper nouns include:
names of people and pets
days of the week
months languages
book titles
holidays titles like Mr. Mrs. Ms. Dr.
countries
states cities
COMMON PROPER boy
schooldaycitylady
monthriver
StevenSouth SalemWednesdayNew York
Mrs. HumphreyOctober
James River
Singular Nouns name one person, place, or thing.
One Cat:
Plural Nouns name more than one person, place, or thing.
Three Cats:
Usually, you just add –s
dog, dogscat, cats
shoe, shoescar, cars
pillow, pillows
Add –es to nouns that end in s, ss, sh, ch, or x
bus, busesdress, dresses
church, churchesbox, boxes
If a noun ends in a consonant followed by a –y, change the
y to i and add –es
baby, babies lady, ladies pony, ponies
If a noun ends in a vowel followed by –y, just add –s
key, keys boy, boys
monkey, monkeys
For most nouns that end in an –f or –fe, change the f or fe to v
and add –es
knife, knives leaf, leaves
Exceptions: roof, roofs giraffe, giraffes
Some nouns change their spelling
foot, feet tooth, teeth
child, children mouse, mice
man, menwoman, women
Some nouns are the same singular and plural
deer, deermoose, moose sheep, sheep
Add ‘s to make a singular noun possessive.
Example:
The dog’s bowl is empty. singular
The bowl of the dog. singular
Add ‘ to a plural noun that ends with an s.
Example:
The boys’ team won the game. plural
The team of the boys. plural
Add ‘s to a plural noun that ends in a letter other than s.
Example:
The children’s teacher is nice. plural
The teacher of the children.
plural