Common and Proper Nouns
A noun is a word used as the name of a person, a place, an object, or a quality. Concrete Nouns: Names a person, a place, or an object. it means actual or definite. -Mary -man -street -book
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Abstract Nouns: It names a quality or an idea. We cannot discern with our physical senses. Accuracy -responsibility -love Common and Proper Nouns: This one is common to all the persons, places or objects in a group. proper nouns common noun
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Wilson Massachusetts English
-man -state -country
*In business writing each noun in a proper noun group begins with a capital. In business it is the practice to consider the name of a particular department, division or activity of a business as a proper noun group. 1.Capitalize only the nouns in a proper noun group, not small connecting words. 2. A plural noun which follows two or more proper nouns is written with a small letter. 3. A common noun, is used in place of the full name of the company is capitalizes. 4. The names of governing and judicial bodies are proper nouns. 5. Consider a title as a proper noun when it is used to refer to a particular officer.
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Names of Directions: When the words north, south, east and west are used to name directions, they are common nouns and hence are not capitalized. the town is west of the Rocky Mountains.
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When these words are used to name regions, however, they become proper nouns and are capitalized. We operate principally in the West.
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Such derivatives as northern, southern, eastern, and western are capitalized when used with the name of a continent to of a world division. Western Europe -Southern California Days, Months, and Season: always capitalize the names of the days of the week and of the months of the year. - Wednesday -September
-Labor Day -Thanksgiving
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Capitalize the names of particular courses of study. English II Business Mathematics
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Business often designates its products by numbers. List No. 146 -Stock No. 589A
Collective Nouns A noun that names a group or a collection of objects or persons is called a collective noun. ● ●
faculty class
majority crew
audience staff
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PREDICATES AND COLLECTIVE NOUNS: You must be able to recognize collective nouns so that you may write the correct predicates when such nouns are used as subjects of sentences. A predicate must agree with its subject in number. If, however, the subject is plural, the predicate must be plural too. The peculiarity of collective nouns lies in the fact that they may be used either in the singular or in the plural.
A. A collective noun that is singular in meaning requires a singular predicate. - The faculty is holding a meeting this afternoon. B. A collective noun that is plural in meaning requires a plural predicate. - The faculty have been assigned places on the platform. PRONOUNS AND COLLECTIVE NOUNS: A pronoun must agree with its antecedent in number. If the antecedent is singular, the pronoun must be singular. If however, that antecedent is plural the pronoun used as its substitute must be plural too. A. A pronoun must be singular when it is used as the substitute for a collective noun that is singular in meaning. - The faculty is holding its regular weekly meeting this afternoon. B. A pronoun must be plural when it is used as the substitute for a collective noun that is plural meaning. - The faculty have taken their usual places on the platform
Remember that the pronoun its NEVER has the apostrophe. Never write it´s except when used as a contraction of it is. Do not use a collective noun in both a singular and a plural sense in the same sentence.
â—?
COLLECTIVE PROPER NOUN GROUPS: A proper noun group is often used as a collective noun. When such a noun group is used as the subject of a sentence, the predicate of that sentence must be singular. Thornton, Lewis & King represents the Southern Lumber Company. All business writing is done for the purpose of getting results.
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AVOID AWKWARD USE OF COLLECTIVE NOUNS: Most collective nouns look singular. Sometimes it simply doesn't look right, to use a plural predicate when the subject of a sentence is a collective noun that means a group of persons. The committee have signed their names to the report.
ABOUT THE WORD NUMBER: The word number is often used as the subject of a sentence. It is a collective noun. -
The number of employees are enrolled in the Blue Cross.
Forming and Using the Plural of Nouns Plural of Compound Nouns: They are of two kinds: (a) those that are written solid (b) those that are written with hyphens. Compound nouns that are written solid from the plural by making the last syllable plural. bookcase stockholder billhead letterhead workman
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bookcases stockholders billheads letterheads workmen
Compound nouns that are written with hyphens form the plural by making the fundamental, or principal, noun plural.
Brother-in-law editor-in-chief
Brothers-in-law editors-in-chief
son-in-law court-martial
sons-in-law courts-martial
Plural of Proper Nouns: Proper nouns from the plural, by adding s (or es if the proper noun ends with s, x, z, ch, or sh).
Madison Fox Jones Libby
Madisons Foxes Joneses Libbys
A title of respect usually precedes a proper noun, thus: Miss Finley. Two or more Miss Finleys may be referred to in one of two ways: the Misses Finley or the Miss Finleys. -
The plural of Mr. (Mister) is Messrs. It is thus correct to write Messrs. James R Bailey
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The plural of Mrs. is Mesdames. it is correct to write the Mesdames Denton.
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In business writing such plurals look and sound stilted. It is generally better to write the names and repeat the title thus: Miss Ella West and Miss Mary West are both stenographers in the Chicago office.
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Letters and Figures: Letters and figures from the plural by adding ‘s 6’s -i’s -o’s -B’s Foreign Nouns: A considerable number of foreign nouns are used in the English language. In the case of some of those nouns the foreign plurals only are used.
(1) Foreign (Greek and Latin) nouns ending in is change is to es to form the plural.
Singular amanuensis analysis axis basis crisis
Plural amanuenses analyses axes bases crises
(2) Foreign (Latin) nouns ending in um change um to a to from the plural.
Singular Curriculum
Foreign Plural Curricula
English Plural Curriculums
Medium Memorandum Stratum
Media Memoranda Strata
Mediums Memorandums Stratums
(3) Foreign (Greek) nouns ending in on change on to a to form the plural. -
criterion phenomenon
-criteria -phenomena
-criterions
(4) Foreign (French) words that end with eau add x to form the plural. -
bureau tableau
-bureaux -tableaux
-bureaus -tableaus
Forming and Using the Plural of Nouns A noun that names one person, object, or idea is singular. A noun that names two or more persons, objects, or ideas is plural. 1. -
Most nouns simply add s to from the plural. Judgment -judgments piece -pieces profession -professions
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2. nouns that end with s, x, z, ch, or sh from the plural by adding es. tax -taxes class -classes chintz -chintzes 3. Nouns that end with y fall into two classes: (a) those that end with y preceded by a vowel and (b) those that end with y preceded by a consonant.
â—? â—? -
The vowels are a, e, i, o, and u. The letter y is a vowel when it is pronounced as i-long or short. dynamo -system When y begins a word or a syllable, it is a consonant. year -youth
(a) Common nouns that end with y preceded by a vowel add s to from the plural. - attorney -attorneys - turkey - turkeys
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valley
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(b) Common nouns that end with y preceded by a consonant change y to i and add es to form the plural. company -companies variety - varieties facility - facilities
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- valleys
proper nouns that end with y from the plural by adding s, even though the y is preceded by a consonant. Henry - Henrys Murphy - Murphys Fry - Frys
(4) nouns that end with o fall into two classes: (a) those that end with o preceded by a vowel and (b) those that end with o preceded by a consonant. -
embryo radio studio
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(b) the modern tendency in forming the plural of nouns that end with o preceded by a consonant is to add s only. tobacco - tobaccos memento - mementos tuxedo - tuxedos
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Nouns that end with o and that name musical terms always form the plural by adding s. piano - pianos solo - solos soprano - sopranos
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Some nouns ending with o preceded by a consonant, however, from the plural by adding es. hero - heroes no - noes embargo - embargoes
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(5) Most nouns that end with f, fe, or ff from the plural by adding s. chief - chiefs dwarf - dwarfs safe - safes
- embryos - radios - studios
A proofreader reads the proofs of a book. do not confuse the plural noun proofs with the singular verb form proves. â—?
a few nouns that end with f or fe change f or fe to ves to form the plural.
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calf half life
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(6) Some nouns form the plural by a vowel change. foot -feet man - men woman - women
-calves - halves - lives
(7) The plural form of some nouns is exactly the same as the singular form. -
deer sheep series
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Two nouns have en plural endings. child - children ox - oxen
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(9) Some nouns that end with s are singular in meaning economics - mathematics news - ethics
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(10) Certain nouns are used only in the plural. scissors - auspices cattle - trousers
- deer - sheep - series
Forming and Using the Possessive of Common Nouns
One sure way to make your writing accurate is to master the correct use of the apostrophe in the possessive forms of nouns. Errors are often made by putting an apostrophe into a word in which it does not belong; by leaving out the apostrophe when it is required; by writing the apostrophe in the wrong place in a word. RECOGNIZING POSSESSIVES OF NOUNS: An apostrophe is required in a noun when that noun is used to show possession, authorship, origin, or other relationship. Never use an apostrophe in a noun, even though it ends with s, unless that noun is in the possessive. -
The bulletin was mailed to the principals of all the schools. The company has about 600 employees.
HOW TO FORM POSSESSIVE: When you have made sure that a common noun is in the possessive, you can write its correct possessive form by applying one of these guiding rules. ● ●
Add apostrophe and s (‘s) if the noun ends with any letter other than s. Add the apostrophe only (‘) if the noun ends with s.
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Each subscriber's name is listed in the telephone directory. All subscribers’ names are listed in the telephone directory. SINGULAR POSSESSIVES: The best way to learn to use the apostrophe accurately is to study its correct use in sentences.
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The students held their meeting in the principal’s office. The company’s offices occupy three floors of the building. The directors listened closely to the committee’s report.
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PLURALS POSSESSIVE: Next week the store will hold a special sale of children’s dresses. A number of officers attend the employees’ outing. Both stores feature women's tailored suits.
POSSESSIVE OF NOUNS THAT DENOTE TIME: The nouns day, week, month, and year are often used in the possessive, thus: -
a day’s one day’s interest a month’s trial
-two day’s work -sixty day’s interest. -three month’s trial
POSSESSIVE OF NOUNS THAT DENOTE INANIMATE OBJECTS: Nouns that name inanimate objects are sometimes used in the possessive. When the use of the possessive form makes an awkward-sounding expression use an of-phrase. -
advertiser agency ally attorney
-advertiser’s -agency’s -ally’s -attorney’s
-advertisers’ -agencies’ -allies’ -attorneys’
FORMING AND USING THE POSSESSIVE OF PROPER NOUNS
Each of the following sentences contains the possessive form of a singular proper noun that does not end with s, x, z, ch, or sh.
1. The meeting will be held in Mr. Whitney’s office. 2. We are thoroughly satisfied with Mrs. MacKenzie’s work. 3. The audience enjoyed Dr. Tracy’s address. ONE-SYLLABLE SINGULAR PROPER NOUNS WITH S-ENDINGS: possessive in the regular way-by adding the apostrophe and s (‘s).
Forms
its
1. Have you read any of Keats’s poems? 2. Cincinnati is included in Mr. Knox’s territory. 3. We are looking forward to Mr. Ross’s visit.
Each one includes a one-syllable singular possessive noun. -
Mr. Moss’s store Mr. Wilkes’s office Mr. Fox’s business
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The apostrophe and s are written outside of a name that ends with s, x, z, ch, or sh. SINGULAR PROPER NOUNS OF TWO SYLLABLES: In forming the possessive of such proper nouns, many careful writers follow the regular rule and add the apostrophe and s.
1. 2. 3. 4.
You are surely familiar with Charles Dickens’s “Christmas Carol”. Mr. Adams’s telegram just came. It is pleasure to commend Miss Forbish’s work. Mr. Robbins is one of Dr. Zellers’s patients.
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The important point to remember is that the apostrophe and s are written outside of each two syllable proper noun that ends with s, x, or z.
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Richard’s Morriss’ Sturmfelz’
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however if it ends in ch or sh you add the S after. Litmarch’s -Forbish’s
SINGULAR PROPER NOUNS OF THREE OR MORE SYLLABLES: It is grammatically correct to from the possessive of singular proper nouns of three or more syllables that end with s.
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Mr. Austerlitz’s home Mrs. Fitzgibbons’s address. PLURAL PROPER NOUNS AND THEIR POSSESSIVES: The plural of proper nouns is formed by adding s.
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Taylor Wilson Pitney
-Taylors -Wilsons -Pitneys
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The possessive plural of proper nouns is formed by adding the apostrophe only: the Joneses’ children the Adamses’ relatives the Rosses’ home
SPECIAL SITUATIONS IN FORMING POSSESSIVES: Proper nouns are sometimes abbreviated. -
the Y.M.C.A’s new building the Standard Oil Co.’s representative. Separate ownership by two persons whose names are joined by and is shown by writing each name in the possessive:
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Wilson’s and Reynolds’s stores are both on High Street.
THE APOSTROPHE IS SOMETIMES OMITTED: In the official names of many associations and organizations the apostrophe is omitted in plural nouns even though those nouns are in the possessive: -
Merchants National Bank -Citizens Planning Association Teachers College USING PERSONAL PRONOUNS A pronouns is a word that is used in the place of a noun. Personal pronouns are called such because they show grammatical “persons”. There are three persons- first which denotes the speaker, second which designates the one spoken to, third which names the one spoken about.
FIRST PERSON
Singular I My Mine Me
Nominative Possessive Objective
Plural We Our Ours us
SECOND PERSON
Singular you your yours you
Nominative Possessive Objective
Plural you your yours you
THIRD PERSON
Nominative Possessive
Masculine he his
Objective
him
Feminine she her hers her
Neuter it its it
Plural they their theirs them
This table is called a declension. It shows the various forms of the personal pronouns. The possessive forms of all pronouns are written without apostrophes. PRONOUN AND THEIR ANTECEDENTS: Antecedents is the word used to designate the noun for which the pronoun stands. -
The company has just published its annual statement. A pronoun must agree with its antecedent in person, number, and gener. The case of the pronoun is determined by the use of the pronoun in the particular sentence.
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Mr. Grant says that he has not completed the work. Mr. Grant says that his work has not been completed. USING THE NOMINATIVE CASE: The nominative form of a personal pronoun is used in three constructions.
(1) You will never use her or him as the subject of a sentence. In other cases the subject consists of a noun and a pronoun joined by and, or, nor,. This must be nominative. -
He is planning to go to Boston He and I are leaving tomorrow for Florida. (2) As an appositive of the subject of a sentence. Sometimes the subject of a sentence is we followed by an explanatory word which is the appositive of we.
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We salesmen followed the demonstration with keen interest. We girls are studying the business applications of English.
(3) As a predicate complement. A pronoun is a predicate complement when it is joined to the subject of a sentence by a linking verb such as is, are, was, were, will be. -
The speaker at the meeting was I. The visitor who called just now was he.
USING THE POSSESSIVE CASE: Is used to show possession, origin, or other relationship.The pronoun agrees with that antecedent in number and gender. -
Mr. Thompson is in his office Miss Gaffney is leaving tomorrow on her trip.
USING INDEFINITE PRONOUNS Words that may be used as pronouns in place of nouns.
all another any both
each either neither few
many more most much
none one several some
The expressions no one, many a, anybody, anyone, everybody, everyone, nobody are all singular in meaning; hence pronouns which refer to them must be singular. -
Everybody should be prepared to do his part. No one knows when he will be called upon to act quickly. When a singular indefinite pronoun is used as the subject of a sentence, the predicate of the sentence must be singular.
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Anyone with good sense knows that his success depends on his own efforts. Everyone was called upon to give his report. Someone has left his papers here. COMMON GENDER ANTECEDENTS: An indefinite pronoun which does not indicate gender is designated as being of the common gender.
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Nobody knows what the future hold in store for him. When, however, the indefinite pronoun is followed by a phrase which includes a feminine noun.
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Neither of the girls has had her vacation. One of our expert saleswomen will demonstrate how she sells this merchandise. The indefinite pronouns, any, each, every are often used as adjectives before a singular noun. A personal pronoun which refers to that singular noun must be singular.
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Any man knows that he is judged by the results he achieves. Each girl was asked to finish her work by four o’clock. TWO WORDS OR ONE: If the expression is followed by an of-phrase , write it as two words.
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Anyone knows that people make errors. Any one of the girls is competent to do the work. ANTECEDENTS CONNECTED BY AND. When the antecedents to which a personal pronoun pronoun refers are connected by and, special attention must be given to that pronoun to determine whether it should be singular or plural.
(1) When two singular antecedents connect by and refer to different persons, objects, or ideas, the pronoun must be plural. -
The chair and the desk have outlived their usefulness. (2) When two singular antecedents connected by and refer to one person, object or idea the pronoun must be singular.
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The Vice-President and General Manager has made his recommendations. (3) When two singular antecedents connected by and are preceded by each, every, or no, the pronoun must be singular.
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Each passenger car and truck has its own driver. No business or profession has failed to make its contribution.
(4) Singular antecedents that are connected by or or nor require singular pronouns to refer to them. -
Either Mr. Harvey or Mr. Nelson has left his portfolio here.
(5) If two singular antecedents connected by and, or, nor are of different genders, accuracy requires the use of two pronouns. -
Every boy and girl in the class has had a desk assigned to him and her. A desk has been assigned to every boy and girl in the class. (6) If the compound antecedent consists of one singular noun and one plural noun, write the plural noun second and make the pronoun agree with that plural noun.
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The President and the members of the House Committee agree in their views.
(7) Sometimes a phrase beginning with as well as or in addition ot is attached to a noun which is the antecedent of a pronoun. (8) A collective noun, as you have already learned, may be used in either a singular or a plural sense. When the collective noun is used to mean the individuals that make up the groups the meaning of the collective noun is plural.