1 coming to grips with nouns defining the noun classifying nouns countable and uncountable nouns number and possession of nouns specifying the noun quantifying.

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coming to grips with nouns

• defining the noun

• classifying nouns

• countable and uncountable nouns

• number and possession of nouns

• specifying the noun

• quantifying the noun

• noun phrases

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a noun is…

a naming word that refers to:

• a person, e.g. Maria

• a place, e.g. Singapore

• a thing, feeling, concept etc, e.g. fear, summer

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Classifying nouns

• common

• proper - Ah Seng

• abstract

• collective

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countable

uncountable

can be counted individuallycan be made plural by themselves

can stand alone in the singular (without a determiner)

one orange

one fruit

oranges fruits

orange fruit

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BUT some non-count nouns can be made

countable by adding a measure term e.g.

Please give me two teaspoons (of sugar)Would you like sugar in your tea?

Did you have breadfor breakfast? I ate two slices (of bread)

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some usages can make:1. a countable noun uncountable, e.g.

when we generalise: Experience is a good teacher.

2. an uncountable noun countable, e.g. when we refer to varieties or types of the noun: There is no such thing as a butter that is not fattening.

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counting abstract nouns

non-count when they refer to activities, states and qualities, e.g. employment; happiness; sleep; swimming

count when they refer to events, e.g. meeting; arrival; discovery.

abstract nouns are typically:

(Greenbaum & Quirk)

But remember that they may

be both!!!

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noun endin

g

-o*, -ch, -sh, -ss, -x

consonant + y

vowel + y

-fe

plural + -es y i + -es

+ -s -fe -ves

e.gtomatoeschurchesbossesboxes

*kimonos

babies keys knives

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irregular forms, e.g.

ox; oxen; child children

only one form (‘singular’), e.g.

music; milk

only one form (‘plural’), e.g.

physics; jeans

context-dependent interpretation of number, e.g.

craft (spacecraft etc)

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in English, nouns are not feminine,

masculine, or neuter; rather, gender

information is shown via:

• pronouns e.g. he she

• word endings, e.g. actor actress

• forms, e.g. stallion mare

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those two little snakes

HEAD

a group of words organised around a noun

e.g.

The noun is the Head word

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those two little baby snakes that I have met HEADpre-modifier post-

modifier

determiners Numerativ

es

Describers

Classifiers

qualifier

(phrase or clause)

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• pre-modifiers:

– determiners which indicate whether or not

the noun is specific; a snake; the snake;

–adjectives which count, describe or

classify the noun, e.g. the two small

dinner sets

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determiners indicate whether or not the head word is specific

determiners indicate whether or not the head word is specific

specific non-specific

definite article, e.g. the child;

indefinite article, e.g. a child; an egg;

demonstrative, e.g. this/that child;

no determiner at all, e.g. eggs

possessive, e.g. her child

interrogatives: whose, which, what

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add ‘s to:• singular nouns not ending in -s

e.g. the cook’s pie; Keats’s poem (Keats’s…)

• plural nouns not ending in -s e.g. the children’s play

add ‘ to:plural nouns ending in -se.g. the teachers’ workshop

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•how many things; or

•how much of a thingCountable things• many• both • other

eggs• some/any• six

Uncountable things• much • a little • less water• some/any • six cups of

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1. appositional noun phrases: two adjacent noun phrases both of which refer to the same thing,

e.g. my student, Ah Seng, wrote this text.

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2. co-ordinating noun phrases: two adjoining noun phrases each referring to a different thing,

e.g. Ah Seng and his teacher wrote this text.

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1. uncountable nouns are treated as countable, e.g. homeworks

2. abstract nouns are inappropriately treated as countable, e.g.

The question sparked off lively discussions;This company has no intentions of raising

prices.

3. Articles are omitted, e.g.Your request for appointment in salaries

section has been rejected.

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Rediscover Grammar by David Crystal London: Longman. (nd.) pp.92-123

A Students’ Grammar of the English Language by S. Greenbaum & R. Quirk.

London: Longman 1990. pp. 70-107

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Which determiner?

•A man went into a pet shop.

•“Can I help you sir?” asked the shop assistant.

•“Yes, do you have …… dogs going cheap?”

•“I’m sorry sir. …… our dogs go ‘Woof! Woof!’”

any

all

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• I’m afraid Alice will not be at school today.• Who’s this calling?• It’s …… mother

Which determiner?

• John and George, is this …. football?

• Did it break anything sir?

• No, not that I know of.

•Then yes, sir, it’s …..

her

your

ours

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• I don’t have …… hair so I’d like to buy a wig.

• Certainly sir. That’s 50 pounds plus tax.

• Forget the tacks. I’ll use ……glue.

Which determiner? much

some

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You are a person of sophistication and discernment. You know what you want and what you like. Achievement and ambition are a part of your life. You are known for your energy and zest for living.

...

So, now there is a range of skin care especially for people of your calibre.

Mustique – skin care for the charismatic, career-minded person who wants to look good effortlessly.

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a person of sophistication and discernment .

pre-modifier Head post-modifier

a part of your life. your energy and zest for living.a range of skin care people of your calibre.skin care

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the charismatic, career-minded person pre-modifier Head

our high-tech laboratoriespre-modifier Head

state-of-the-art combinations of natural oils of plants and flowers and laboratory-tested ingredients

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Snakes are reptiles (cold blooded creatures). They belong to the same group as lizards but form a sub-group of their own.

Snakes have a scaly skin and no legs. They can wriggle and slide out of their old skin and grow a bright new one.

Female snakes lay eggs. When the baby snakes hatch out of the eggs they are small, sticky and have a bright scaly skin. They look just like a tiny version of the mother. Baby snakes have to look after themselves and find their own food.

Some snakes kill animals such as frogs, fish, rabbits, rats and mice. They can kill these animals in two ways. Firstly by squeezing them, to death and secondly by injecting them with poison.

Snakes

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Snakes reptiles cold blooded creatures. the same group as lizards a sub-group of their own.Snakes a scaly skin and no legs. their old skin

Snakes

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Female snakeseggs. the baby snakes the eggs a bright scaly skin. a tiny version of the mother. Baby snakes their own food.Some snakes animals frogs, fish, rabbits, rats and mice. these animals poison.