What are nouns?
Nouns are words that name a person, place, thing, or idea. Every sentence usually has at least one noun.
- Person: teacher, doctor, Maria
- Place: school, park, New York
- Thing: book, bicycle, pencil
- Idea: freedom, happiness, courage
Nouns are naming words. If you can name it, it is a noun.
How do you find nouns in a sentence?
To find nouns, ask yourself: who or what is the sentence about? The answer is usually a noun.
- “The dog barked loudly.” (dog is the noun)
- “My teacher reads a book.” (teacher, book are nouns)
- “We went to the park.” (park is the noun)
Look for the person, place, thing, or idea in the sentence to find the noun.
Common and proper nouns
Common nouns name general people, places, or things. Proper nouns name specific people, places, or things and always begin with a capital letter.
- Common noun: city → Proper noun: Chicago
- Common noun: teacher → Proper noun: Mr. Brown
- Common noun: park → Proper noun: Central Park
Always capitalize proper nouns because they name something specific.
Singular and plural nouns
A singular noun names one person, place, or thing. A plural noun names more than one. Plural nouns often end with -s or -es.
- Singular: cat → Plural: cats
- Singular: bus → Plural: buses
- Singular: child → Plural: children
Watch carefully for irregular plurals like children and mice that do not follow the regular rules.
Using nouns in sentences
Nouns help form the subject and object in sentences. Identifying them makes reading and writing clearer.
- “The students play in the gym.” (students, gym)
- “My mom cooks dinner in the kitchen.” (mom, dinner, kitchen)
- “Freedom is important to many people.” (freedom)
Underline or highlight nouns in your own sentences to practice finding them quickly.