EGP WEEK TWO: NOUNS AND PRONOUNS

Intended Learning Outcomes:

Having successfully completed the content of this week, you will be able to:
 Differentiate nouns and pronouns from other parts of speech;
 Identify and differentiate different types of nouns and pronouns;
 Appropriately use nouns and pronouns to make sentences.

2.1. NOUNS
Types of nouns
There are several ways to classify the types of nouns that exist in English language. In traditional
grammar, nouns are thought to be words that refer to people, places, things, or abstract ideas.
While modern linguistics find this definition to be problematic because it relies on non-specific
nouns such as thing to specifically define what a noun is, much of our social understanding of
what nouns are defers to the traditional definition.

Classifications of Nouns

a) Proper Nouns Vs Common Nouns

Proper nouns are nouns that refer to specific entities. Writers of English capitalize proper nouns
like Nebraska, Kigali, Steve, Simba, Harvard, or White House to show their distinction from
common nouns.
Common nouns refer to general, unspecific categories of entities. Whereas Nebraska is a proper
noun because it signifies a specific state, the word state itself is a common noun because it can
refer to any of the 50 states in the United States. Harvard refers to a particular institution of
higher learning, while the common noun university can refer to any such institution.

b) Simple Vs Compound Nouns

A simple Noun contain one single word (Peter, mother, Kigali, laptop, etc.).
A compound noun contains two or more words which join together to make a single noun.
Compound nouns can be words written together (closed form) such as softball and toothpaste,
words that are hyphenated (hyphenated form) such as six-pack and son-in-law, or separate words
(open form) such as post office and upper class that go together by meaning.

c) Countable (or count) Nouns

 To linguists, countable or count nouns can occur in both single and plural forms, can be
modified by numerals, and can co-occur with quantificational determiners like many,
most, more, several, etc.
For example, the noun bike is a countable noun. Consider the following sentence:
 There is a bike in that garage.

UR- CLE ENGLISH FOR GENERAL PURPOSE MODULE TRIMESTER ONE- 2021/2022
In this example, the word bike is singular as it refers to one bike that is presently residing in a
particular garage. However, bike can also occur in the plural form.
 There are six broken bikes in that garage.
In this example, the noun bikes refers to more than one bike as it is being modified by the
numeral six. In addition, countable nouns can co-occur with quantificational determiners (many,
a lot of, few, a few, several, etc.)
 In that garage, several bikes are broken.
This sentence is grammatical, as the noun bike can take the modification of the quantificational
determiner several.
Other examples of countable nouns: dog, cat, animal, man, person, bottle, box, liter, coin, note,
dollar, cup, plate, fork, table, chair, suitcase, bag.

Uncountable (or Non-count) Nouns

Conversely, some nouns are not countable and are called uncountable nouns or mass nouns.
For example, the word clutter is a mass noun.
 That garage is full of clutter.
This sentence makes grammatical sense. However, the following example does not.
 That garage is full of clutters.
Mass nouns cannot take plural forms, and therefore a sentence containing the word clutters is
ungrammatical. Substances, liquids, and powders are entities that are often signified by mass
nouns such as wood, sand, water, and flour. Other examples would be milk, air, furniture,
freedom, rice, and intelligence.

d) Collective Nouns
In general, collective nouns are nouns that refer to a group of something in a specific manner.
Often, collective nouns are used to refer to groups of animals. Consider the following sentences.
 Look at the gaggle of geese. There used to be herds of wild buffalo on the prairie.
 A bevy of swans is swimming in the pond. A colony of ants live in the anthill.
In the above examples, gaggle, herds, bevy, and colony are collective nouns. other examples of
collective nouns:

 The shoal was moving north.

 The shoal were darting in all directions.

(In the first sentence, the shoal is considered as one unit. Therefore, shoal is treated as
singular. However, in the second example, the shoal is considered as lots of individuals,
and shoal is treated as plural.)

 The audience is happy.

 The audience are all wearing comedy wigs.

UR- CLE ENGLISH FOR GENERAL PURPOSE MODULE TRIMESTER ONE- 2021/2022
 (In the first sentence audience is singular. In the second, it's plural.)

 There is always an incredible crowd that follows me.

 The group is happy with their performance. [not technically wrong but a bit scruffy] (is =
singular / their = plural)
 The group is happy with its performance. [much tidier] (is = singular / its = singular)

Other examples of collective nouns:

UR- CLE ENGLISH FOR GENERAL PURPOSE MODULE TRIMESTER ONE- 2021/2022
Source: www.englishstudypage.com

e) Concrete Nouns Vs Abstract Nouns

 Concrete nouns are nouns that can be touched, smelled, seen, felt, or tasted. Steak, table,
dog, Maria, salt, and wool are all examples of concrete nouns.
Can I pet your dog? Please pass the salt. Your sweater is made of fine wool.
Concrete nouns can be perceived by at least one of our senses.

 Abstract Nouns
More ethereal, theoretical concepts use abstract nouns to refer to them. Concepts like freedom,
love, power, and redemption are all examples of abstract nouns.
They hate us for our freedom. All you need is love. We must fight the power.
In these sentences, the abstract nouns refer to concepts, ideas, philosophies, and other entities
that cannot be concretely perceived.
Other examples of abstract nouns:

Showing Human Qualities or Characteristics

 Beauty  Envy  Loyalty

 Bravery  Evil  Maturity
 Brilliance  Fear  Patience
 Brutality  Generosity  Perseverance
 Calmness  Goodness  Sanity
 Charity  Graciousness  Self-control
 Coldness  Hatred  Sensitivity
 Compassion  Honesty  Sophistication
 Confidence  Honor  Stupidity
 Contentment  Hope  Sympathy
 Courage  Humility  Talent
 Curiosity  Humor  Tolerance
 Dedication  Insanity  Trust
 Determination  Integrity  Warmth
 Ego  Intelligence  Weakness
 Elegance  Jealousy  Wisdom
 Enthusiasm  Kindness  Wit

Showing Emotions/Feelings

 Adoration  Delight  Friendship

 Amazement  Despair  Grief
 Anger  Disappointment  Happiness
 Anxiety  Disbelief  Hate
 Apprehension  Excitement  Helpfulness
 Clarity  Fascination  Helplessness

UR- CLE ENGLISH FOR GENERAL PURPOSE MODULE TRIMESTER ONE- 2021/2022
  Infatuation  Relaxation  Surprise
 Joy  Relief  Tiredness
 Love  Romance  Uncertainty
 Misery  Sadness  Wariness
 Pain  Satisfaction  Weariness
 Pleasure  Silliness  Worry
 Power  Sorrow
 Pride  Strength

More Examples of Abstract Nouns

 Ability  Freedom  Parenthood
 Adventure  Gossip  Patriotism
 Artistry  Grace  Peace
 Awe  Hearsay  Peculiarity
 Belief  Homelessness  Poverty
 Chaos  Hurt  Principle
 Comfort  Idea  Reality
 Communication  Idiosyncrasy  Redemption
 Consideration  Imagination  Refreshment
 Crime  Impression  Riches
 Culture  Improvement  Rumor
 Customer service  Inflation  Service
 Death  Information  Shock
 Deceit  Justice  Skill
 Defeat  Knowledge  Slavery
 Democracy  Laughter  Sleep
 Dexterity  Law  Sparkle
 Dictatorship  Liberty  Speculation
 Disquiet  Life  Speed
 Disturbance  Loss  Strictness
 Dreams  Luck  Submission
 Energy  Luxury  Success
 Enhancement  Memory  Thought
 Failure  Mercy  Thrill
 Faith  Motivation  Truth
 Faithfulness  Movement  Unemployment
 Faithlessness  Need  Unreality
 Favoritism  Omen  Victory
 Forgiveness  Opinion  Wealth
 Fragility  Opportunism
 Frailty  Opportunity

UR- CLE ENGLISH FOR GENERAL PURPOSE MODULE TRIMESTER ONE- 2021/2022
Source: https://examples.yourdictionary.com/examples-of-abstract-nouns.html

Verb Abstract nouns Adjectives

To determine Determination Determined
To examine Examination Examined
To improve Improvement Improved
To communicate Communication Communicated
To fail Failure Failed

Look at how they are used in a sentence:

 This institution has communication that is strong. Every new information is immediately
communicated to the concerned.
 Catherine is highly motivated and determined to succeed in her life. Her motivation
and determination will help her break through.
 We haven’t had any improvement in our work style. We need to revamp the entire
management so that our work is improved (, or to pave the for our work improvement.)
Note that adjective is used with BE and abstract nouns with HAVE. Possessive adjectives like
my, your, his, her, our, there can modify these abstract nouns.
For example: our improvement, your failure, their communication, etc…

f) Material Nouns
Material nouns refer to materials or substances from which things are made. While cotton is an
adjective when used in cotton dress, cotton is a material noun when used to describe a crop being
grown - The farm grew cotton.

2.2. PRONOUNS
Pronouns are words that are used in place of nouns (pro means in place of and then noun).
In English, we distinguish personal pronouns, demonstrative pronouns, interrogative pronouns,
possessive pronouns, reciprocal pronouns, reflexive pronouns, indefinite pronouns and relative
pronouns.

2.2.1. Personal pronouns

Persons like I, you, etc. are called personal pronouns, because they refer to grammatical
person: 1st person I, we 2nd person: you 3rd person he, she, it, one, they.
Note: In English, we distinguish 2 forms of personal pronouns namely subject and object forms.

Forms subject object

Singular First person I Me

UR- CLE ENGLISH FOR GENERAL PURPOSE MODULE TRIMESTER ONE- 2021/2022
 Second person You You
Third person He, she, it Him, her, it
Plural First person We Us
Second person you You
Third person they Them

As illustrated in the above table, personal pronouns subject are used in the place of a subject
whereas personal pronouns object are used in the place an object.

Use of subject and object pronouns

 Object pronouns are often used after be: e.g. who is it? – it is me/him/her/us/them.
 We do not use I, she, etc. on their own in answer to questions with who? In every day
speech, we use object pronouns: e.g. who told him? –me/ not I. Or we say: I did/ I didn’t.
 After as and than, we use object pronouns: e.g. he is taller than me/ as tall as me. Or we
use subject verb: he’s taller than I am /as tall as I am.
Use of it
 If it is normally used of a thin or an animal whose sex we don’t know, and sometimes of
a baby or a small child:
e.g. – Where is my map? If I left it on the table.
- look at the bird. It always comes to my window.
- Her new baby is tiny. It only weighs 2kilos.
It can be used of people in sentences such us:
- Ann (on phone): who is that/ who is it?
- Bill: it’ me
- Is that Tom over there? No it is Peter
It is used in expressions of time, distance, weather, temperature, tide:
- What time is it? – it is six
- What’s the date? It’s the third of May
- How far is it to York? It is 400 kilometers.
- How long does it take to get there? –It depends on how you go.
- It is raining.
- It’s full moon tonight. In winter it’s/it is dark at six o’clock.
- It is high tide/ low tide.

2.2.2. Demonstrative pronouns

Demonstrative pronouns are words that are used to show someone or something. In English, we
distinguish two types of demonstrative pronouns depending on position of someone or something
compared to the speaker.
Demonstrative pronoun

UR- CLE ENGLISH FOR GENERAL PURPOSE MODULE TRIMESTER ONE- 2021/2022
Distance Near Far

Number
Singular This That

Plural These Those

Examples: This was my mother’s ring. / This is very yummy!

That looks like the car I used to drive. / Could you hand me that?
These are nice shoes, but they look uncomfortable. / These are the most comfortable.
Those look like riper than the apples on my tree. / Those belong to Sarah.

2.2.3 Interrogative pronouns

Interrogative pronouns are words that are used when asking questions.
For persons: - Subject: who (pronoun)
E.g Who pays the bill?
Who are these boys?
-Object: whom, who (pronoun)
E.g. (Very formal English) whom did the committee appoint?
(Normal English) who did you see?
- Possessive: whose (pronoun and adjective)
E.g .
 Whose car broke down? (Whose as subject)
 Whose umbrella did you borrow? (Whose as object and the verb)
 Whose are these?
Note: In the two first examples, whose is used as an adjective whereas in the two last example.
Whose is used as a pronoun.
 For a person or things when the choice is restricted:
Which (pronoun and adjective)
Which pronoun is used alone as the subject of the pronoun
E.g. which of you knows the formula?
Which adjective can be used of people when there is only a very slight idea of restriction?
E.g : Which poet ( of all poets)do you like best?

2.2.4. Possessive pronouns

Possessive pronouns are words that are used to refer to the possessor, not to the thing possessed.

UR- CLE ENGLISH FOR GENERAL PURPOSE MODULE TRIMESTER ONE- 2021/2022
Number Personal Possessive Possessive
pronouns adjectives pronouns
Singular 1st person I My Mine
2nd person You Your Yours
3rd person He/ she/it His/ her/ its His/ hers
Plural 1st person We Our Ours
2nd person You Yours Yours
3rd person They Their Theirs

Examples:

 The kids are yours and mine.

 The house is theirs and its paint is flaking.
 We shall finally have what is rightfully ours.
 Their mother gets along well with yours.
 Here are our books. Where are yours?
 I left my bag here and he left his.
 We got our fruits. What about theirs?
 They got their meals. What about ours?  
 Can I borrow your pen? I lost mine.
 Why are you using my phone? Where is yours?
 I can’t find my bag. Can I take hers?

2.2.5. Reflexive pronouns

Reflexive pronouns are words that are used when the subject and the object are the same.
E.g. Cut While he was shaving (Not Tom cut him)

Tom Himself

The reflexive pronouns are the following;

Person First person Second person Third person

number
Singular Myself yourself Himself /herself/itself
Plural Ourselves yourselves themselves

 I don’t want you to pay for me. I will pay for myself.
 The old lady sat in a corner talking to herself.
 If you want more to eat, help yourselves.

UR- CLE ENGLISH FOR GENERAL PURPOSE MODULE TRIMESTER ONE- 2021/2022
  Don’t get angry. Control yourselves.
Note:
 Reflexive pronoun can also be used for emphasizing a pronoun or a noun.
E.g. The king himself gave her the medal
Ann herself opened the door.
I did it myself.
 There aren’t many verbs in English which must always be used with reflexive pronouns:
Absent oneself, avail oneself (of), and pride oneself (on).
E.g. Monica absented herself from work.
Jim prides himself on his cooking.
 We often use reflexive pronouns with these verb: amuse, blame, cut, dry, enjoy,
hurt and introduce.
E.g. don’t blame yourself.
I enjoyed myself at the party.
 We sometimes add reflexive pronoun with these verbs after verbs like dress, hide, shave
and wash. For emphasis or to show that something has been than with an effort.
E.g. Polly has now learnt how to dress herself.
 Verbs like get up, sit down, stand up, wake up and get wet, get tired, get dressed, get
married are normally reflexive in English.

E.g. I sat down with difficulty.

We might use a reflexive only for emphasis:

E.g. I sat myself down with difficulty.

2.2.6. Indefinite pronouns

Indefinite pronouns are words that are used to refer to someone or something without being
specific.
Indefinite pronouns are the following: someone, somebody, something, anyone, anybody,
anything, no one, nobody, and nothing.
Compound with some, any and no follow the above rule.
E.g. – someone/somebody wants to speak to you on the phone.
-No one/nobody has ever given me a free tick for anything.
- Do you need anything from the teacher?
- Would anyone/anybody like a drink?
Note also:
I drink anything= I don’t mind want I drink.
Anyone will tell you where the house is.

UR- CLE ENGLISH FOR GENERAL PURPOSE MODULE TRIMESTER ONE- 2021/2022
In short, indefinite pronouns include partitives such as any, anybody, anyone, either, neither, nobody,
no, someone, and some; they also include universals such as every, all, both, and each; finally, they
include quantifiers including any, some, several, enough, many, and much. Many indefinite pronouns
can also function as determiners.

2.2.7. Relative pronouns

Relative pronouns are words that are used to introduce relative clause. A relative clause tells us
which person or thing (or what kind of person or thing) the speaker means.
E.g. The man who lives next door is very friendly.
The underlined word is a relative pronoun. The word that are in bold together, they make a
relative clause .in English, the following words are referred to as relative pronouns: who, whom,
whose, which, that, where, when
Who and whom are used for person only. Who is used in the place of subject whereas whom is
used in the place of an object.
E.g. The man lives the next door. He is friendly.
The man who lives next door is friendly. (in this sentences, whom refer to the noun phrase
which is the man)that is a subject.
- I talked to Mary. She is a nurse
- The lady whom I talked to is a nurse. (In this sentence, whom refers to the noun Mary
which is an object in this sentence.)
Whose is used for both persons and objects to show possessor.
E.g John is a member of parliament. His daughter is a Harvard graduate.
John whose daughter is a Harvard graduate is a member of parliament.
Which is used for object only.
E.g. I hired a car. It broke down.
The car which I hired broke down.
That can be used for both person or object.
E.g. It is the manager that we want.
The car that I hired broken down
Note: When, where, and why are used as a relative adverbs.
When is used to talk about time, where is used to talk about place and why is used to give a
reason.
E.g. The hotel where we stayed wasn’t very clean.
The year when he was born is not known.
John is sick the reason why he didn’t attend class yesterday.
3. Personal pronouns, possessive and reflexive pronouns
Personal Personal Possessive Possessive Reflexive
pronouns pronouns adjectives pronouns pronouns
subjects objects
I Me Me Mine Myself

UR- CLE ENGLISH FOR GENERAL PURPOSE MODULE TRIMESTER ONE- 2021/2022
You You You Yours Yourself
He His His His Himself
She Her Her Her Herself
It Its Its - Itself
We Us Our Ours Ourselves
They Them Their Theirs Themselves

HERE IS THE LIST OF ALL PRONOUNS

I These Both
We That Several
Me Those Any
Us Anybody All
You Anyone Some
She Anything Most
He Each None
Her Either Myself
Him Everyone Yourself
They Everybody Ourselves
Them Everything Yourselves
It Nobody Herself
That Neither Himself
Which No one Themselves
Who Nothing Itself
Whom Somebody Who
Whose One What
Whichever Someone Which
Whoever Something Whose
Whomever Few Whom
This Many

5th July 2023

The end

UR- CLE ENGLISH FOR GENERAL PURPOSE MODULE TRIMESTER ONE- 2021/2022