Suffix -s/-es added to the noun

button --> buttons

tomato --> tomatoes

Vowel change
foot --> feet
mouse --> mice

Same forms
aircraft, headquarters, sheep, deer

-en: man --> men

-is --> -es: analysis --> analyses

-us --> -i: cactus --> cacti

-a --> -ae: antenna --> antennae IRREGULAR PLURAL ENDINGS

-um --> -a: millennium -->

millennia

-on --> -a: phenomenon -->

phenomena PLURALITY

Nouns with 2 plural forms, each with a different meaning

+ brother --> brothers/brethren ( related to family/a special community)
+ index --> indexes/indices (an indicator/a system that shows the level of
prices and wages)
+ penny --> pennies/pence (a lot of coins/the amount of money)
+ fish --> fish/fishes (the number of fish/the types of fish)
A word that refers to what somebody
or something is called

Nouns with a different meaning for the plural form A word that typically refers to people,
+ damage vs damages (distraction/the money for compensation) things, animals, places, abstractions
+ saving vs savings (the act of saving money/the money you have saved)
+ experience vs experiences (the knowledge and skill that you have
gained/an event or activity that affects you in some way)
DEFINITION A word that can be Subject, Object, or Complement

A noun can be MODIFIED by ADJECTIVES

Decimals = Plural A noun can be used with DETERMINERS

Ex: 1 point vs 1.0 points
0.005 degrees

Fraction with plural numerators

Ex: 2/3 (two thirds)
DETERMINER +
SPECIAL CASES
Negatives NOUN = NOUN
Ex: -5 points
minus 1 degree(s) PHRASE
Ex: my girl, this
Equivalent to ZERO
castle, those cats

Possessive adjective + noun: It's my motorbike.

Possessive pronoun: That's yours.

DEFINITION: a word which is used with a
WAYS TO EXPRESS noun, and which refers to something
Noun + of + noun: The periodic table of elements DEFINITE or INDEFINITE

Possessive case 's: Richard's phone

Used with:
+ singular countable nouns
To express possession: David's coat + plural countable nouns
+ uncountable nouns

To express relations between people: his cousin

To express purpose: children's playground Used to talk about a SPECIFIC example of something
which (we think) is known to both ourselves and the
POSSESSIVE listener/reader
To express time when: today's presentation
USAGES Ex: The movie we watched yesterday was fantastic.
CASE
In fixed expressions: for pity's sake NOUNS &
Something which is considered there is only

As adjectival use: a man's voice (a male voice) ARTICLES one in existence (UNIQUE)
Ex: the sun, the solar system, the UN, etc.
THE + nouns that are always
singular
Equivalent to a sentence: the residents' Superlatives
protests = the residents protested Ex: This is the best product of our
company.

Definite article (THE)

General or Specific - THE
THE POSSESSIVE IS NOT USED
WITH NON-LIVING THING
General Specific

I like all kinds of music. The music of Mozart is magnificent.

Single-word compound nouns: toothache

Is there life after death? The life of ants is interesting.
Adjective + noun: blackbird
The students who once failed
Students don't like advanced grammar.
Gerund + noun: washing machine this course are very nervous.

Noun + gerund: sightseeing COMPOUND

Verb + adverb particle: make-up
Noun + noun: air conditioner
Plurality of compound nouns:
+ horsemen
+ father-in-law
+ menservants
NOUN THE + Adjective/Verb: personal noun
Ex: The rich are not always generous. (all people)
The accused is a young man. (one person)
TYPES
THE + Adjective: abstract noun
Ex: The unknown is often very frightening.

Used with SINGULAR

A noun which is the name of a COUNTABLE NOUNS only
particular person, place, or thing A/AN
PROPER NOUNS
Used to talk about one of something which we
Spelt with a capital letter assumed the listener/reader DOESN'T KNOW
Ex: Tony Stark, New York WHICH SPECIFIC THING
Ex: I've just bought a TV.
SUMMARY ARTICLE USES
Nouns that have both singular
and plural forms
NOUN PHRASE
Singular countable Plural countable Uncountable
Indefinite article (A/AN, zero) Used with:
+ uncountable nouns definite THE THE THE
line - lines
Used to talk about countable COUNTABLE NOUNS ( + plural countable nouns (known) (specific) (specific) (specific)
song - songs
individual things COUNT NOUNS)
button - buttons
indefinite A/AN Zero Zero
Used to talk about things GENERALLY, not an (not known) (not specific) (general) (general)
Used with either singular or
individual item or example
plural verbs Zero article Ex: Students never like tests.
ARTICLES
Nouns that do not usually occur
Uncountable and plural countable nouns
in plural forms
with a general sense (to refer to general
loneliness ideas and categories)
education Ex: Cars and motorbikes are a major
music Used to talk about things of a mass
TYPES OF NOUNS Nouns with zero
source of pollution in cities.

Used with singular verbs

Abstract uncountable nouns
Ex: Perseverance is important for
researchers.
SPECIAL CASES
UNCOUNTABLE
Countable Uncountable NOUNS (NON-COUNT Plural nouns with zero article
Ex: Seagulls are found close to the coast (generally)
NOUNS)
lentils rice

suggestions advice Zero + plural

CLASSIFYING - Singular nouns with A/AN
= a/an + singular (as subject)
Ex: A seagull is a large white and grey bird. (all seagulls)
a wig hair
REFERRING TO A I've been studying a seagull. (one particular seagull)
= the + singular (as subject)
--> Noun of animals and plants
GROUP I've been studying seagulls. (seagull as a group)
with a general meaning

Some nouns can be either countable or

uncountable depending on the context Singular nouns with THE
Ex: Did you have a good time at the prom? Ex: The horse is strong. (in general)
I don't think I have enough time to do this.

COMMON NOUNS When the noun is related to the OBJECT of the

Nouns that refer to a physical thing, rather
than a quality, state, or action
Ex: computer, tree, cat
Nouns that refer to a quality, state, or action
Ex: prohibition, joyfulness, entertainment
Measure partitives: a bag of flour,
an acre of land
Phrases used to to express
Typical partitives: a bar of
quantity and used with an
chocolate, a block of ice
UNCOUNTABLE noun
sentence (or SUBJECT in passive) --> THE
Ex: The ostrich was shot in the wing.
CONCRETE NOUNS Parts of the body
When the noun is related to the SUBJECT of the
sentence --> POSSESSIVES
Ex: The patient had a lot of trouble with his heart.
ABSTRACT NOUNS
About instruments generically
CLASSIFYING - Ex: The piano is my favorite
SPECIAL GROUPS instrument.
Musical instruments
About bands, orchestras, recordings, etc. (specific)
Ex: I used to play trumpet in my school orchestra.

General partitives: a piece of Scientific inventions

paper, a bit of cloth Ex: Life with the electricity would be a disaster.
PARTITIVE NOUNS
Are ALWAYS COUNTABLE
I go to school. (to perform the main function)
THE or Zero with places
(school, church, jail, prison, market, etc.)
Can be used with both countable and uncountable nouns I go to the school. (to perform another function)
Ex: a drop of water
a packet of cigarettes DETERMINER: a
word which is used A noun used AFTER A GENITIVE is accompanied by ZERO
article
Nouns that refer to a collection of people, things, or with a noun and Ex: the mask that belongs to Kathryn = Kathryn's mask
animals as a group: school, family, company, press, which can LIMIT
etc.
the meaning of the The genitive noun itself may have an article
Ex: the wife of the boss = the boss's wife
COLLECTIVE NOUNS noun in some way
Can be used with both SINGULAR and PLURAL verbs
Ex: The company is having a change in the THE... + OF + a
structure. (A single organization) Ex: Lying by the side of the road we saw the wheel of a car.
The company are having a change in the
structure. (All the individuals belong to the
organization) SPECIAL USES Noun modifiers: the article of the first noun is dropped
Ex: guitar lessons = lessons in how to play the guitar

There's a Jane working at the reception. (You

haven't known exactly who is Jane)
A/AN or THE with proper nouns
That's not the Adam Smith I went to school
with. (The one I knew)

He's a doctor.
Jobs and positions
I want to see the President.

I think I've got (the) mumps.

Illnesses + ZERO
Exception: a cold, a headache

DEMONSTRATIVE ADJECTIVES

POSSESSIVE ADJECTIVES

QUANTIFIERS

NUMERALS

BASIC STRUCTURE OF A NOUN PHRASE