Professional Documents
Culture Documents
THE NOUN
A noun is that part of speech used as the name of a person (girl; John), an animal (dog), a place (park, Oxford), a job title (teacher), a thing (book), an action
(writing) a quality (bravery), a state (happiness).
Nouns can function as:
a) the subject of a verb: The boy runs in the street.
b) the direct object of a verb: Jane wrote a letter.
c) the indirect object of a verb: I offered mother some flowers.
d) the object of a preposition: The girl went to school.
e) the complement of the verb to be. My brother is an engineer.
f) an apposition: I sent Miss Smith, my Secretary, a telex.
g) direct address: Tom/Boy, come here!
1.1. FORM
Some words function only as nouns (fog, lion, courage), while others may function as a) nouns or verbs having either the same spelling and pronunciation
(answer to answer, attempt - to attempt; blame - to blame; book - to book; call to call; change - to change; climb - to climb; copy - to copy; cost - to cost
dance - to dance; dream - to dream; drink - to drink; drive - to drive; end -to end; fall - to fall; fear - to fear; help - to help; hope - to hope; Joke to joke; kiss
- to kiss; offer - to offer; stop - to stop; try - to try; vote - to vote ,walk - to walk; wash - to wash; wish - to wish), or a different pronunciation and
sometimes, a different spelling: (0 - (v) (belief - to believe; proof - to prove), /s/ - /z / (advice - to advise .use-to use); IQI - lal (bath - to bathe; cloth - to
clothe), or a different stress: ('abstract - to ab'stract; 'conduct - to con'duct; 'desert - to de'sert; 'export - to ex'port; 'import - to im'port; 'permit -
to per'mit; 'produce - to pro'duce; 'rebel - to re'bel; 'record - to re'cord);
b) nouns and adjectives (cold; light).
A large number of single-word compound nouns are built up with the help of suffixes and prefixes. The suffixes may be added to:
a) verbs
to abolish - abolition to advertise - advertismcnt to assist - assistance/assistant
to accept - acceptance to allow - allowance to attract - attraction
to accompany - accompaniment to appear - appearance to begin -beginning/beginner
to accuse - accusation to applaud - applause to behave - behaviour
to acquaint - acquaintance to apply - application to bore - boredom,
to act - action/actor to approve - approval to calculate - calculation -
to admit - admission/admitance to arrive - arrival to cancel - cancellation
to adopt - adoption to ascend - ascent
to choose - choice to expel - expulsion to postpone - postponement
to circulate - circulation to explain - explanation to prepare - preparation
to clean - cleanliness to explode - explosion to prescribe - prescription
to clear - clearance to explore - exploration to press - pressure
to collect - collection/collector to expose - exposure to prevail - prevalence
to combine - combination to extend - extention to proceed - procedure
to communicate - communication to form - formation to proclaim - proclamation
to compare - comparison to grow - growth to produce - production
to compel - compulsion to happen - happening to pronounce - pronunciation
to compensate - compensation to hate - hatred to propose - proposal/proposition
to complete - completion to hinder - hindrance to prosper - prosperity
to compose - composition to imagine - imagination to provide - provision
to confide - confidence to imitate - imitation to publish - publisher/publication
to confuse - confusion to inform - information to punish - punishment
to congratulate - congratulation to inhabit - Inhabitant to qualify - qualification
to conspire - conspiracy to inquire - Inquiry to rebel - rebellion
to construct - .construction to intend - intention to recognize - recognition
to converse - conversation to interfere - interference to reduce - reduction
to correct - correction to introduce - introduction to rely - reliance
to cover -coverage/covering to invade - invasion to remain - remainder
to create - creation, to invent - invention to repeat - repetition
to decide - decision to invite - invitation to resemble - resemblance
to declare - declaration to judge - judgement to reside - residence
to defend - defence : to know - knowledge to resign - resignation
to defy - defiance to laugh - laughter to resist - resistance
to depart - departure to manage - management to resolve - resolution
to depend - dependence to marry - marriage to reveal - revelation
to descend - descendant to mock - mockery to revise - revision
to describe - description to move - movement to revive - revival
to destroy - destruction to obey - obedience to revolve - revolution
to develop - development to obstruct - obstruction to satisfy - satisfaction
to discover - discoverer/discovery to occupy - occupation to seize - seizure
to disturb - disturbance to occur - occurence to serve - service
to divide - division to oppose - opposition to subscribe - subscription
to employ - employee/employer/employment to organise - organisation to tempt - temptation
to encourage - encouragement to paint - painter/painting to thrill - thriller
to train - trainer
to enter - entrance/entry to perform - performance
to translate - translation
to exclaim - exclamation to permit - permission to transmit - transmission
to exhaust - exhaustion to persuade - persuasion to warn - warning
to exist - existence to please - pleasure
to expect - expectations to portray - portrayal
b) adjectives
active - activity
absent - absence
democrat democracy
free - freedom
kind - kindness
happy - happiness
c) other nouns
art - artist
behaviour - behaviourism
Berlin - Berliner
boy - boyhood
child - childhood
Darwin - Darwinism
farm - farmer
friend - friendship
hand - handful
history-historian
impression - impressionism
London-Londoner
mouth-mouthful
member membership
owner - ownership .
philosophy - philosopher
piano - pianist
Romania - Romanian
village villager
Some of the most frequent prefixes used in building up single-word nouns are the following:
ante- anteroom
anti- antibody; anticlimax; anticyclone; antithesis
dis- disability; disadvantage; disarray; disclosure; discomfort; discontent; discourse; discredit; disfavour; disgrace; dishonour; disinclination;
disorder; disparity; disrespect; distaste; disuse
im- impulse
in- inability; indecision; independence
inter- interview
non- nonsense
over- overcoat; overdose; overdraft; overwork
super- superintendent; superman; supermarket; superstructure; supertax
sur- surcharge; surface; surname; surrealism
under- undercarriage; underclothes; undercurrent; underdog; undergarment ; undergrowth; underskirt; undertone
d) things :
a bale (of cotton) ; a batch (of bread) ; a budget (of papers) ; a bundle (of papers / clothes / sticks / nerves / laughs / fun) ; a chain (of mountains) ; a
clutch (of eggs) ; a collection (of pictures) ; a fleet/flotilla/squadron (of ships) ; a flight (of aeroplanes / steps / sparrows ) ; a forest (of trees) ; a hail
(of fire) ; a grain (of truth) ; a hail (of fire) ; a library (of books) ; a pack (of cards) ; a peal (of bells) ; sheaf (of arrows) ; a set (of china) ; a string
(of pearls/beads) ; a suit (of clothes) ; a suite (of furniture/rooms) ; a skein (of silk / wool)
1.3. GENDER
There are four genders in English: masculine, feminine, neuter and common (dual). Referring to the first" two ones, we must emphasize that there is a close
connection between the biological category of "sex" and the grammatical category of "gender". Thus, masculine nouns will be all those nouns of masculine
sex (bachelor; father: king; uncle) and feminine nouns will be those nouns of feminine sex (aunt; queen , sister; widow). The distinction between masculine
and feminine can be made by:
1.Different words
bachelor-maid / spinster drake - duck nephew - niece
boar sow drone - bee papa - mam(m)a
boy girl earl - countess ram - ewe
brave squaw father - mother sir - madam
brother sister fox - vixen sloven - slut
buck doe friar - nun (monk) son - daughter
bull - cow gander - goose stag - hind
cob - swan husband - wife stallion - mare .
cock (rooster) - hen king - queen steer - herfer
colt - filly lad - lass tutor - governess
coster - donah lord - lady uncle - aunt
dad/daddy - mum/mummy male - female wizard - witch
dog - bitch man - woman
b) -ine
hero - heroine
Joseph - Josephine
landgrave - landgravine
c) -ix
administrator - administratrix
aviator - aviatrix (aviatress)
director - directrix (directress)
executor - executrix (executress)
prosecutor - prosecutrix
testator testatrix
d) -a
czar - czarina
don - donna
e) e / -enne
confidant - confidante
comedian - comedienne
fiance - fiancee
protege - protegee
tragedian tragedienne
f) -ettef-use
usher - usherette
chaffeur - chauffeuse
Common (dual) gender denotes either sex and the same word may be used both of male and female: adult, animal, artist, baby, child, companion,
comrade, cook. criminal, doctor, enemy, fool, foreigner, friend, guardian, guest, infant, inhabitant; librarian, musician, neighbour, novelist, orphan, owner,
parent, partner, passenger. person, pig, professor, pupil, relative, servant, speaker, student, teacher, writer, etc
Sometimes, for clarity, some "gender markers" are used: boy-friend; woman-student: he; him; his; she; her.
Neuter gender denotes things, ideas or beings whose sex we are not interested in book; house; horse; baby; thought.
For stylistic purposes, a few nouns that are neuter may become either masculine or feminine.
The following rules concerning the plural of nouns in English must be observed:
1. Nouns ending in -y preceded by a vowel simply add -s to the singular form: day - days; boy - boys, while those ending in -y preceded by a
consonant change the y to -ie and then add -s: country - countries; enemy - enemies. Mention must be made of me fact that -qu- is reckoned as a
consonant group,'so that such nouns as colloquy or soliloquy will have the form colloquies and soliloquies, respectively, in the plural.
Quotation words and proper names ending in -y get -s. So we must say:
I'm interested in all the whys and therefores.
There are three Marys in our family.
However, we change y to Ie in such examples as: the two Sicilies; the Ptolemies.
2. Nouns ending in -o get either -s or -es when turned into the plural.
The suffix -s will be added to:
a) those nouns whose final -o is preceded by a vowel:
bamboo - bamboos kangaroo - kangaroos
cameo - cameos nuncio - nuncios
cuckoo-cuckoos oratorio-oratorios
curio-curios portfolio - portfolios
embryo - embryos radio -'radios
folio-folios scenario - scenarios
studio- studios
b) some nouns ending in-o, of foreign origin: .
albino-albinos magneto-magnetos
alto-altos merino-merinos
canto-cantos rondo-rondos
casino - casinos soprano - sopranos
dynamo-dynamos tango-tangos
c) abbreviations: kilos (< kilogramme); photos (< photograph); pianos (< pianoforte)
d) proper names: Filipino - Filipinos; Eskimo - Eskimos; Hindoo - Hindoos; Romeo Romeos
When the final -o is preceded by a consonant, the suffix -es will be added:
domino - dominoes
echo - echoes
embargo - embargoes
hero - heroes .
mosquito - mosquitoes
There are some nouns ending in -o that may have both -s and -es for the plural: archipelago & archipelagos/archipelagoes; banjo - banjos/banjoes; bravo-
bravos/ bravoes; buffalo'- buffalos/buffaloes; calico'- calicos/calicoes; commando - commandos/commandoes; domino - dominos/dominoes; flamingo;-
flamingos/flamingoes; fresco - frescos/frescoes; ghetto - ghettos/ghettoes; grotto"- grottos/grottoes; halo - halos/haloes; lasso- lassos/lasoes; manifesto'-
manifestos/manifestoes; memento - mementos/mementoes; motto1- mottos/mottoes; portico porticos/porticoes; stiletto'- stilettos/stilettoes; tobacco*-
tobaccos/tobaccoes; tomando - tornandos/ tomandoes; volcano*- volcanos/volcanoes; zero- zeros/zeroes.
3. Most nouns ending in -f or -fe get -s in the plural: belief - beliefs; cliff - cliffs; fife - fifes; grief - griefs; gulf - gulfs; muff - muffs; proof - proofs; roof -
roofs; safe - safes.
There are a few nouns that change -f or -fe into -ves when turned into the plural: calf - calves; elf - elves; half - halves; knife - knives; leaf leaves; life
- lives; loaf-loaves; self-selves; sheaf-sheaves; shelf-shelves; thief-thieves; wife-wives; wolf - wolves. But we say "still Ufes" (= pictures representing
inanimate objects).
At the same time, some nouns with the same ending may have either -s or -ves in the plural: beef - beefs (kinds of beef)/beeves (carcasses of oxen);
dwarf - dwarfs/ dwarves; handkerchief - handkerchifs/handkerchieves; scarf - scarfs/scarves; turf - turfs/turves; wharf - wharfs/wharves. c^^-
4. Nouns ending in -th get -s in the plural. The ending -ths is pronounced either /9s/: cloth - cloths; death - deaths; faith - faiths; heath - heaths; moth -
moths; sloth - sloths;, birth - births; hearth - hearths; length - lengths; month - months, or (oz): bath - baths; mouth - mouths; path - paths. There are some
nouns whose plural form -ths may be pronounced either /9s/ or /9zf: broth (bro8) - brothes (br3:9)/(bro9z); cloths - clothes (kb9s)/(kbuaz); earth (a.-9)
earths (a:Qs)/(3-Sz); lath (la:9) - laths (la:9s)/(la:3z); oath (au9) - oaths (3u9z)/(3u3z); sheath (Ji:9) - sheaths (Ji:9s)/(Ji:az); truth - truths (tru:9s)/(tru:3z);
wreath (ri:9) - wreaths (ri;9s)/(ri:9z)
5. The noun house /haus/ has'the form houses /hauziz/ in the plural.
6. Some of the nouns that have irregular plurals are: brother - brethren (members of the same community); child - children; foot.- feet; goose - geese; louce -
lice; mouse - mice; man - men; tooth - teeth; woman - women; ox - oxen.
7. A number of nouns get "zero plural" that is they have the same form in both singular and plural:
a) nouns referring to hunting and fishing: carp; cod; game; grouse; hake; plaice; roe; salmon; sheep; snipe. However, when the idea of "varieties" or "breeds
of is implied such nouns can be used in the plural: deer - deer(s); buffalo -buffallo(s); herring - herring(s); mackerel - mackerel(s); trout - trout(s).
b) nationality names: Ceylonese - Ceylonese; Chinese - Chinese; Japanese -Japanese; Portuguese - Portuguese; Swiss - Swiss; Vietnamese - Vietnamese.
c) nouns expressing number or measurement: two dozen boxes; five hundred dollars; three thousand people; ten million books; two gross of stamps; five
score pencils; three hundred weight of coal; four joke of cattle; three brace of partridges; several head of cattle; five gross of nails.
These nouns may occur in the plural when they express an indefinite number: hundreds of pages; millions of dollars; dozens of boxes.
Besides, when such indefinite indicators of number as a few, many, several, some precede the nouns hundred; thousand; million, these nouns can have
either a zero plural or a regular form. But we must say: many thousand books or many thousands of books.
And, one must note' the difference in meaning between:
Some hundreds of people (= several hundred)
and
Some hundred people (= about a hundred)
8. Nouns that are part of compound adjectives denoting measure, quantity, etc. also get zero plural when they, precede another noun: a two-hour exam; a
ten-month calendar; a three-day trip, a five-foot ladder; a four-cylinder car; a five-minute conversation; a two-minute pause; a three-mile walk; a five-year
(old) child; a two-week vacation; a five-pound note; the eight-hour day.
b) when the first element of a compound is a noun followed by a prepositional phrase, adverb or adjective, it is the noun that takes the plural form:
brother- -in-law - brothers-in-law; commander-in-chief -commanders-in-chief; editor-in-chief - editors-in-chief; father-in-law - fathers-in-law; justice-of--
peace - justkes-of-peace; looker-on - lookers-on; man-of-war - men-of-war; mother-in-law-mothers-in-law; passer-by - passers-by;
c) when the compound is made up of a noun and an adjective, the noun generally gets the plural,form, although in everyday speech plurals with -s are
often met: attorneys-general-attorney-generals; knights-errant - knight-errants; poets -laureate - poet-laureates; sergents-major - sergent-majors;
d) when die first element of a compound is one of the words: man, woman, lord, gentleman, knight, yeoman, both elements of the compound are made
plural: man-servant - men-servants; woman-teacher - women-teachers; gentleman farmer - gentlemen farmers; Lord Justice - Lords Justices; Knight-
-lemplar - Knights-Templars; yeoman-farmer - yeomen-farmers.
10. A few nouns are used only in the singular being called Singularia tantum nouns.
Such examples of nouns are: advice; barley; bread; business; butter; clergy;copper; cotton; flour; furniture; happiness; intelligence; income; information;
knowledge; luck; luggage; maize; meat; merchandise; milk; money; nonsense; nylon; peace; police; progress; remorse; rice; sand; tobacco; wheat; weather;
London; Europe.
None of these nouns can be preceded by the indefinite article a/an and, as some of them have a collective meaning, when we want to refer to the singular,
we must use the words piece or item, etc: a piece of advice/furniture/luck/nonsense, a piece/item of information; a loaf of bread; a
flash of lightening.
12. Some of the foreign nouns have been absorbed into English having a normal English plural, others have preserved their foreign plural, and others have
both English and foreign plurals:
13. Sometimes, the .two plural forms of nouns have different meanings:
die a) dies (== metal stamps for making money) b) dice (== small cubes of bone or wood used in games of chance)
formula-- a) formulas ( forms of words) b) formulae (= mathematical term)
geniusa) geniuses ( persons of unusually great mental powers) b) genii (= good or evil spirits)
indexa) indexes (= tables of contents) b) indeces (= algebrical signs)
medium---a)mediums (people claiming communication with spirits) b)media (means, agencies)
penny ---a)pennies (individual coins) b)pence (collective value)
staff - a)staffs (a body of persons; sticks, poles) b)staves (a set of five horizontal lines used in music)
clotha)cloths (different kinds of cloths) b)clothes (articles of dress)
14. There are some nouns whose plural form has different meanings;
age The Middle Ages
air airsaffected manners
compass (instrument for navigation)- compasses a)(pl form ) b) instrument for drawing circles
colour (hue) a)hues b) regimental flag
content (that which is contained) contents (list of chapters)
custom (habit) customs a)habits b)import duties; also the body of people who collect these and their place of activity
damage (injury or harm that impairs value of usefulness) damages (compensation for injury or loss)
draught (current of air) draughts a) currents of air b)a game payed on a board with twenty-four pieces
drawer (sliding compartment as in a piece of furniture) drawers a)(pl) b)a garment for the lower part pf thew body with separate portion for each leg
effect (result, consequence) pl-a)results, b) goods, personal property
ground (the solid surface of the Earth) pl-a) enclosed land attached to a house b)dregs , especially of coffee
letter (sign of the alphabet/ epistle) pl-a) signs of..b)epistles c)learning and literature(a man of letters)
manner (way) pl a)ways, customs b)behaviour
minute (space of time) pl: a)spaces of time b)secretarys record of proceedings at a meeting
pain (suffering) pl: a)sufferings b)trouble , effort
premise (a preposition from which a conclusion is drawn) pl: a)things assumed as basis for an agreement b) buildings
quarter (one fourth) pl: a)fourths b)alloted space or station , especially for troops
sand (tiny particles of crushed rock) pl: beach
spectacle (publicshow) pl: a)public shows b)eye-glasses
spirit (soul, God) pl: a)souls b)alcoholic drinks, c)state of mind, temper
15. Letters, figures and abbreviations as well as other substantivized parts of speech are made plural by adding the suffix s :
You must cross all your ts .
Her ds are too small.
Such hats were in fashion in the 1950s.
The children were walking in twos or in threes(=two by two / three by three)
All the M. P.s were present . (=Members of Parliament)
There were a lot of V.I.P.s (== very important persons) on the plane.
Well listen to all your pros and cons.
She knows I have had many ups and downs in my life.
But the abbreviations made up of isolated letters make the plurals by doubling that letter: c. (= chapter) - cc. p. (= page) - pp.
1. The general rule is that a singular subject takes a singular verb and a plural subject takes a plural verb:
This girl speaks English.
These girls speak English.
2. Collective nouns may be followed either by a singular verb or a plural one. When such a noun is regarded as a whole it takes a singular verb:
My family is called Smith.
but when it is thought of as a group of individuals, it takes a plural verb: My family are at home.
However, such collective nouns as: cattle, clergy, people, police, public are always followed by a plural verb.
The cattle were grazing in the field.
The police are investigating this case.
3. Two singular subjects connected by either ... or; neither ... nor; not only ... but also; no less than ...; and not are followed by a singular verb:
Either the boy or the girl knows the answer.
But when one subject is singular and the other one plural, the "rule of proximity" must be observed:
Neither the teacher nor the pupils are in the classroom. .
Neither the pupils nor the teacher is in the classroom.
4. Two or more subjects connected by and take a plural verb:
The cat and the dog are under the table.
However, when the two subjects are regarded as a whole, a "single idea", they are followed by a singular verb;
Fish and chips is a traditional English food.
Whisky and soda is Tim's favourite drink.
My neighbour and friend comes here. every day. (one person)
My neighbour and my friend come here every day. (two different persons)
The same thing happens to nouns denoting units of measurement which take a singular verb when they are preceded by a numeral:
fifty pounds is a lot of money. (= sum)
Five years is a long time. (= period) .
Twenty miles is a long distance.
5. A singular noun preceded by each, either, every or neither takes a singular verb:
Each boy tells us a joke.
Either book is interesting.
Every student knows this answer.
Neither solution was good.
When a plural noun is preceded by neither of, it can be followed either by a singular or a plural verb:
Neither of the girls lives/live in this house.
6. The nouns body, heart, life, mind, soul are used in the plural whenever they refer to more than one person:
Many people lost their lives in World War II.
7. The plural must be used with anything greater than one unit: one and a half years.
8. The words with, together with, as well as, in addition to, including following a subject do not affect the number of the subject:
The woman with a large hat is very pretty.
Tom, together with his sister, goes to the concert every Friday.
Jane, as well as her brother, drinks a lot of milk.
9. When the "formal subject" of a sentence is there, the predicate-must agree with the "real subject":
There is a book on the table.
There are many trees in the garden.
10. The noun number takes a singular verb when it is preceded by the definite article the and a plural verb when it is preceded by a:
The number of mistakes is very large.
A number of people were waiting for me. .
11. When the pronoun it is used in identifying or emphatic constructions, it is followed by a singular verb:
It is these boys who broke my window.
12. The relative pronoun takes the same number and person as the word it modifies:
This is one of the most interesting books that have ever been written.
13. Singularia Tantum nouns (advice; information; furniture; damage; luggage; knowledge, machinery, etc.) are followed by a singular verb:
Your information is very interesting.
Kerry's luggage was very heavy.
14. Pluralia Tantum nouns will be followed either by plural verbs when they name things made of two parts (glasses; scissors; trousers), or when they are
one of these: chemicals; contents; ashes; riches; surroundings, etc., or by slngular verbs when they name diseases (measles; mumps), games (billiards;
draughts; cards) or when they are one of these: news; works, etc.; either by singular or by plural verbs after names of sciences, subjects (acoustics - the
singular verb refers to the science, the plural verb refers to the acoustic features; phonetics - the singular verb refers to the science, the plural verb refers to
the phonetic features; physics, mathematics, etc.), or after such nouns as: means; series; species.
His trousers are very smart.
Mumps is a very common illness with children.
Her news is extremely interesting.
Acoustics is the scientific study of sound.
The acoustics of this room are very good.
1.5. CASE
English nouns have the following cases: Nominative; Genitive (Possessive), Dative and Accusative. There is no distinction in form between nouns that are
in different cases, except in the Genitive.
Sometimes the Genitive is used elliptically, that is without the "possessed object":
a) when the "possessed object" has already been mentioned and we want to avoid repetition:
Mary's blouse is more beautiful than your sister's.
b) when one of the following words: church, department store, hotel, shop, theatre, a person's house, etc. is understood:
We visited St. Paul's.
She is going to the grocer's/butcher's/baker's.
I will stay at my aunt's.
1.5.2.2. The Analytical/Prepositional/Periphrastic Genitive
It is made up with the help of the preposition of and it is used:
1. When the "possessor" is a thing:
The roof of the house
The garden of the school
2. In some geographical names:
The Isle of Man, The city of London
3. Before substantivized adjectives:
The needs of the poor
4. When we want to underline the importance of a proper name:
We discussed about the wars of Napoleon.
5. Before proper names followed by an apposition:
This is the house of Mr. Brown, the architect.
6. When the "possessor" is a small animal, insect, etc. With bigger animals, the Synthetical Genitive is used:
The wings of the fly The egg of a robin but The elephant's trunk
7. When the "possessed object" is preceded by a demonstrative adjective or by the indefinite article:
Those toys of the children
Tom is a cousin of my friend.
8. In. some idiomatic expressions:
all of a suddcn
of a size
as a matter of fact
in front of
in order of
in place of
beyond reach of
in place of
in sight of
by means of
drunkard of a father
a devil of a child
a mountain of a wave
a monster of a wave
a devil of a sea
Although the Analytical Genitive is generally'regarded as an alternative to the Synthetical Genitive, this is no longer possible when the latter is a
"Classifying Genitive', that is it has an adjectival value:
John is a ship's doctor, (not: "a doctor of a ship")
She is a lady's maid. (not: "a maid of a lady")
You have a doctor's degree, (not: "a degree of a doctor")
This is a man's work. (not: "a work of a man")
or with the nouns Aunt, Father, Grandmother, Mother. Nurse, regarded as proper names, when they are not preceded by a possessive adjective:
Aunt Martha's present
Father's free day
or when it denotes proper names of localities, squares, institutions, shops, etc.
St. Albans (== St. Alban's town)
Lincoln's Inn Hall
Hollywood's Studios
St. James' Palace
or when the noun in Genitive is followed by a Gerund:
Jane's going there was very surprising.
I count on Kerry's arriving here on time.
1.1 never read a paper in detail. I just glance at... 2. Some ... resemble moths. 3. The letters produced by this ... are hardly legible. 4. There are many pupils in
this ... 5. She was counting a pile of... when the robbers entered the bank. 6. We like to go to the ... in the summer. 7. Come and sit in this ..., please. 8. Could
you pass me that... ? I want to smoke a cigarette. 9. She has a strange ... on life. 10. In most parts of Britain you can grow peaches only in a ... 11. We write
in chalk on the ... 12, The ... of the "Swan" is Mr. Priestley. 13. 'We boiled the food in a ... 14. She couldn't stand all the stress and eventually had a nervous ...
15. Have you seen today's ... ? The Prime Minister has gone to China. 16.1 always write down the new words in a.... 17. Why don't you take your ... ? It's
going to rain. 18. Put me food in the ....please. 19. If you pass me my ..., I'll give you the money now. 20. The woman was wearing gold ... 21. Now, you've
got your razor and your shaving cream, haven't you ... ? What about your ... ? 22. These two boxers are ...
III. Give the nouns derived from verbs, adjectives or other nouns with the help of the suffixes-a<y; -age; -al; -ation; -ency;-(er)y; -ety; -fill; -hood',
-ion; -ing; -ity;-ism;-ment;-ness:
1. They tried the murderer. His wife was at... 2. Everybody wants to be happy/so we all seek ... 3. They decided this thing yesterday, so it's their ...4. You
shouldn't be so anxious ... ? Why don't you control your ... ? 5.1 refused their help and my ... is final. 6. Sue is absent again. I wonder how she will explain
her ... this time. 7. This thing happened to him when he was a child, that is in his... 8. You will be able to post this letter after you have paid its ... 9. She is a
very curious person. Her .. .is well-known. 10. Grannie will arrive at 10 o'clock and she will be met at... by my brother. 11. The scientists have discovered a
new type of fuel. Their ... is extremely valuable. 12. They warned me but I didn't want to take into account their... 13. You must try and be a little
more efficient. When you improve your .... you will be better paid. 14. They agreed to meet again the next day. It was the first time for them to be all in ...
15. This man is a socialist and so he believes in... 16.1 must put this medicine in say mouth, so I'll take one ... 17. Only a lunatic would do such a thing so it
was her sheer ... to lend him so much money. 18. She tried to explain that thing to us, but her ... was naive. 19. She was very happy, but her .'..did not last
long. 20.1 want to iron your shirt because it is full of creases after being in your suitcase. Now I want to give it an
IV. Make up compound nouns with toe help of suffixes from the following verbs, adjectives or nouns:
to depart; democrat; to accuse; to compare; to satisfy; active; to defend; to prescribe; to portray ; to assist;., absent; to allow; bay; to admit; to combine;
to qualify; to postpone;, to thrill; to arrive; free;, to begin; to. confuse; art; to clear; to seise; to reveal; to clean; kind; to acquaint; to resign; to rely; to
approve; to prevail; to cover; to confide; to prosper; to cancel; to punish; behaviour; to choose; mouth; to defy; farm; happy; to produce; member;
to pronounce; friend; to resolve; philosophy; to act; piano; to advertise; village; to resemble; spoon.
V. What are the compound nouns indicated by the meanings below:
1. A man who sells milk. 2. A place where roads cross. 3. A man who makes shoes 4. A shelf on which books are kept. 5. A house in which coal is stored. 6.
The lines at the head of a newspaper. 7. A man who keeps a shop. 8. A cloth that covers the table 9. A man who repairs watches. 10. A man who lays bricks.
VI. Make up single-word compound nouns adding the prefixes ante-; anti-; dis-; im-; in-; inter-; non-; over-; super-; sur-; under-, to the following
words:
structure; course; dependence; skirt; ability; face; order; pulse; work; growth ; realism; grace; cyclone; market; decision; current; name; content; coat; body;
man, room; honour; view; comfort; dose; charge; tax; inclination; parity; garment: respect; draft; taste; carriage; advantage; clothes; array; climax; dog;
thesis.
VII. Supply a compound noun in place of the phrase in italics:
1. We have bought a new lamp for reading. 2. You must repair the leg of the chair 3. Put this basket on the table in the kitchen, please. 4. The surface of the
road is wet 5.1 remember that the cover of the book was red. 6. Here's the key to the car. 7. He hajust repaired the keyboard of the computer. 8. Not all of us
agree to the policy of his party. 9.Have you locked the door of the garage ? 10. Margaret was very much interested in what the critic of the film was saying.
11. When we got there the door of the cellar was open. 12. You'll have to replace the handle of the suitcase. 13. There were a lot of people at the gate of the
factory. 14. I will ring you up from the phone in the office.
VIII. Translate into English using compound nouns:
1. Pantofii tai de dans sunt foarte frumosi. 2. Bebelusii au foarte putini anticorp impotriva infectiei. 3. Acesta este un vagon pentru nefiunatori. 4. Gara este
la o distanta de cinci minute de aici. 5. Eram in fata liceului cand am zarit curcubeul. 6. Fiica mea vitrega este pasionata de cuvinte incrucisate. 7. Sindicatele
au luat atitudine tmpotriva somajului. 8. Subsecretarul de Stat ne-a promis si alte detalii In curand. 9. Dupa ce mi-am pus salopeta, m-am apucat sa repar
masina de spalat. 10. Zborurile de noapte sunt foarte rare. 11. Ultimul cutremur a produs multe stricaciuni. 12. Si-a cheltuit toate economiile la magazinul
universal. 13. Trebuie sa adaugi doua linguri de ulei la ghiveciul din cratita. 14. Conceptiile lui despre viata se deosebesc de ale noastre. 15. Mi-am sco'
haina de ploaie cand am intrat m sera. 16. Camerista plangea mereu fiindca avea o depresie nervoasa. 17. Pe camp erau o multime de flori de nu-ma-uita. 18.
Baietelul a fost foarte impresionat de calusei. 19. Nu credeam ca potopul de ploaie se va opri vreodata. 20. Redactorul-sefm-a rugat sa nu folosesc masina de
scris in acea dimineata 21. Soacra mea a trebuit sa-si plateasca calatoria cu cecuri de calatorie. 22. Elevul a scris pe tabla punctele de fierbere ale celor doua
elemente. 23. Haiducul se uita la camasa din zale a cavalerului si sufla din corn. 24. Cand mergeam la mare am vazut o multime de mierle. 25. Este o mare
discrepanta intre vorbele si faptele tale. 26. Comportarea ta poate fi considerate o lipsa de respect fata de noi. 27. In copilarie imi placea sa alerg dupa fluturi.
28. Am observat urme de pasi pe prag.
IX. Write after each word one of the letters M, F, C, N which stand for masculine, feminine, common, neuter:
1. school 16. cook
2. husband 17. vixen
3. adult 18. ewe
4. son 19. gander
5. fox 20. child
6. ball 21. bull
7. witch 22. aunt
8. enemy 23. tiger
9. nephew 24. bird
10. nun 25. novelist
11. drake 26. queen
12. basket 27. tree
13. lad 28. neighbour
14. student 29. mare
15. book 30. sultan
X. The nouns which denote the following beings belong to the masculine gender. What are they?
1. a man whose wife is dead; 2. an unmarried man; 3. a man to whom a woman is married; 4. the son of a king; 5. the male of a deer; 6. a fully-grown male
horse; 7. a person who cuts and make suits, overcoats; 8. a man who, by law, receives wealth, property when somebody dies; 9. the writer of a book, play,
etc.; 10. a man who changes to the enemy's side or gives away information to the enemy; 11. a man who looks after sheep; 12. a man who writes poems; 13.
a person who hunts; 14. a person who enchants; 15. a man who seeks adventure; 16. a man who'serves people with food, etc. at table in a restaurant; 17. in
fairy stories, a frightening, cruel and ugly giant; 18. a performer who tells jokes, or acts in comedies; 19. a man who shows people to their seats in a theatre;
20. a man who works in (an) administration.
XI. Change tbe feminine nouns to the masculine gender:
1. Mother got up early yesterday morning. 2. The doe-rabbit started to eat a carrot. 3. The poetess read some nice poems. 4. My niece has passed a very
difficult exam. 5. The goose looked at us. 6. The wife is not at home. 7. The girl wanted to talk to me. 8. That vixen was very sly. 9. The lady smiled at us.
10. The waitress served us some good wine. 11. My aunt sent me a nice present. 12. The bride arrived at the church. 13. The young widow decided to marry
again. 14. The old duck led the procession down to the pond. 15. The cow was grazing on the bank of the river. 16. Your grandmother is very old. 17. The
fiancee didn't know what to say. 18. The woman-servant was not in the room. 19. The milkmaid brought us some fresh milk. 20. The schoolmistress has just
entered the school.
XII. The nouns which denote the following beings belong to the feminine gender. What are they?
1. a woman who has never been married; 2. a female horse; 3. me daughter of a brother or a sister; 4. an actress of tragic roles; 5. the female of the
dog/wolf/fox; 6. a passenger's female attendant on a ship or an airoplane; 7. a woman who is about to be married; 8. a female deer; 9. a woman who teaches
children in their home 10. a female person who entertains someone else as her guest.; 11. an insect that makes honey; 12. the sister of one's fadier or mother,
or the wife of one's uncle; 13. a female sheep; 14. young female horse; 15. a woman who is supposed to have magic powers 16. a female parent; 17. a large,
white water-bird of the duck family; 18. a member of a female religious community.
XIII. Change each masculine noun into the feminine form:
1. Our grandson is a student. 2. My children love the hero of this story. 3. There was tom-cat under the table. 4. My brother-in-law was in the garden. 5. The
male patient has just taken some medicine. 6. The tiger snarled as the natives approached his cub. 7. The king was mourned by thousands of loyal subjects.
8. The ram raised its head when we entered the garden. 9. The heir didn't know what to do with so much money. 10. The sportsman won another medal. 11.
The prince appeared at the palace window. 12. The piglets kept close to the boar. 13. The gander hissed angrily. 14. The headmaster was very pleased with
the examination results. 15. The postman brought me a letter. 16. The monk spoke about that monastery. 17. My uncle is coming here tomorrow. 18. Her
brother studies at Cambridge. 19. My friend is an adventurer. 20. The wizard entered the cave.
XIV. Insert the word opposite in gender to that in italics:
1. The St. Bernard dog is larger than ... 2. There were flowers for ladies and cigars for the ... 3. They had three sons and two ... 4. John and Mary became ...
and wife.5. When I looked out of the window I saw two deer ...: a stag and a ... 6. Dorothy spending her winter holidays with her uncle and ... 7. The king
and the ... were in the throne room. 8. We saw a ... and a sawn on the lake. 9. The old woman had two sheep ... a ram and a ... 10. With the Red Indian chief
were several ... and squaw.
XV. The nouns which denote the following persons belong to the common gender What are they ?
1. a child whose parents are dead; 2. a person who is being treated by a doctor 3. a person from another country; 4. a fully-grown human being; 5. a person
studying a particular thing; 6. a person who lives near another; 7. a person who teaches; 8. a very young child; 9. a son or a daughter of one's uncle or aunt;
10. a person who is hired to work for another person; 11. a person who accompanies another person; 12. a person who writes books, stories; 13. a person
who is received and entertained at another's house 14. a person who is employed in a library; 15. a young human being; 16. a person who acts in a friendly
and generous way; 17. a person who plays, dances, sings, etc. a solo 18. a person who travels in any vehicle; 19. a person who shares the ownership of
business, etc. with one or more people; 20. a person who is good at running, jumping
XVI. What are the following neuter nouns ?
1. an object made for a child to play with; 2. an instrument for cutting; 3. a building in which, usually, a family lives; 4. an instrument for writing in ink; 5. a
kind garment for men worn on the upper part of the body, usually with a collar, sleeves and buttons; 6. a hinged barrier, usually of wood, which closes the
entrance of a root) 7. a mechanism for fastening doors: 8. a part of a plant growing from the side of a stem, green, flat and thin; 9. any of the hard. bone-like
objects that graw in the mouth; 10. a structure carrying a road or rail-way over a river; 11. the part of the body with which one sees; 12. a building for public
Christian worship; 13. a place where goods are sold; 14. a type of jar or jug used for holding cut flowers; 15. a piece of furniture to sleep on; 16. a bent piece
of metal used for catching fish; 17. faith or trust; 18. a tender feeling; 19. any of the bodies which move round the sun; 20. anything said or done to cause
laughter.
XVII. Translate into English:
1. Lupoaica avea trei pui. 2. Cumnata mea este casiera. 3. In curte erau o scroafa , o vitica, doua capre, un fazan, trei iepuroaice, o oaie, doua rate si un
gansac. 4. Nepoata ta este cu doi ani mai mare decat fiul meu. 5. Mirele dansa cu mireasa, in timp ce ceilalti nuntasi ii priveau. 6. Ciobanul a mangaiat oaia
ranita. 7. Atat contele, cat si contesa cantau minunat la pian. 8. Chelnerii si chelneritele din acest restaurant sunt foarte politicosi. 9. Actorii si actritele din
aceasta trupa aujucat in cele mai mariorase din tara noastra. 10. Administratorul castelului ne-a explicat ca nici ducele, nici ducesa nu venisera inca.
11. Vaduva devenise protectoarea celor doi copii orfani. 12. Tanara logodnica este mostenitoarea unei averi fabuloase. 13. Leoaica si tigroaica locuiesc tn
custi invecinate. 14. Negresa a devenit eroina unei tntamplari extraordinare. 15. Josefine spune ca matusa ei este o vrajitoare. 16. Stewardesa erao evreica
foarte draguta. 17. Laptareasa tocmai ne-a adus laptele. 18. Presedintajuriului era o femeie cumsecade. 19, Bunicul dorea ca cei doi nepoji ai lui sa devina
aviatori. 20. Printul consort a vizitat astazi universitatea si a stat de vorba cu studentii si studentele.
XVIII. Add -s or -es to the singular nouns to form their plurals and read them aloud:
map; queen; monk; bench; teacher; box; girl; writer; potato; house; city; chair; watch; classroom; orange; husband; mother; mouth; embargo; cliff; month;
kilo; bush; wave; vase; day; fox; adult; dish; passenger.
XIX. Complete each sentence below by using the plural form of a noun ending in /f/or /-fel :
1. A man who has two ... is a bigamist. 2. The ...of all trees are green in spring. 3. I do not share your in his ability. 4. The old hunter heard a pack of in
the distance. 5. There were two small hidden behind that picture on the wall. 6. Grannie's cow gave birth to two 7.Everybody knows that two are
equal to a whole one. 8. The still- ... of this painter are really wonderful. 9. Butchers use very sharp to cut up meat. 10. We have ordered several ... of a
new type of grass to make our lawn.
XX. HI! in the blanks with the plural form of a noun ending in -y:
1. There are thirty-one in January. 2. Poland, Denmark; Switzerland are three European.3.The domesticated animals with long ears related to horses
are called 4 ... are small, juicy fruit. 5. The kept by these explorers are extremely interesting. 6. Treasure Island is one of the most thrilling ever
written.7.The group of visitors consisted of five ... and six gentlemen. 8. John's favourite are fishing and stamp-collecting. 9. Hamlet's ... are very famous.
10. The ... of some animals are used as food.
XXI. Fill in the blanks with the plural form of a noun ending in -o:
1. There are a lot of legends about the ... of ancient Greece. 2. Chips are fried slices of... 3. Malaria is transmitted by ... 4. ... lay their eggs in the nest of other
birds. 5. The long, cylindrical missiles fired at ships are called ... 6.... are South American dances. 7. The ... made a raid-on the terrorists. 8. A very long
poem may be divided into ... 9. Large cities, like New York, have many ... in which certain groups of people, especially immigrants, live. 10. The antique
shops are full of... 11. The film was made at Ramrod...
XXII. Insert the correct plural in each space below:
1. one pansy - a bunch of ...
2. one kangaroo - two ...
3. one horseman - four ...
4. one brother-in-law - two ...
5. one analysis - many ...
6. one goose - ten ...
7. one dynamo - two ...
8. one stratum - many ...
9. one foot - two ...
10. one taxi - three ...
U. one larva - a lot of ...
12. one calf- four ...
13. one archipelago - two ...
14. one fish - five ...
15. one man-servant - three ...
16. one bacillus - a lot of ...
17. one penny - five ...
18. one loaf- three ...
19; one cloth - a lot of ...
20. one editor-in-chief- two ...
21. one sheep - two ...
22. one attorney-general - two ...
23. one henius - a lot of ...
24. one compass - three ...
25. one bedroom - two ...
26. one grief- two ...
27. one tomato - four ...
28. one criterion - five ...
29. one passer-by - many ...
30. one chimney - three ...
XXIII. Change the nouns in the following sentences from singular to plural:
1. The leaf fell from the tree. 2. The boy has a knife. 3. The policeman caught the thief. 4. The foot of the deer crushed the flower. 5. The woman was
carrying a baby. 6. The little child saw a sheep in the fields. 7. Our cat has just caught a mouse.8.The man looked at the book on the shelf. 9.The wolf killed
the donkey . 11.The old man sold the ox and the goose. 12. The boy made an entry in his diary . 13. A dark cloud hangs over the vally. 14.The housewife
feeds the baby. 15,The Englishman sang a solo that evening. 16.There is a chimney on the roof of this house. 17. The baker put the loaf on the shelf. 18. The
ox was grazing near that bush. 19. The geologist studied the volcano. 20. The woman put a potato, a tomato, a fish and a head of cabbage on the table . 21.
This Chinese has a dozen boxes of matches. 22. The foot of his child is badly hurt.
XXIV. Use a/on or some to finish he sentence / want...
1. meat; 2. picture; 3. chair; 4. water; 5. newspaper; 6. knife; 7. bottle of juice; 8. help; 9. wool; 10. glass of wine; 11. answer; 12. cups of coffee; 13. holiday;
14. food; 15. cushion; 16. money; 17. roll; 18. cheese; 19. apples; 20. soup; 21. notebook; 22. match; 23. whisky; 24. pencil; 25. fork; 26. egg; 27. orange;
28. tea; 29. handkerchief; 30. icecream,
XXV. Put in a/ an or some if necessary:
1.... house can be built of... stone. 2. Her room is quite empty. She needs ... furniture. 3. ... shoe is made of... leather. 4. ... rose is ... flower. 5. We get... milk
from ... cow. 6. She has to do ... homework. 7. This tune you have made ... mistake. 8. We must pay extra for the taxi if we have ... luggage. 9. He needs ...
new clothing. 10. That tower was struck by ... lightening. 11. There is ... traffic on Saturday. 12. Can she give him ... description of it... ? 13. I need... bread.
14. Have they got... camera? 15. Mary is going shopping. She is going to buy ... clothes. 16. Kerry would like to be ... actress. 17. What... beautiful house I
18. What... kind people! 19. She needs ... visa to visit ... foreign countries. 20. Would you like ... coffee? 21. There was... rubbish under that tree. 22. I'd need
... information, please l 23. He was going to plant ... tree in the garden. 24. John has received ... letter from his parents. 25 I think I'll go for... walk. 26. You
need ... money if you are going shopping. 27. ... record-player plays... music. 28. ... loaf is made from ... flour. 29. There's ... slice of bread left. 30. ... chairs
are made of... wood. 31. She would like to play ... music. 32.1 have been in... good health lately. 33. Let me give you ... advice. 34. Our friends are doing ...
interesting experiment. 35. She needs ... luck to win this competition. 36. Jane works very long hours since she runs ... business other own. 37. I'd better
order ... extra milk from the milkman. 38. That play was ... comedy. 39.1 found ... coin in the garden. 40. I'll pour you ... orange juice when I can find ...
time.
XXVI. Insert a suitable collective noun in each of the spaces:
1. a ... of players 2. a ... of pupils
3. a ... of whales 20 a. of rascals
4. a ... of sailors 21.a ... of worshipers
5. a ... of stars 22.a .... of dancers
6. a ... of pearls 23.a.. of books
7. a ... of pictures 24.a... of magistrates
8. a ... of mice 25.a.. of actors
9. a ... of friends 26.a..of herring
10. a ... of insects 27.a..of sheep
11. a ... of bears 28.a.. of ducks
12. a ... of cubs 29.a.... of oxen
13. a ... of bees 30.aof ships
14. a ... of lions
15. a ... of clothes
16 a.. of flowers
17 a.. of savages
18a... of directors
XXXIII. In this exercise you have to join two nouns. Sometimes you have to use an apostrophe (') with or without s, sometimes you have to use of 1.
the coat/Jimmy; 2. the newspaper/yesterday; 3. me wife/the man crossing the street; 4. the neighbours/my parents; 5. the roof/house ,6. the name/your friend;
7. the name/that river; 8. the dress/the girl we met yesterday; 9. the policy/government; 10. the marks/the boy and the girl.
XXXV. Choose the correct version (a, b or c) to complete the sentences below:
1. That's ... house, isn't it?
a) Jerry's b) Jerry c) Jerrys
2. She can't sit here. It's ... place.
a) Mikes' b) Mike c) Mike's
3. I don't find the ... keys anywhere.
a) car's b) car c) cars'
4. That's Mr. Smith, the ... husband.
a) teacher b) teachers' c) teacher's
5. Deborah is borrowing her ... car today.
a) parent b) parents' c) parent's
6. My brother has been invited to a ... party this evening.
a) children's b) childrens' c) children
7. My father went to the ... room to talk to my form teacher.
a) teacher b) teachers' c) teacher's
8. This is my ... new dress.
a) daughter b) daughters c) daughter's
XXXVIII. Write out the following sentences inserting the possessive form of the noun given in the brackets at the end of each:
1. The ... concert was most amusing, (babies) 2. They did not see the ... signal.(policeman) 3. She stayed five days on her ... farm. (friends) 4. Our ... welfare
should always come first, (country) 5. The clinic has large stocks of... foods, (babies) 6. The...leg was broken in that accident, (tourist) 7. The ... meeting was
held in the staff room (teachers) 8. The ... face was wet with tears, (child)