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Using Grammar
EQ: How do I improve my writing
through a more precise choice of
nouns?
What is a noun?

Person, place, thing, or idea

Examples: racecar driver, city, desk,
communism

See P. 401 – Exercise 1.

Which cannot be touched or discerned by
senses?
Nouns
Concrete/Abstract
 Proper/Common
 Singular/Plural
 Possessive
 Collective

Abstract/Concrete Nouns

Abstract = an idea; cannot be felt, heard,
touched, smelled; intangible

Concrete = can be felt, touched, heard,
smelled; tangible; no argument that it
exists

See P. 402.
Practice: Make concrete.
Love
 Anger
 Foolishness
 Wisdom

Practice: Make specific.
Boat
 Dog
 Person
 Child

Always choose concrete, specific nouns when possible.
PRINCIPLE #1
REWRITE

Use more concrete, specific nouns.

“I went to the store to get some things, but
it was out of most stuff. On the way back,
I saw a dog who looked dangerous. He
looked so crazy, I ran down the street and
all the way through the place.”
Abstract to Concrete Nouns: Analogy


Write one paragraph with an analogy for love. Be
concrete & specific. If you need, use figurative
language to make it concrete. Create at least
three parallels. Example:
Our love is like . . . .
Abstract to Concrete Nouns:
Analogy Example

Our love is like a rickety old jalopy. It frequently
breaks down or runs out of gas. The enamel is
peeling off, and the leather seats are cracked.
Some of the metal knobs are missing on the
molded dashboard, as well as the handles to roll
down the windows. The jalopy, like our love, has
some years on it, but it will live on forever – just
like the treasure in my garage will keep on rolling.
Singular/Plural (P. 402)
Singular = one
 Plural = two or more (add –s usually)


Exceptions: -es, y becomes i + es, &
irregulars
Possessives (P. 402)

Nouns that come in front of other nouns
and OWN that noun (= possession)

If singular (one), add ‘s: cat’s litter box.

If plural (more than one), s’ – if the s is
ALREADY THERE: cats’ litter boxes.
Practice: Add the apostrophe.
The mother looked for the girls bookbag.
 The teacher searched for the students
papers because they were expecting them
back that day.
 We are going to our favorite teams game.
 The boys coats were hung by the door.


Be able to defend your choice!
Proper/Common Nouns (P. 404)
Proper nouns name a particular person,
place, thing, or idea (a name & needs a
CAPITAL LETTER)
 Examples: John, Atlanta, Eiffel Tower,
Christianity

Common nouns name any person, place,
thing, or idea (not a name & no capital
letter)
 Examples: principal, town, book, love

If they do, they retain the capital letter.
Example: Italy becomes Italian. France becomes . . . . Spain . . . .
PROPER NOUNS CAN BECOME
PROPER ADJECTIVES.
Collective Nouns
Singular
 But plural! . . . refer to a group
 Matching verb depends on the action of
the collective noun. P. 405-6a

The jury agrees on the verdict. (It - unity)
 The jury disagree on the verdict. (They separate)

Review of Nouns
Be concrete. (smile instead of friendship)
 Be specific. (kayak instead of boat)
 Watch possessives. (General Principle: If
it ends in an s, add an apostrophe. If it
does not end in an s, add ‘s.)
 CAPITALIZE proper nouns & adjectives
made from them.
 Be careful with collective nouns to see if
they are functioning singularly or plurally,
& match all verbs & pronouns.

Card Sort

Put them into piles:
Concrete
 Proper
 Common
 Abstract
 Possessive

Practice Quiz

Edit the following errors with nouns.

Recently I visited the louvre museum in france.
Impressively, the building houses some of the
greatest art in the world. The board have
chosen these pieces because they are some of
the most valued and priceless, although the
board has disagreed on a few of the paintings.
The italian sculptures are some of the most
beautiful as well as Picassos abstract paintings.
The pictures frames were chosen carefully as
well.
Practice Quiz

Edit the following errors with nouns.

Recently I visited the Louvre Museum in France.
Impressively, the building houses some of the
greatest art in the world. The board has chosen
these pieces because they are some of the most
valued and priceless, although the board have
disagreed on a few of the paintings. The Italian
sculptures are some of the most beautiful as well
as Picasso’s abstract paintings. The pictures’
frames were chosen carefully as well.
Transformational Grammar:
Sentence Patterns
COMMON ROLES FOR NOUNS/PRONOUNS IN
SENTENCES . . .
 Subject : S + V
 Direct object: S + V + DO
 Indirect object: S + V + IO + DO
 Object of the preposition: S + V + P + OP
 Predicate nominative: S + V + PN
Diagramming Subjects (P. 537)


Why would we diagram a sentence or learn a sentence
pattern?
Subject
Verb
From your book, LIST 5 nouns.
LABEL THE TYPE: Possessive,/singular concrete/abstract, collective,
proper/common
DIAGRAM THE SUBJECT AND THE VERB of 5 sentences.
Write a story about St. Patty’s Day or Lent. Underline 5
nouns & LABEL THE TYPE OF NOUN (5).
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