Identifying Nouns
- GOAL:
- To recognize and correctly use nouns in sentence construction.
- Objectives:
- The student will be able to:
- 1. Describe the grammatical function of nouns.
- 2. Identify nouns in simple sentences.
- 3. Distinguish between types of nouns; including common, proper, compound, collective, plural, and possessive nouns.
- 4. Use nouns correctly in the construction of simple sentences.
- Energy Objectives:
- The student will be able to:
- 1. List and describe nonrenewable energy sources.
- 2. List and describe renewable energy sources.
- Lesson Information:
- Nouns are one of the eight parts of speech used in simple sentences. Nouns are words that name a person, place, thing, or idea.
-
|
| Person: |
|
man |
|
explorer |
|
Louisiana |
| Place: |
state |
river |
Baton Rouge |
| Thing: |
coal |
windmill |
oil well |
| Idea: |
hope |
security |
excitement |
- Examine the nouns in EXAMPLE 1. Later you will be asked to identify these nouns by type.
- EXAMPLE 1:
- Sources of energy are either renewable or nonrenewable. Nonrenewable fuels include gas, oil, and coal. These fuels are sometimes called fossil fuels. Americans have been using fossil fuels for energy for several centuries. Soon the reserves of these fuels will run out. Renewable sources of energy will have to be found to meet our energy needs. What will Louisiana's citizens be using for energy in the future? There is excitement and hope for efficient new energy sources.
- There are several different types of nouns. These include common nouns, proper nouns, compound nouns, collective nouns, plural nouns and possessive nouns.
- Common nouns:
- Common nouns refer to a person, place, thing or idea in a general way:
- human
- state
- fuel
- Proper nouns:
- Proper nouns refer to a particular person, place, thing, or idea:
- Mr. Alton Breaux
- Mississippi
- Texaco
- Compound nouns:
- Compound nouns are two or more words used together to form one noun:
- vice president
- North Dakota
- oil well
- Collective nouns:
- Collective nouns are a label for a group of related persons, places, feelings, or ideas which are considered as one unit.
- group
- staff
- herd
- Plural nouns:
- Nouns can be made plural. Plural nouns name more than one person, place, thing, or idea:
- men
- Americas
- windmills
- Possessive nouns:
- Nouns be made possessive. Possessive nouns show belonging or ownership:
- boss's idea
- worker's day
- day's pay
- Activity D-1:
- Of the three boldfaced words in each sentence, circle the two that are nouns.
- 1. Renewable energy sources are being sought every day.
- 2. Renewable resources are types of fuels that cannot be easily depleted.
- 3. Wind that turns windmills and wind turbines in the valleys of California is a renewable energy source.
- 4. Water that rushes downstream or is controlled by a dam's wall also produces energy.
- 5. Solar panels on a rooftop can collect and store energy for use in the home.
- In addition to identifying nouns, it is important to be able to use nouns properly in simple sentences. Read the paragraph in EXAMPLE 2. It is almost possible to understand the meaning of the paragraph by reading only the nouns.
- EXAMPLE 2:
- While most Americans are still dependent on the non-renewable fossil fuels, renewable sources of energy may be the focus in the future. Presently energy is produced by water and wind power. Some homes are partially, or even fully, run by solar power.
- Activity D-2:
- Write one sentence using each of the following nouns. The sentence should tell about your own energy use. Circle the required noun used, and underline all other nouns.
- 1. oil wells:
- __________________________________________________
- __________________________________________________
- 2. electricity:
- __________________________________________________
- __________________________________________________
- 3. solar energy:
- __________________________________________________
- __________________________________________________
- Identifying nouns as common, proper, compound, collective, plural, or possessive is sometimes difficult. NOTE: One noun can fit into several of these categories! See EXAMPLE 3.
- EXAMPLE 3:
- North America's people are a varied group of individuals.
- 1. North America's: proper, compound, possessive
- 2. people: common, collective
- 3. group: common, collective
- 4. individuals: common, plural
- Activity R-1:
- List the nouns you circled in Activity D-1 in the blanks below. After the colon, identify each noun as common, proper, compound, collective, plural, or possessive. Use all categories that apply!
Nouns Categories
1._______________: ________________________________________
_______________: ________________________________________
2._______________: ________________________________________
_______________: ________________________________________
3._______________: ________________________________________
_______________: ________________________________________
4._______________: ________________________________________
_______________: ________________________________________
5._______________: ________________________________________
_______________: ________________________________________
- Activity R-2:
-
- Select three nouns from EXAMPLE 1 on the first page of this lesson. Identify each noun as done in Activity R-1. Write an original sentence with each noun. Circle this noun and underline all other nouns used in your sentences.
Noun Categories
1. _______________: ________________________________________
2. _______________: ________________________________________
3. _______________: ________________________________________
Sentences:
1. ____________________________________________________________
2. ____________________________________________________________
3. ____________________________________________________________
- RECOMMENDED READING:
- Florida Middle School Energy Education Project. I. Energy Production. Florida Solar Energy Center, Cape Canaveral, FL, 1989.
- INFORMATION CHECK
- 1. Define noun:
- 2. Write a sentence using each of the following types of nouns. Underline all nouns in the sentence of the specified type. The sentence topics should focus on renewable energy.
- a. Common:
- b. Proper:
- c. Compound:
- d. Collective:
- e. Plural:
- f. Possessive:
- 3. Define nonrenewable energy sources. List 3 examples of this type of resource.
- 4. Define renewable energy sources. List 3 examples of this type of resource.
- TEACHER'S NOTES
- Activity D-1:
- 1. sources, day
- 2. types, fuels
- 3. valleys, California
- 4. water, dam's
- 5. group, rooftop
- Activity D-2:
- Students' sentences will vary. An example of each follows.
- 1. Oil wells supply a large portion of energy used in Louisiana.
- 2. Most people waste electricity in their homes.
- 3. Solar energy is a renewable resource that offers hope for the future.
- Activity R-1:
- 1. sources: common, plural
- day: common
- 2. types: common, plural
- fuels: common, plural
- 3. valleys: common, plural
- California: proper
- 4. water: common
- dam's: common, possessive
- 5. group: common, collective
- rooftop: common, compound
- Activity R-2:
- Students' choices and sentences will differ. One possible example is shown below.
- 1. fossil fuels: common, compound, plural
- Fossil fuels were created during the age of the dinosaur.
- Answers to Information Check:
- 1. A noun is a word that names a person, place, thing, or idea.
- 2. Students' sentences will vary. Check to see that all specified noun types in the sentence are underlined. One possible example is shown below.
- a. common: Electricity can be produced by a natural waterfall or by water held behind a dam.
- 3. Nonrenewable energy sources were created millions of years ago and are easily depleted; they are sometimes called fossil fuels. Three examples are oil, gas, and coal.
- 4. Renewable energy sources are those that cannot be easily depleted. Three examples include power created by water, wind, or the sun.
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