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Lesson 1: Nouns (Part 1)

Updated: Jan 10, 2021

Before learning about Latin nouns, it is important to know what exactly they are in English.


Definition and Types of Nouns in English:


Nouns are a person, place, thing, or idea. There are a number of different kinds of nouns: proper nouns, common nouns, abstract nouns, concrete nouns, and collective nouns. A proper noun names a particular person, place, or thing and are capitalized (Bill, New York, Eiffel Tower). A common noun does not name a particular person, place, or thing (apple, chair, person). An abstract noun names a quality, characteristic, or idea (peace, happiness, honor). A concrete noun names something that can be discerned with the senses (iron, table, cookie). A collective noun names a group (family, crew, assembly). Note that nouns can fit in multiple categories, for example, a rock is both a common noun and a concrete noun.


Usage of Nouns


Nouns can be used in a number of different ways. They can be a subject, direct object, indirect object, object of the preposition, predicate nominative, or appositive. For the following examples, focus on the word "dog" because it will demonstrate each usage of nouns.

Subject: The dog jumps!

Direct Object (definition: the recipient of the action of the verb, and it answers the question "what" or "whom"): He feeds the dog

Indirect Object (definition: the recipient of the direct object [therefore, it only exists when a direct object exists], and it answers the question "to or for whom or what"): He got a bone for his dog. Another example: He gave a bone to his dog.

Object of the Preposition (the object of the preposition is the noun that comes after a preposition and gives it meaning [this is more clear with an example]): She put the collar on the dog. Or: The ball rolled under the dog.

Predicate Nominative (the predicate nominative follows a linking verb and renames the subject): Chewy is a dog.

Appositive (the appositive follows a noun or pronoun and modifies it): The big animal, a dog, ate all the food in sight.


Be sure to understand these concepts well because they will be important when creating Latin nouns.


Exercises:

(Try to do these before looking at the solutions, which are below)


What is the definition of a noun?


What are the types of nouns?


Name the uses of nouns.


Determine how "pizza" is used in each of the following sentences:


Everyone was angry with me because I accidentally threw the ball on the pizza.


Whenever I order my favorite food, which is pizza, I do it in Latin.


After reading about nouns, I like to eat pizza as I wait with anticipation to learn about Latin nouns.


After reading about grammar, pizza always tastes good.



Solutions:


A noun is a person, place, thing, or idea.


Nouns can be a common noun, proper noun, concrete noun, collective noun, and/or abstract noun.


Nouns can be a subject, direct object, indirect object, object of the preposition, predicate nominative, or appositive.


Object of the preposition, predicate nominative, direct object, subject

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