Consonant + Y Change the Y to I and and ES Baby Becomes Babies

Nouns are persons, places, things, and ideas. Units of time are nouns. Many words ending in –ment,

-ness, -tion are noun forms of words. VERBS (actions) are NOT NOUNS. Describing words are NOT NOUNS.

Plural Rules:

Consonant + y change the Y to I and and ES baby becomes babies

Vowel + Y simply add S toy becomes toys

Words with S, CH, SH, X, Z – add ES fox becomes foxes, boss becomes bosses

Many words with F or FE change the F to a V before making plural

Consonant + O most add ES but there are a few exceptions such as solo become solos

Possessive Nouns SHOW OWNERSHIP of something

The toy of the boy = the boy’s toy

The dishes belonged to the cats = the cats’ dishes

TO FORM – singular possessives add ‘s after the word even when it ends in S

Examples:

Boss = boss’s teacher = teacher’s story = story’s

TO FORM – plural possessive (Two or more things owning something) add ‘ after the S

Examples

Bosses = bosses’ teachers = teachers’ stories = stories’ TO FORM – plural possessives which DO NOT end in S add ‘s

Examples

Children = children’s geese = geese’s men = men’s

When deciding whether a noun should be plural or possessive, look to see if something is being owned. If there is nothing being owned only use the plural form of the word.

The dogs played in the backyard. (nothing owned) The dog’s bone was by the house. (the dog owns the bone)

Appostives – noun or noun phrase that gives more detail to a noun. It will be set off by commas.

Example – Buddy, my cocker spaniel, is going to dog obedience school. (my cocker spaniel is the appositive which is referring back to Buddy.

Diagramming – Refer to the study sheet for examples.