LESSON XIII.

CLASSES OF NOUNS.

Select in the following sentences the nouns that are names of particular persons or things, and the nouns that are names of all the members of a class of persons or things:—

1.These little girls live with their parents in Toronto.
2.Mary and Harold are going to visit their friends.
3.On a little mound, Napoleon
Stood on our storming day.—Browning.

A name of a particular or individual person or thing is called a proper noun; as, Mary, Saturday, Lake Ontario.

Proper nouns begin with capital letters.

A name that applies to all the members of a class of persons or things is called a common noun; as, girl, desk, river.

EXERCISE.

1. Write five sentences, each containing a proper noun, and underline the example in each sentence.

2. Write five sentences, each containing a common noun, and underline the example in each sentence.

II. CONCRETE AND ABSTRACT.

Select in the following sentences the nouns that are names of objects which have a real and separate existence outside of the mind, and those which are names of things that have no real existence and are only thought of in the mind:—

1.Contentment is better than gold.
2.Virtue is its own reward.
3.Truth crushed to earth, shall rise again,—
The eternal years of God are hers.—Bryant.

A noun that is the name of an object which has a real and separate existence outside of the mind, is called a concrete noun; as, gold, water.

A noun that is the name of something which has not a real and separate existence outside of the mind, is called an abstract noun; as, truth, justice.

EXERCISE.

1. Write five sentences each containing a concrete noun, and underline the example in each sentence.

2. Write five sentences each containing an abstract noun, and underline the example in each sentence.

Note.—All nouns may be classified into (1) proper and common, (2) concrete and abstract, hence the two preceding classifications are perfect. The classifications which follow are imperfect, since they do not include all nouns.

III. COLLECTIVE NOUNS.

Name the nouns in the following sentences that denote a collection of objects:—

1.His family live in England.
2.The army advanced during the night.
3.The verdict is given by a jury.
4.A committee of six was appointed by the members.

A noun of the singular form that stands for a collection or number of things is called a collective noun; as, He owns a herd of cattle.

EXERCISE.

Write five sentences each containing a collective noun, and underline the example in each sentence.

IV. VERBAL NOUNS.

Select the nouns ending in ing that are derived from verbs and have lost all verbal function in the following sentences:—

1.That is good ploughing.
2.His writing is very legible.
3.The singing was admired by all.

A noun ending in ing that is derived from a verb and has lost all verbal function, is called a verbal noun; as, There is good sleighing now.

EXERCISE.

Write five sentences each containing a verbal noun, and underline the example in each sentence.