Comprehensive Guide to Nouns

LESSON PLAN

Definition
Categorization
Placement
Agreement
Continuing Education

DEFINITION

A noun is a word that names a person, place, thing, idea, or concept. 

CATEGORIZATION

Nouns can either be common or proper. While common nouns are general, proper nouns name a specific person, place, or thing and require a capital letter. 

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TABLE::

REQUIRED CAPITALIZATION	Personal names, geographic locations, institutions, association, establishments, specific streets/squares etc.,  the first letter of a title (of a book, painting, etc.)
OPTIONAL CAPITALIZATION	Honorific titles preceding a name, names of streets/squares etc. within an address

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EXAMPLES::

Michelangelo
Rule: Personal name

Oceano Atlantico
Rule: Geographic location

Ministero dell’Educazione
Rule: Institution

Harry Potter e la pietra filosofale
Rule: First letter of a title

Sig./sig. Rossi
Rule: Honorific title

45 Piazza/piazza Bianca
Rule: Street name within an address

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PLACEMENT

Nouns can come virtually anywhere in a sentence depending on its function. 

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NOUNS AS SUBJECTS	When a noun acts as the of the sentence, it usually come directly before the verb.
NOUNS AS OBJECTS	When a noun acts as the of the sentence, it usually come directly after the verb or a preposition
NOUNS AS COMPLEMENTS	When a noun acts as a in a sentence, it usually come directly after a.

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EXAMPLES::

Il tempo è bello oggi. 
The weather is nice today.
Function: Subject

Ho mangiato una pizza.  
I ate a pizza.
Function: Object

Lei è una professoressa.
She is a professor.
Function: Complement

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AGREEMENT

All nouns have a specified number (singular or plural) and gender (masculine or feminine). As a general rule, singular nouns end in o, a, or e, whereas plural nouns end in i or e.  

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TABLE::

	Singular	Plural
Masculine	-o	-i
Feminine	-a	-e
Masculine or Feminine	-e	-i

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EXAMPLES::

Albero → Alberi
Tree → Trees
Agreement:  Singular masculine → plural masculine

Macchina → Macchine
Car→ Cars 
Agreement: Singular feminine → plural feminine

Studente → Studenti
Student → Students
Agreement: Singular masculine → plural masculine

Mese → Mesi
Month → Months 
Agreement: Singular feminine → plural feminine

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CONTINUING EDUCATION