Chapter 3
Nouns
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Noun Classes
Nouns name:
Persons
Qualities
Activities
Places
Things
Feelings Concepts
Measures
• Nouns may be grouped into two classes:
– Common Nouns
– Proper Nouns
© 2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Business English, 11e, by Mary Ellen Guffey and Carolyn Seefer
3-2
COMMON NOUNS
actor
coffee shop
tablet computer
NOUN
CLASSES
PROPER NOUNS
Johnny Depp
Starbucks
Kindle
© 2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Business English, 11e, by Mary Ellen Guffey and Carolyn Seefer
3-3
Noun Plurals—Regular
Plural nouns: name two or more things
Regular nouns: form the plural with the
addition of s or es
© 2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Business English, 11e, by Mary Ellen Guffey and Carolyn Seefer
3-4
Noun Plurals—Regular
Add s
Add es to
nouns
ending in
s, x, z, ch,
or sh
office
manager
    
bench
loss
fax
waltz
    
    
   
   
   
offices
managers
benches
 losses
 faxes
 waltzes
Exception: quiz, quizzes
© 2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Business English, 11e, by Mary Ellen Guffey and Carolyn Seefer
3-5
Noun Plurals—Irregular
A few plural nouns change form:
man
foot
mouse
child
    
    
    
    
men
feet
mice
children
© 2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Business English, 11e, by Mary Ellen Guffey and Carolyn Seefer
3-6
Try Your Skill
How would
you make
these nouns
plural?
business 
coin

house

quiz

tax

virus

wish

workman 
woman 
mouse 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
businesses
coins
houses
quizzes
taxes
viruses
wishes
workmen
women
mice*
* but computer mouse devices
© 2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Business English, 11e, by Mary Ellen Guffey and Carolyn Seefer
3-7
Challenging Noun Plurals
Nouns Ending in y
When a vowel comes before y ,
(a, e, i, o, u), just add an s.
attorney
holiday
turkey
valley
    
    
    
    
attorneys
holidays
turkeys
valleys
© 2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Business English, 11e, by Mary Ellen Guffey and Carolyn Seefer
3-8
Challenging Noun Plurals
Nouns Ending in y
When a consonant comes before the y,
then change the y to ies.
baby
company
luxury
secretary
    
    
    
    
babies
companies
luxuries
secretaries
© 2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Business English, 11e, by Mary Ellen Guffey and Carolyn Seefer
3-9
Challenging Noun Plurals
Nouns Ending in f or fe
No standard rule is followed. You just
have to memorize them.
Add s
Add ves
cliff   cliffs
safe   safes
staff   staffs
knife   knives
shelf   shelves
wife   wives
© 2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Business English, 11e, by Mary Ellen Guffey and Carolyn Seefer
3-10
Challenging Noun Plurals
Nouns Ending in o
When o is preceded by a vowel, add
s only.
studio    studios
curio     curios
© 2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Business English, 11e, by Mary Ellen Guffey and Carolyn Seefer
3-11
Challenging Noun Plurals
Nouns Ending in o
When o is preceded by a consonant, no
standard rule applies. Add s or es.
Add s
auto   autos
solo   solos
Add es
potato   potatoes
veto    vetoes
You just have to memorize these.
© 2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Business English, 11e, by Mary Ellen Guffey and Carolyn Seefer
3-12
Challenging Noun Plurals
Nouns Ending in o
Musical terms ending in o are always
made plural by adding s only.
alto    
banjo    
piano   
soprano  
altos
banjos
pianos
sopranos
© 2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Business English, 11e, by Mary Ellen Guffey and Carolyn Seefer
3-13
Challenging Noun Plurals
Proper Nouns and Surnames
Most proper nouns are made plural by
adding s. When the appears before a
surname, the name is always plural.
Avila   
Kennedy  
Pagano  
Guffey   
Miller   
Petty   
the Avilas
the Kennedys
the Paganos
the Guffeys
the Millers
the Pettys
© 2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Business English, 11e, by Mary Ellen Guffey and Carolyn Seefer
3-14
Challenging Noun Plurals
Proper Nouns and Surnames
Proper nouns ending in s, x, z, ch,
or sh are made plural by adding es.
Williams
Rex

Gomez 
Ferris 
Bush 
  the Williamses
  the Rexes
  the Gomezes

the Ferrises
  the Bushes
© 2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Business English, 11e, by Mary Ellen Guffey and Carolyn Seefer
3-15
Challenging Noun Plurals
Compound Nouns (more than one word
combined into one word)
Written as a single word: make the final
element plural.
bookshelf    bookshelves
workman    workmen
© 2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Business English, 11e, by Mary Ellen Guffey and Carolyn Seefer
3-16
Challenging Noun Plurals
More Compound Nouns
Hyphenated or written as separate
words: make the principal word
plural.
mother-in-law   mothers-in-law
runner-up     runners-up
editor in chief   editors in chief
© 2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Business English, 11e, by Mary Ellen Guffey and Carolyn Seefer
3-17
Challenging Noun Plurals
Numerals, Alphabet Letters, Isolated
Words, and Degrees
Generally, add s only. Many writers
prefer to use ’s only for clarity.
2010s
pros and cons
MDs
Bs and Cs
© 2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Business English, 11e, by Mary Ellen Guffey and Carolyn Seefer
3-18
Challenging Noun Plurals
Numerals, Alphabet Letters, Isolated
Words, and Degrees
Isolated lowercase (small) letters and
the capital letters A, I, M, and U require
’s for clarity. Why these capitals?
Dot your i’s and cross your t’s.
She received all A’s last semester.
© 2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Business English, 11e, by Mary Ellen Guffey and Carolyn Seefer
3-19
Challenging Noun Plurals
Abbreviations
Usually add s to the singular form.
MBA   MBAs
no.    nos.
wk.    wks.
yr.    yrs.
© 2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Business English, 11e, by Mary Ellen Guffey and Carolyn Seefer
3-20
Try Your Skill
How
would
you
make
these
nouns
plural?
attorney general  attorneys general
     copies
copy
CPA
     CPAs
editor in chief   editors in chief
     knives
knife
p and q      p’s and q’s
Sunday      Sundays
1990
     1990s
© 2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Business English, 11e, by Mary Ellen Guffey and Carolyn Seefer
3-21
Showing Possession
Apostrophes are used to show the following:
Ownership
Kim’s book
Origin
Dr. Moss’s prescription
Authorship
Hemingway’s works
Measurement
ten years’ experience
© 2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Business English, 11e, by Mary Ellen Guffey and Carolyn Seefer
3-22
Showing Possession
How do we
know where
to place
apostrophes?
© 2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Business English, 11e, by Mary Ellen Guffey and Carolyn Seefer
3-23
Following Three Steps
in Placing Apostrophes
 Look for possessive construction. Usually
two nouns appear together.


Have you seen Kim’s book?


The children’s area is out back.


The waitress’s schedule was adjusted.


Brad has ten years’ experience.
© 2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Business English, 11e, by Mary Ellen Guffey and Carolyn Seefer
3-24
Following Three Steps
in Placing Apostrophes
 Reverse the nouns. Use the second noun
to begin a prepositional phrase.
book of Kim
area of the children
schedule of the waitress
experience of ten years
© 2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Business English, 11e, by Mary Ellen Guffey and Carolyn Seefer
3-25
Following Three Steps
in Placing Apostrophes
 Examine the ownership word. Does it
end in s? Is it singular or plural?
Kim (singular and does not end in s)
children (plural and does not end in s)
waitress (singular and does end in s)
years (plural and does end in s)
© 2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Business English, 11e, by Mary Ellen Guffey and Carolyn Seefer
3-26
Following Three Steps
in Placing Apostrophes
 If the ownership word does NOT end in
s, add an apostrophe and s, whether
the noun is singular or plural.
Kim’s book
children’s area
© 2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Business English, 11e, by Mary Ellen Guffey and Carolyn Seefer
3-27
Following Three Steps
in Placing Apostrophes
 If the ownership word is singular and
DOES end in s, add an apostrophe
and s.
waitress’s schedule
© 2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Business English, 11e, by Mary Ellen Guffey and Carolyn Seefer
3-28
Following Three Steps
in Placing Apostrophes
 If the ownership word is plural and DOES
end in s, add an apostrophe only.
ten years’ experience
© 2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Business English, 11e, by Mary Ellen Guffey and Carolyn Seefer
3-29
Try Your Skill
1. That
company(s)
workers rely
heavily on
e-mail.
company’s
a. See the two nouns
together?
b. Reverse the nouns.
c. Examine the
ownership word.
i. Singular or plural?
ii. End in s?
iii. Do you add an
apostrophe s or just
an apostrophe?
© 2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Business English, 11e, by Mary Ellen Guffey and Carolyn Seefer
3-30
Try Your Skill
2. All administrator(s)
salaries will
be reduced.
a. See the two nouns
together?
b. Reverse the nouns.
c. Examine the
ownership word.
administrators’
i. Singular or plural?
ii. End in s?
iii. Do you add an
apostrophe s or just
an apostrophe?
© 2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Business English, 11e, by Mary Ellen Guffey and Carolyn Seefer
3-31
Try Your Skill
3. That
attorney(s)
prices are
too high.
attorney’s
a. See the two nouns
together?
b. Reverse the nouns.
c. Examine the
ownership word.
i. Singular or plural?
ii. End in s?
iii. Do you add an
apostrophe s or just
an apostrophe?
© 2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Business English, 11e, by Mary Ellen Guffey and Carolyn Seefer
3-32
Try Your Skill
a. See the two nouns
together?
b. Reverse the nouns.
4. Employees(s) c. Examine the
ownership word.
benefits will
change next
year.
Employees’
i. Singular or plural?
ii. End in s?
iii. Do you add an
apostrophe s or just
an apostrophe?
© 2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Business English, 11e, by Mary Ellen Guffey and Carolyn Seefer
3-33
Descriptive Versus Possessive
Nouns
When nouns describe or identify only,
apostrophes are not used.
Sales Division (not Sales’ Division)
Human Resources Department (not
Human Resources’ Department)
Safety Department (not Safety’s
Department)
© 2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Business English, 11e, by Mary Ellen Guffey and Carolyn Seefer
3-34
Names of Organizations
Organizations with possessives in their names may or
may not use apostrophes. Follow the style they use.
Domino’s Pizza
Starbucks
McDonald’s
Mrs. Fields
Noah’s Bagels
Chevys Fresh Mex
© 2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Business English, 11e, by Mary Ellen Guffey and Carolyn Seefer
3-35
Names of People
Make people’s names possessive by
following the same rules for making other
nouns possessive.
•Singular names: add apostrophe and s
•Plural names: add apostrophe only
Name
Singular Possessive
Plural Possessive
Lisa Robertson
Lisa Robertson’s car
the Robertsons’ home
John Adams
John Adams’s camera
the Adamses’ business
Jose Lopez
Jose Lopez’s job
the Lopezes’ children
Jenny Nash
Jenny Nash’s résumé
the Nashes’ vacation
© 2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Business English, 11e, by Mary Ellen Guffey and Carolyn Seefer
3-36
Abbreviations
Make abbreviations possessive by following
the same guidelines as for other nouns.
Levi Strauss & Co.’s jeans
CPAs’ convention
© 2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Business English, 11e, by Mary Ellen Guffey and Carolyn Seefer
3-37
Awkward Possessives
Reword awkward expressions by using
prepositional phrases. How could the
following be improved? (Hint: Start with the
ending noun.)
the pension
chief of police’s
of the chief
pension
of police
the
business
of my friend’s
father
my friend’s
father’s
business
the Saltzman,
Mr.
advice of Mr.
mySaltzman,
attorney’smy
advice
attorney
© 2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Business English, 11e, by Mary Ellen Guffey and Carolyn Seefer
3-38
Try Your Skill
1.
documents of
the attorney
general
2. friends of the
Change the
Lopezes
following
prepositional
phrases into
apostrophe
constructions.
attorney
general’s
documents
the Lopezes’
friends
© 2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Business English, 11e, by Mary Ellen Guffey and Carolyn Seefer
3-39
Foreign Nouns
Nouns derived from foreign languages
may retain a foreign plural form, or they
may have an Americanized form. You just
have to memorize them.
Singular
Plural
alumna
alumnae (feminine)
alumnus
alumni (masculine)
analysis
analyses
– continued
© 2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Business English, 11e, by Mary Ellen Guffey and Carolyn Seefer
3-40
Foreign Nouns
Singular
Plural
basis
bases
criterion
criteria or criterions
datum
data*
formula
formulae or formulas
millennium
millennia or millenniums
stimulus
stimuli
* The word data may be considered a collective noun;
thus it may be either singular or plural.
© 2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Business English, 11e, by Mary Ellen Guffey and Carolyn Seefer
3-41
Special Nouns
Some special nouns are only singular or only
plural in meaning. Other special nouns may be
considered either singular or plural in
meaning.
billiards
clothes
economics goods
May Be Either
Singular or
Plural
Chinese
corps
genetics
deer
Usually
Singular
Usually
Plural
– continued
© 2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Business English, 11e, by Mary Ellen Guffey and Carolyn Seefer
3-42
Special Nouns
kudos
May Be Either
Singular or
Plural
fish
mathematics statistics
politics
measles
series
Usually
Singular
mumps
news
Usually
Plural
thanks
sheep
species
© 2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Business English, 11e, by Mary Ellen Guffey and Carolyn Seefer
3-43
Try Your Skill
bacterium
     bacteria
crisis
     crises
headquarters
  
headquarters
How would
    hypotheses
hypothesis
you make
memorandum    memoranda/
these
memorandums
nouns
     moose
moose
plural?
© 2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Business English, 11e, by Mary Ellen Guffey and Carolyn Seefer
3-44
Possession With Time and Money
Remember that time and money can show
possession.
one year’s earnings (earnings of one year)
three years’ experience (experience of
three years)
one dollar’s worth (worth of one dollar)
ten dollars’ worth (worth of ten dollars)
© 2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Business English, 11e, by Mary Ellen Guffey and Carolyn Seefer
3-45
Incomplete Possessives
When the second noun is unstated but is
understood, the possessive is incomplete.
Use an apostrophe to show possession even
though the second noun is only implied.
The party is at Francisco’s. (What is
implied?)
Darren’s exam is earlier than Julie’s.
© 2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Business English, 11e, by Mary Ellen Guffey and Carolyn Seefer
3-46
Separate or Combined Ownership
When two nouns express separate
ownership, make both nouns possessive.
When two nouns express combined
ownership, make only the second noun
possessive.
Separate Ownership
• Both the men’s and women’s locker
rooms are clean.
• Scott’s and Lydia’s cars are for
sale.
© 2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Business English, 11e, by Mary Ellen Guffey and Carolyn Seefer
3-47
Separate or Combined Ownership
Combined Ownership
• Dawn and Cheryl’s condominium is
located near the campus.
• The husband and wife’s inheritance
was substantial.
What clues have you learned to determine
whether ownership is shared?
© 2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Business English, 11e, by Mary Ellen Guffey and Carolyn Seefer
3-48
Separate or Combined Ownership:
Clues
Look at the object owned
(condominium, inheritance).
If that object is singular,
ownership is
usually combined.
© 2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Business English, 11e, by Mary Ellen Guffey and Carolyn Seefer
3-49
Academic Degrees
Generic academic degrees are written with
possessive apostrophes, even if the word degree is
implied.
Kristen earned her associate’s degree at DVC.
UCLA offers many bachelor’s degrees.
A master’s in accounting is required for this job.
Kent earned his doctoral degree. (no apostrophe)
© 2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Business English, 11e, by Mary Ellen Guffey and Carolyn Seefer
3-50
Try Your Skill
1.
Identify any
noun
possession
errors in the
following
sentence.
In three day’s time,
we will board a plane
for Hawaii.
In three days’ time,
we will board a plane
for Hawaii.
© 2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Business English, 11e, by Mary Ellen Guffey and Carolyn Seefer
3-51
Try Your Skill
2.
Identify any
noun
possession
errors in the
following
sentence.
One months rent is
all you need to
secure this
apartment.
One month’s rent
is all you need to
secure this
apartment.
© 2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Business English, 11e, by Mary Ellen Guffey and Carolyn Seefer
3-52
Try Your Skill
3.
Identify any
noun
possession
errors in the
following
sentence.
Sandy purchased five
hour’s worth of
wireless access at the
airport.
Sandy purchased five
hours’ worth of
wireless access at the
airport.
© 2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Business English, 11e, by Mary Ellen Guffey and Carolyn Seefer
3-53
Try Your Skill
4.
Identify any
noun
possession
errors in the
following
sentence.
We always get our
moneys worth at
this restaurant.
We always get our
money’s worth at
this restaurant.
© 2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Business English, 11e, by Mary Ellen Guffey and Carolyn Seefer
3-54
Try Your Skill
5.
Identify any
noun
possession
errors in the
following
sentence.
Our book club will
meet at Michelles
in June.
Our book club will
meet at Michelle’s
in June.
© 2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Business English, 11e, by Mary Ellen Guffey and Carolyn Seefer
3-55
Try Your Skill
6.
Identify any
noun
possession
errors in the
following
sentence.
Mitch’s proposal
was more
persuasive than
Kendras.
Mitch’s proposal
was more
persuasive than
Kendra’s.
© 2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Business English, 11e, by Mary Ellen Guffey and Carolyn Seefer
3-56
Try Your Skill
7.
Identify any
noun
possession
errors in the
following
sentence.
Michael and Sam’s
cars were both broken
into last night.
Michael’s and Sam’s
cars were both broken
into last night.
(Separate ownership)
© 2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Business English, 11e, by Mary Ellen Guffey and Carolyn Seefer
3-57
Try Your Skill
8.
Identify any
noun
possession
errors in the
following
sentence.
Amy’s and Aaron’s
daughter is in
middle school.
Amy and Aaron’s
daughter is in middle
school. (Combined
ownership)
© 2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Business English, 11e, by Mary Ellen Guffey and Carolyn Seefer
3-58
Try Your Skill
9.
Identify any
noun
possession
errors in the
following
sentence.
James earned his
masters degree in
business
administration.
James earned his
master’s degree in
business
administration.
© 2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Business English, 11e, by Mary Ellen Guffey and Carolyn Seefer
3-59
Try Your Skill
10.
Identify any
noun
possession
errors in the
following
sentence.
You need a
bachelors to qualify
for this position.
You need a
bachelor’s to
qualify for this
position.
© 2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Business English, 11e, by Mary Ellen Guffey and Carolyn Seefer
3-60
Can an apostrophe make a
difference?
 The butler stood by the door and
called the guests names as they
arrived.
OR
 The butler stood by the door and
called the guests’ names as they arrived.
© 2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Business English, 11e, by Mary Ellen Guffey and Carolyn Seefer
3-61