A noun names a person, place, thing, or idea. There are many different kinds of nouns.

• Common nouns name any person, place, thing, or idea.

Examples: boy, girl, school, town, river, puppy, mountain, freedom

• Proper nouns name a particular person, place, thing, or idea.

Examples: James, Maria, the United States of America, North America, Rio Grande River, Washington Monument, Canada, Pacific Ocean

• Singular nouns name one person, place, thing, or idea.

Examples: student, day, night, bird, town, church, valley, city, tomato

• Plural nouns name more than one person, place, thing, or idea.

Examples: students, days, nights, birds, towns, churches, valleys, cities,tomatoes

• Possessive nouns show ownership. They can be singular or plural. They requirean apostrophe.

Examples: James’s book, the dog’s bed, the girls’ softball team, the puppies’toys, the children’s bikes