Questions tagged [nouns]
A noun is a word (other than a pronoun) used to identify people, places, or things, or to name a particular one of those.
1,062 questions
6
votes
5
answers
2k
views
Why is November a proper noun but not thalamus?
Google says that it's because November is a specifically named 11th month of a year, while thalamus is a "general anatomical structure". But I can argue that thalamus is similarly a named ...
- 105
0
votes
3
answers
110
views
Does the first word in the compound "earthquake" change depending on the planet?
Is an "earthquake" happening on another planet a "-quake" prefixed with the name of the planet, like venusquake, and does that take the initial capital (i.e. Venusquake)? Is there ...
- 448
-1
votes
3
answers
149
views
“shack of a place”
"Ingrid had her arm around her. 'You are the saucepan warrior. And I think we need to mark your fearlessness, and our potentially groundbreaking findings, with a meal. A nice meal. And some vodka....
- 1,589
8
votes
7
answers
2k
views
Can "Accepted" Be Used as a Noun?
Background
On this ELL StackExchange site, when an answer is accepted, it is marked as "Accepted," as shown in the screenshot below. (You can also confirm this on each answerer's Activity ...
- 1,404
-1
votes
1
answer
73
views
Compounding a quantifier with a noun
I am looking for a general rule that shows how to compound a quantifier (every, any, each) with a noun (body, thing, box).
I observed that all of the words must be formed with a unspecific quantifier, ...
- 29
0
votes
5
answers
188
views
What's the difference between noun adjuncts and adjectives?
A noun adjunct is a noun adjectivally modyfing another noun (a coat pocket). Why don't we or dictionaries just recognise noun adjuncts as adjectives then? Why is 'coat' described as a noun, but 'mere' ...
- 1
0
votes
2
answers
103
views
Clarification about Noun Phrase
The boy is playing.
A dog is barking.
In these two sentences are 'A boy' and 'The dog' Noun Phrases?
NCS25
-1
votes
1
answer
51
views
Including Prepositions in Abbreviations
Should (e.g.) "programming language of John Doe" be abbreviated as "PLJD" or "PLOJD"/"PLoJD"?
More generally asking, should abbreviations include nonnouns such ...
user320027
8
votes
3
answers
820
views
A weird problem with the part of speech in a clause
I'm working on Cambridge IELTS 19 Test 2, coming up with a strange problem with question 5 in the Reading Passage 1:
Smelting of iron ore with coke resulted in material that was better __________.
...
- 91
3
votes
4
answers
406
views
How do you change a sentence with a subject that is a noun clause to a question form?
Example:
What he did shocked everyone.
Can I convert it to “ Did what he did shock everyone?”
Example 2:
What she said surprised everyone.
Can I convert it to “ Did what she said surprise everyone?...
Yitong Wang
0
votes
2
answers
80
views
What does "get a clear line on" mean?
In the book that I'm reading "The Girl Who Played With Fire" there is an investigation going on concerning a murder in Stockholm. There is a police inquiry about a person they suspect. The ...
- 4,000
3
votes
1
answer
88
views
Number coordination in 'Apple iPhones are one of the must-have products'
I am wondering how easily a plural noun can be considered as a single group and thus replaced by 'it' or 'one', as in
'Apple iPhones are one of the must-have products'
https://youtu.be/U-ExazFOMqI?t=...
- 435
0
votes
2
answers
116
views
Plural and uncountable nouns without articles
I am confused about a section describing the usage of uncountable and plural nouns without articles.
Can they both be about all of the things and things in general?
Or can they take only one function ...
- 29
1
vote
1
answer
91
views
Try to get five times <the price you bought them at> vs <the amount you bought them for>
A1: You’ve got so many clothes. I’ve never seen you wearing some of
these.
B1: I’m going to sell a few items online soon.
A2: Knowing you, you’re going to try to get five times the price you bought ...
- 1,500
0
votes
2
answers
141
views
Is the noun ‘ocean’ male, female or neuter?
It’s probably just me, but I can’t seem to find this in any public dictionary (…); is ‘ocean’ male, female, or neuter?
Like in:
I cannot swim this ocean, (her/his/its?) waters are too cold and deep.
- 11
2
votes
1
answer
92
views
What does this "singular" mean?
I saw these from an online dictionary, they are several meanings about the word "hand".
And from what have I known, nouns are classified into two kinds, the countable nouns and the ...
- 21
0
votes
2
answers
82
views
Can I use the noun "scourge" in the sense of "punishment for a crime"?
I'm stuck with using the word "scourge" in the following context:
I'm writing a fantasy novel, and I need a name for a symbol which is burned into the skin of sorcerers as a means of ...
0
votes
1
answer
69
views
Bare Singular Noun
A: Bigfoot's alive.
B: I do not think so.
https://youtu.be/gE7JDxebBfw?si=lrafsHkCpmE1lmE3
Why is a bare singular noun used here about bigfoot?
I think you would say, for example, "mammoths are ...
- 19
0
votes
2
answers
72
views
almost all in prison/apposition
A number of the gang members, almost all in prison, decided to stop their illegal activities.
A large number of the gang members, almost all in prison, decided to stop their illegal activities.
A ...
- 3,435
0
votes
1
answer
75
views
capitalization of a common noun
If you substitute a common noun for a proper noun, e.g., refer to a person as his/her title without using that person's name, do you capitalize a title that would normally be a common noun?
P.S. I ...
- 101
-1
votes
2
answers
92
views
Specific cases of the definite article
We have two examples of sentences.
Yes, I disconnect after work and do activities I enyoy.
Yes, I disconnect after work and do the activities I enjoy.
Can you please explain what is the difference ...
- 31
-3
votes
1
answer
133
views
Can an uncountable noun be preceded by "a"?
The following example is taken from the Collins dictionary for the noun "reach":
... a heavyweight who possesses a longer reach and more strength.
Which has the article "a" ...
- 641
-5
votes
2
answers
86
views
What is the meaning of this definiton of "constitutional scholar"? [closed]
I stumbled on a definition of "constitutional scholar" on UrbanDictionary.com and I can't for the life of me understand it:
Someone who claims legal scholarship regarding the US ...
- 4,000
0
votes
2
answers
264
views
Definite article with names of public buildings consisting of two words
I'll cite some excerpts from the textbook "English Grammar in Use."
"Names of important public buildings and institutions are often two words. The first word is the name of a place (e.g....
0
votes
0
answers
44
views
Possessive 's or just noun + noun?
I'm not a native speaker, and I got confused by some grammar point. I see phrases like 'noun + noun' with the first noun being an attributive more and more often. Sometimes in such cases it seems more ...
renyxa
0
votes
4
answers
185
views
Isn't a soloist someone who performs solo (not a solo)?
Oxford Learners Dictionary along with others defines "soloist" as:
soloist(noun):
a musician or singer who performs a solo.
"he appears as a concerto soloist with all the great British ...
- 4,000
6
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Is it Thailand's *the person's name* or Thai *the person's name*?
...and significantly surpasses that of his nearest competitor, Thailand's Weeraphon Wichuma, who managed a maximum of 346 kg.
Which is correct, "Thailand's Weeraphon Wichuma" or "Thai ...
- 63
2
votes
2
answers
79
views
Do citation and reference both convey these same two senses in the context of books?
When you read a book there often is a little number at the end of some sentences (that are usually quotes/or information from other sources).
Most of the time at the end of the book there will be a ...
- 4,000
5
votes
5
answers
2k
views
What does "I bought out the house" mean in this context?
In the movie "Rear Window" the main character is spending the last couple of weeks in his house because of his broken leg. His girlfriend visits his house and wears a very expensive dress. ...
- 4,000
0
votes
2
answers
104
views
Using the preposition 'to' for describing the relationship between nouns in the structure: "Like noun 'to' noun"
I wrote some similes using the preposition 'to', but then I was advised to switch it for the preposition 'in' so that it would "make more sense".
I realized that I'm not too sure where I saw ...
3
votes
4
answers
221
views
What does "ways" in "Canada ways" mean here?
This context comes from the movie "The Lighthouse". It's a conversation between two keepers of a lighthouse who work together. It
"What brings you to this rock, Ephraim Winslow? What ...
- 4,000
6
votes
5
answers
2k
views
Can noun phrases have only one word?
In Saad is now a grown man. I think that Saad is a noun phrase.
Can noun phrases have only one word?
- 77
-1
votes
1
answer
43
views
What's "Hey, I think you missed a few transactions when you broke out your charges on our credit card bill." mean?
I found a sample sentence in a Farlex Dictionary of Idioms for a definition of the phrase "break out" [which means: "To highlight just one portion or section of something."] that I'...
- 4,000
0
votes
3
answers
83
views
Can you use the word "bill" to as your friend to check what movies are being screened at the cinema? (What other words can you use?)
While looking for a definition for the word "bill" in another context I stumbled on this definition:
"bill" (noun):
"9. entertainment scheduled for presentation; program: a ...
- 4,000
2
votes
3
answers
166
views
What is the difference between "this is a beginning" and "this is beginning"?
This context comes from the movie "Se7en" by David Fincher.
In this movie, there is a scene in which Detective Somerset is explaining to his boss that the murder case they are investigating ...
- 4,000
0
votes
2
answers
131
views
Funeral Rites vs. Funerary Rites
Are both of the following sentences correct?
The question then arises: what purpose do Hopi funeral rites serve?
He stilled, wondering how best to explain Kai funerary rites or ...
Thanks.
- 11
0
votes
1
answer
59
views
What do the words "bond issue passes" in "bond issue passes council" mean?
In the movie "Chinatown" a part of the plot is a problem of a local council in L.A on whether to build a dam that will replace St. Francis Dam which had collapsed in the past. As a result, ...
- 4,000
-1
votes
2
answers
82
views
What is the indefinite article used in "like a jean"?
There is a scene in the movie "Ocean's Eleven" in which one of the characters is talking to an owner of a car dealership. When he introduces himself as Denham this dialogue takes place:
...
- 4,000
0
votes
2
answers
331
views
Difference between "cord" and "rope"
I wonder what is the difference between cord and rope? I looked it up on the internet but couldn't figure out what the difference is. The only thing I found out was that cord is thinner than rope
- 282
0
votes
3
answers
79
views
Is the omission of "the" before "teacher/student" in the sentence "Knowledge is transmitted from teacher to student" correct?
In the sentence "Knowledge is transmitted from teacher to student.", I don't know why "teacher" and "student" are used without an article "the". It's difficult ...
- 321
1
vote
1
answer
70
views
Bribery and corruption has or have
Bribery and corruption has become the part of the society.
Bribery and corruption have become the part of the society.
In these examples, we will take bribery and corruption either as singular or as ...
- 577
0
votes
2
answers
163
views
What does "pick up the load" mean in this context?
This context comes from the movie "The Passengers". It's a sci-fi movie in which a couple of people travel on a giant spaceship to colonize a planet. It's an enormous ship that is more of a ...
- 4,000
0
votes
0
answers
83
views
What are the parts of speech of "weekends" in "I travel weekends" and "I see her most weekends"?
What are the parts of speech of "weekends" in "I travel weekends" and "I see her most weekends" respectively?
Thanks for reply and thinking twice before voting~
- 81
0
votes
2
answers
101
views
A question about nouns in general
I know the types of nouns are:
concrete nouns, proper nouns, abstract nouns, collective nouns, common nouns, countable and uncountable nouns.
But what about object noun, phrasal nouns, compound nouns, ...
Manar
-2
votes
2
answers
151
views
Is the term "gaffer" used incorrectly and should "coordinator" be used instead?
This context comes from the movie "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" It's a conversation between an actor Rick Dalton and his personal stunt double Cliff Booth who also doubles as his errand ...
- 4,000
2
votes
1
answer
459
views
What is the meaning of "yard" in "a yard across the street"?
This context comes from the book "To Kill A Mocking Bird" by Harper Lee.
It's the part of the book in which neighbors are fighting a fire that broke out in Miss Maudie's house.
"The men ...
- 4,000
0
votes
1
answer
78
views
Singular noun as a concept for generalisation
I have recently came across two sentences that feature the usage of singular nouns to generalise the statement as they follow.
"The presence of the gene predisposes a person to heart disease&...
- 1
0
votes
1
answer
33
views
Can I use the noun "luge steering" to refer to the act of steering a luge?
For a research paper about the luge sport, I initially wrote: "According to our model of luge steering [...]". A colleague remarked that this sounds strange. According to him, nobody would ...
Enuff
0
votes
2
answers
135
views
Can we say “in upheaval times” instead of “in times of upheaval”?
A native English speaker told me rhat I should say “in times of upheaval” instead of “in upheaval times”. Now that confused me since I know that nouns can act as adjectives such as door-key, fire ...
- 3
-1
votes
1
answer
184
views
Is the chart correct by using "recycling" and not "recycle"?
The chart uses recycling and not recycle. Is the legend correct? So, landfill and compost can be used as a noun but recycle cannot? Collins dictionary shows it can be used as a noun:
7. the act or ...
- 1,456