SECTION PLANNER
Nouns
1
COMMON ERRORS
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Possessives with Irregular Plurals
Real Situations, Real Solutions
Some developing writers make the mistake of putting the apostrophe in the wrong place when writing an irregular plural possessive form of a noun.
Grammar Geezer Number Nouns What do you do if a sentence begins with a noun that is a number? Do you begin the sentence with the numeral or with a word?
ERROR: The childrens’ clothes are wet. CORRECT: The children’s clothes are wet. ERROR: Do you know the way to the mens’
It doesn’t add up, Venessa J.
locker room? CORRECT: Do you know the way to the men’s locker room? Record on a poster irregular plural possessive nouns so students can refer to the words as they write. Remind students to look consistently for possible spelling errors as they proofread.
Venessa J. Re: Number Nouns Remember the old rule: Every sentence must begin with a capital letter. A numeral is not a letter, so don’t begin a sentence with a numeral. Spell out the number word or revise the sentence so that the number is not used as the first word. Your number one fan, Grammar Geezer
SENTENCE DIAGRAMMING You may wish to teach nouns in the context of diagramming. Review these examples. Then refer to the Diagramming section. Allison ran a marathon.
Allison
Grammar Geek Pausing for Plurals
ran
marathon
Is there an easy way to help my students understand how to make regular nouns plural?
a Needing assistance, Bethany M.
subject
verb
direct object jec ad e tiv
Kathleen gave me an apple.
Kathleen
gave
an
subject
verb direct object indirect object jec ad
e tiv
1b • Section 1
Display the visual below and review it with students before providing instruction in writing, language arts, or spelling. Ask volunteers to provide examples each time. Most Nouns Add -s.
apple me
Bethany M. Re: Pausing for Plurals
Nouns Ending in s, x, ch, or sh Add -es.
Nouns Ending in a Consonant + y Change the y to i and add -es.
After ample review the information will transfer into their writing. Happy to assist, Grammar Geek