Noun and Its Allied Concepts, Gender, Number, Case and Person: A Critical Review

International Journal on Studies in English Language and Literature (IJSELL)
Volume 5, Issue 11, November 2017, PP 48-70

ISSN 2347-3126 (Print) & ISSN 2347-3134 (Online)
https://doi.org/10.20431/2347-3134.0511006
www.arcjournals.org
Noun and its Allied Concepts, Gender, Number, Case and Person:
a Critical Review
Dr Atiya Naheed
Assistant Professor, Maulana Azad National Urdu University, Hyderabad, Telangana
*Corresponding Author: Dr Atiya Naheed, Assistant Professor, Maulana Azad National Urdu
University, Hyderabad, Telangana
Abstract: Whatever the developments that took place in English Grammar did not take place in one
particular period. They took place in different periods.
Three Periods in English Language: The developments that took place in English language did not take
place in one particular period. But they took place in three different periods. For the purpose of convenience,
developments in English language are divided into the following three periods.
1) The old English period (450 AD to 1100 AD).
2) The middle English period (1100 AD to 1450 AD).
3) The modern English period or the present English period (1451 AD - Present date).
The Old English Period: The period from 450 AD to 1100 AD is generally known as the old English period.
As this period was full of inflexions, it was also known in the history of English language by the name “the
period of inflexions”.
The Middle English Period: The period from 1101 AD to 1450 AD was generally known as the Middle
English period. As in this period the inflexions were mostly leveled in English language, this period was also
known as “the period of leveled inflexions”.
The Modern or Present English Period: The period from 1451 AD to till date was generally known as the
Modern English period or present English period.
As in this period almost all the inflexions in English language were totally lost, this period was known as “the
period of lost inflexions”.
Keywords: Concrete, Abstract, Gender, Number, Case, Person.
1. DEVELOPMENT
Definition of Noun
Noun is a part of speech which tells us about the name of a person, place, thing, an animal or a bird, a
system of thought or an idea.
Though most of the grammar books include four or five kinds of nouns, in the evolution of nouns,
there are ten kinds of nouns. The evolution of these ten kinds of nouns took place like this.
Kinds of Nouns
There are ten kinds of nouns in English Language. They are
1) Concrete noun. 6) Material noun
2) Abstract noun. 7) Simple noun
3) Proper noun. 8) Compound noun
4) Common noun 9) Countable noun
5) Collective noun 10) Uncountable noun.
International Journal on Studies in English Language and Literature (IJSELL) Page | 48

Noun and its Allied Concepts, Gender, Number, Case and Person: a Critical Review
In the old English period only two nouns were used. They are 1) Concrete and
2) Abstract noun.
In the Middle English period, the concrete noun was developed into four kinds of nouns.
1) Proper noun
2) Common noun
3) Collective noun
4) Material noun
In the modern English period the following four more nouns were created. They are
1) Simple noun
2) Compound noun
3) Countable noun
4) Uncountable noun
Definition of Concrete Noun
Concrete noun is a kind of noun which tells us about the name of a particular person, place or thing.
“Concrete” means that which has a form, which we can see with our eyes, which we can touch with
our hands.
Here are the examples for the definition of concrete noun.
Eg: 1) Rama killed a tiger.
Here „Rama‟ and „a tiger‟ are concrete nouns.
2) Delhi is the capital of India.
Here „Delhi‟, „the capital‟ and „India‟ are to be treated as concrete nouns.
3) The chair is made of wood.
The Chair‟ and „wood‟ are the concrete nouns.
4) Dogs bark.
“Dogs” is a concrete noun.
Definition of Abstract Noun
An abstract noun is a kind of noun which tells us about the name or the quality of a concrete noun.
„Abstract‟ means that which has no form. It is opposite of “concrete”. Therefore, an abstract noun
refers to things or ideas which do not have a fixed form, which we do not see with our eyes, which we
cannot touch with our hand, but which we can only feel in our mind.
Examples:
1) Honesty is the best policy.
Here „Honesty‟ is an abstract noun.
2) The wisdom of Solomon was famous throughout the world. Here „wisdom1 is an
abstract noun.
3) The beauty of rose attracts every one.
Here „beauty‟ is an abstract noun because it tells us about the name of the quality of
the concrete Noun „rose‟.
The Definition of Proper Noun
Proper noun is a kind of noun which tells us about the name of a particular person or place alone. It is
always begun with a capital letter any where or in the middle of the sentence.
Examples:
1) My name is Rama
Here „Rama‟ is a proper noun because it tells us about the name of a particular
person.
2) Delhi is the Capital of India.
In this sentence „Delhi‟ and „India‟ are proper nouns because Delhi is the name of a
city and „India‟ is the name of a country.
Definition of Common Noun
Common noun is a kind of noun which tells us about the class or group of persons, or things or places
used in common.
Examples:
Persons:
1) Child 9) Friend
2) Boy 10) Teacher
3) Girl 11) Doctor
4) Man 12) Engineer
5) Person 13) Nurse
6) Pupil 14) Clerk
7) Thief 15) Director
8) Enemy 16) Assistant.
Places
1) School 6) Market
2) College 7) Hospital
3) Temple 8) Market
4) Church 9) Club
5) Mosque 10) Court.
Things
1) Book 6) Car
2) Pen 7) Scooter
3) Table 8) Train
4) Chair 9) Aeroplane
5) Bicycle
Animals:
1) Cat 4) Monkey
2) Dog 5) Cow
3) Horse 6) Buffalo.
Ideas:
1) Honesty 4) Charity
2) Love 5) Hope
3) Hatred 6) Mercy
Definition of Collective Noun

A collective noun is a kind of noun which tells us about the class or group of persons, places, things,
animals, insects etc. regarded as a single whole.
Examples:
Collective nouns indicating persons:
1) Army 5) Crew
2) Board 6) Crowd
3) Class 7) Party.
4) Committee
Places:
1) A range or the range of mountains.
2) A group of valleys
Collective Nouns indicating things:
1) Bunch of Grapes
2) Bunch of Keys
3) Chain of Events
Collective nouns indicating Animals:
1) Flock
2) Herd
3) Group.
Collective Nouns indicating insects:
1) Swarm
2) Group
3) Herd
Definition of Material Noun
Material Noun is a kind of noun which tells us about the name of particular material or substance out
of which the things are made. It also refers to the names of all inanimate or lifeless things.
Here are the examples for the definition of Material Noun.
1) Iron 6) Wood
2) Gold 7) Plastic
3) Silver 8) Rubber
4) Cotton 9) Copper
5) Silk
Even the things indicating lifeless things are also to be treated as Material Nouns for which here are
the examples.
1) Mountain
2) Stone
Definition of Simple Noun
Simple Noun is a kind of noun which always contains only one word.
Any noun which is in the form of a simple word can be identified as a simple noun. Here are the
examples for the definition of simple noun.
1) Rama
2) School
3) Pen
4) Iron.
Definition of Compound Noun
Compound noun is a kind of noun which always contains two or more simple nouns.
Any noun which is in the form of two or more simple nouns can be identified as a compound noun.
Here are the examples for the definition of a compound noun.
1) Ramakrishna
2) School teacher
3) Pen stand
4) Iron chair.
Definition of Countable Noun
Countable Noun is a kind of noun which refers to persons, places or things which can be counted by
number. Any noun which can be counted in a clear number can be identified as a countable Noun.
Here are the examples for the definition of a countable noun.
1) Rama 4) Pen
2) Boy 5) Army
3) Child 6) Tin
Definition of Uncountable Noun
Uncountable Noun is a kind of noun which refers to things, materials or qualities which cannot be
counted in number.
Any noun which cannot be counted in number can be identified as uncountable noun.
By this definition, all material nouns, all abstract nouns can be treated as uncountable nouns.
Here are the examples for the definition of uncountable noun.
1) Honesty 10) Mountain
2) Wisdom 11) Stone
3) Strength 12) Sand
4) Beauty 13) Rice
5) Ugliness 14) Milk
6) Iron 15) Water
7) Silver 16) Petrol
8) Gold 17) Kerosene
9) Wood 18) Diesel
2. RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS
Evolution of Allied Concepts of Noun:
Closely associated with the concept of noun, there are certain allied concepts. These allied concepts
are related only to certain parts of speech and their applicability can be made only to those parts of
speech to which those concepts can be applied. These allied concepts are four in number.
1) Gender 2) Number 3) Case 4) Person

3. CONCLUSION
Noun - Gender
Definition of Gender
Gender as a grammatical concept indicates whether a noun referred to is male or female or both or
neither.
The word „Gender‟ was taken from the Latin word „GENUS‟ which means a kind of /sort of.
As a grammatical concept, gender always refers to sex or otherwise of a person or of a thing.
The Applicability of Gender
As a grammatical concept, gender can be applied only to the five parts of speech.
1) Noun
2) Noun phrase
3) Pronoun
4) Noun or pronoun used as an ADJECTIVE
5) Noun or Pronoun used as an ADVERB
There are four kinds of Genders in English language. Here are those four kinds of genders.
1) Masculine Gender
2) Feminine Gender
3) Common Gender
4) Neuter Gender
Definition of Masculine Gender
Masculine Gender indicates that a noun referred to is male.
The names of all male persons or male animals can be treated as in Masculine Gender.
1) Rama 6) Brother
2) John 7) Dog
3) Arif 8) Horse
4) Man 9) Buffalo
5) Father
Definition of Feminine Gender
Feminine Gender indicates that a noun referred to is female.
The names of all female persons or female animals can be treated as in Feminine Gender.
1) Radha 6) Mother
2) Latha 7) Sister
3) Lucy 8) Bitch
4) Mumtaz 9) Mare
5) Woman 10) She-Buffalo

Definition of Common Gender

Common Gender indicates that a noun referred to is either male or female.
1) Child 6) Enemy
2) Person 7) Foe
3) Pupil 8) Thief
4) Student 9) Idiot
5) Friend
Definition of Neuter Gender
Neuter Gender indicates that a noun referred to is neither male nor female. It also refers to the names
of all „inanimate‟ which means lifeless things.
The correct use of Gender
1) The Masculine gender is often applied to certain nouns remarkable for strength and violence etc.
Here are the examples.
1) Summer
2) Sun
3) Death
4) Time
5) Winter.
If you apply, some of them in sentences, it will be very clear to you how these nouns can be treated as
Masculine Gender.
1. The sun sheds his beams on rich and poor alike.
2. Death lays his icy hands on all alike.
2) The Feminine gender is often applied to certain nouns remarkable for beauty, gentleness and
gracefulness.
Here are the examples for you.
1) Moon 5) Love
2) Peace 6) Earth
3) Hope 7) Spring
4) Charity 8) Autumn.
If you apply these nouns in few sentences, it will be clear to you how these nouns can be treated as in
Feminine Gender.
1. The Moon hid her face behind a cloud.
2. Peace hath (has) her victories no less renowned than war.
3. Some collective Nouns even when they denote living beings are treated as neuter gender.
Here are the examples.
1. The committee submitted its report.
2. The class had its good time.
4. WAYS OF FORMING FEMININE GENDER
There are three ways of forming feminine gender.
I) Feminine Gender can be formed by using an entirely new word for the nouns in Masculine Gender.
Masculine Gender Feminine Gender Masculine Gender Feminine Gender

Bachelor maid, spinster Hart roe
Boy girl Horse mare
Brother sister Husband wife
Buck doe King queen
Bull (or) ox cow Lord lady
Bullock heifer Man Woman
Cock hen Monk (or) friar nun
Colt filly Nephew niece
Dog bitch Papa mamma
Drake duck Ram eve
Drone bee Sir madam
Earl countess Son daughter
Father mother Stag hind
Gander goose Uncle aunt
Gentleman lady Wizard witch
Lad(boy) lass(girl) Master Mistress
II. Feminine Gender is formed for certain nouns in Masculine Sender by adding the suffixes „ess‟, „ine‟, „trix‟,
„a‟.
Author Authoress Mayor mayoress
Baron baroness Patron patroness
Count countess Peer peeress
Giant giantess Poet poetess
Heir heiress Priest priestess
Host hostess Prophet prophetess
Jew Jewess Shepherd shepherdess
Lion lioness Steward stewardess
Manager manageress Viscount viscountess
Hero Heroine Administrator Administratrix
Czar Czarina Sultan Sultana
By placing a word before or after; as,
Grandfather grandmother milkman Milkwoman
Greatuncle greataunt peacock Peahen
Manservant maidservant salesman saleswoman
Landlord landlady washerman washerwoman
III. Feminine Gender is sometimes formed by using a word before or after the Masculine nouns:
Bull-calf cow-calf Cock-sparrow hen sparrow
He-goat She-goat He-bear She-bear
He-Buffalo She-Buffalo Great Grand Father Great Grand Mother
Jack-ass Jenny-ass Man-Servant Maid-servant
Grand father Grand Mother Great uncle Great aunt
Land lord Land lady Milk-Man Milk-Maid
Peacock Peahen Washer-man Washer-woman
5. NOUN-NUMBER
Definition of Number
Number as a grammatical concept indicates whether a noun, referred to is one thing or more than one
thing

Numbers are of two types.

1) Singular number
2) Plural number
Singular Number
Definition of Singular Number
Singular number indicates that a noun referred to is only one thing. Examples:
1) Book 8) Boy
2) Pen 9) City
3) Box 10) Thief
4) Match 11) Cafe
5) Class 12) Man
6) Fish 13) Sheep
7) Baby
Plural Number
Definition of Plural Number
Plural number indicates that a noun referred to is more than one thing.
Examples:
1) Books 8) Boys
2) Pens 9) Cities
3) Boxes 10) Thieves
4) Matches 11) Cafes
5) Classes 12) Men
6) Fishes 13) Sheep.
7) Babies
The correct use of Number
The applicability of number
As a grammatical concept, number can be applied to these parts of speech.
1) Noun
2) Noun phrase
3) Pronoun
4) Verb
5) Noun or pronoun used as an adjective
6) Noun or pronoun used as an adverb.
There are several ways relating to formation of plural number for the nouns which are in
singular number
1. Plural number is generally formed for the majority of the nouns by adding „s‟ at end of
singular nouns.
Singular Plural
Boy – Boys
Pen – Pens
Girl – Girls
Desk – Desks
Book – Books
2. Plural number should be formed for certain nouns ending with the suffixes „S‟, Sh, Ch, X, by
adding „es‟ to the singular nouns at their end.
Singular Plural
Class – Classes
Brush – Brushes
Branch – Branches
Tax – Taxes
Box – Boxes
Plural number should be formed for the nouns ending with ‘Y’ by changing ‘y’ into ‘i’ and
adding ‘es’ to the nouns which are in singular number.
Singular Plural
Baby - Babies
Army - Armies
Lady - Ladies
Story - Stories
Pony - Ponies
Plural number should be formed for the nouns ending with ‘y’ preceded by the vowel by
directly adding ‘S’ to their singular nouns.
Singular Plural
Boy - Boys
Key - Keys
Monkey - Monkeys
Storey - Storeys
Valley - Valleys
Alloy - Alloys
Alley - Alleys

Plural number should be formed for nouns ending with ‘f’ or ‘fe ’ by changing ‘f’ or ‘fe’ int ‘v’
and adding ‘es’.
Singular Plural
Thief - Thieves
Life - Lives
Loaf - Loaves
Leaf - Leaves
Half - Halves
Wife - Wives
Calf - Calves
Some nouns ending with ‘f’ or ‘fe’ which were taken from other languages will have the plural
number formed by adding simply ‘s’ at their end.
Singular Plural
Chief - Chiefs
Roof - Roofs
Gulf - Gulfs
Grief - Griefs
Dwarf - Dwarfs
Cafe - Cafes
Plural number should be formed for certain nouns ending with ‘O’ by adding the suffix ‘es’ to
their singular nouns at their end.
Singular Plural
Buffalo - Buffaloes
Potato - Potatoes
Negro - Negroes
Mango - Mangoes
Some nouns ending with ‘O’ which were taken from other languages will have their plural
number formed by directly adding ‘S’ to their singular nouns at their end.
Singular Plural
Dynamo – Dynamos
Canto – Cantos

Piano – Pianos
Photo – Photos
Quarto – Quartos
Stereo – Stereos
Plural number should be formed for certain nouns by changing the inside vowel of the singular
nouns.
Singular Plural
Man - Men
Goose - Geese
Mouse - Mice
Louse - Lice
Foot - Feet
Tooth - Teeth
Plural number should be formed for few nouns by adding suffixes ‘en’ or ‘ren’.
Singular Plural
Ox – Oxen
Child – Children
Brother – Brethren
Some nouns will have their singular and plural numbers alike.
Singular Plural
Swine – Swine
Sheep – Sheep
Deer – Deer
Cod – Cod
Trout – Trout
Salmon – Salmon
Stone – Stone
Weight. – Weight.

There are some nouns which are always used as plural forms. They don’t have singular forms.
So they must be followed by the plural nouns and preceded by plural adjectives.
Names of Instruments:
Bellows
Scissors
Tongs
Pincers
Spectacles
Names of certain articles of dress:
Trousers
Drawers
Breeches.
Pants
Banians
Some nouns which were originally in singular are now used in plural number.
Alms
Riches
Caves.
Eg :- Riches do many things.
There are some nouns which are plural in form but singular in meaning. Whenever they are used in
sentences, they must be followed by singular verbs but not plural verbs and must be preceded by
singular adjectives before nouns, but not plural adjectives.
Mathematics
Physics
Mechanics
Politics
News
Innings
Measles
Mumps
Rickets
Aids
Billiards
Droughts
Mathematics is his favourite study.
No news is good news.
India won by an innings and three runs.
The common noun „means‟ is used both in singular and in plural number. But when it is used to refer
to wealth, it should be treated as plural number.
1. He succeeded by this means.
(or by these means) in passing the examination.

2. His means are small, but he has incurred no debt.

There are certain collective nouns which are singular in form but plural in meaning. Whenever they
are used in sentences, they must be followed by plural verbs but not singular verbs. They must be
preceded by plural adjectives, but not by singular adjectives.
Poultry
Cattle
Vermin
People
Gentry
1) These poultry are mine.
2) Whose are these cattle?
3) Vermin destroy our property and carry disease.
4) Who are those people = (persons)?
5) There are few gentry in this town.
The common noun „people‟ is used both as singular noun and plural noun, whenever it is used as
singular noun it will give the meaning of the people of one country. When ever it is used as plural
noun, ending with „S1, it will give the meaning of the people of more than one country.
The French are hard working people. (People of one country)
There are different peoples in Europe. (Peoples of more than one country)
Plural number should be formed for compound nouns by adding „S1 to the principal word of the
singular number. The principal word means the main word used in the compound noun.
Singular Plural
Son-in-law – Sons-in-law
Daughter-in-law – Daughters-in-law
Step-son – Step-sons
Step-daughter – Step daughters
Maid-servant – Maidservants
Passer-by – Passers-by
Many nouns which were taken from other languages have kept their original plural forms.
From Latin:
Singular Plural
Erratum – Errata
Index – Indices
Radius – Radii
Formula – Formulae
Memorandum – Memoranda
Terminus – Termini

From Greek:
Singular Plural
Axis – Axes
Parenthesis – Parentheses
Crisis – Crises
Hypothesis – Hypotheses
Basis – Bases
Phenomenon – Phenomena
Analysis – Analyses
Criterion – Criteria
From Italian:
Singular Plural
Bandit – Banditti (Bandits)
From French:
Singular Plural
Madame (Madam) – Mesdames
Monsieur – Messieurs
From Hebrew:
Singular Plural
Cherub – Cherubim (cherubs)
Seraph – Seraphim (seraphs)
Some nouns will have two plural forms somewhat with a different meaning.
Singular Plural
Brother 1) Brothers, sons of the same parent
2) Brethren - members of society.
Cloth 1) Cloths, kinds of pieces of cloth.
2) Clothes - ready made garments.
Die 1) dies - stamps for coining,
2) Dice - cubes used in games.

Some nouns will have two meanings in singular number, but only one in meaning in plural
number.
Singular - Plural
Light (1) Lamp Lights : Lamps
(2) Radiance
People (1) Nation Peoples : Nations
(2) men and women
Powder (1) a dose of medicine Powders: doses of
in fine grains. medicine
(2) dust
Practice (1) Habit Practices : habits
(2) Exercise of a profession
Some nouns will only have one meaning in singular number but two meanings in plural
number.
Singular Plural
Colour : Hue Colours : 1) Hues
2) The flag of a regiment.
Custom : habit Customs : 1) Habits
2) Duties levied on imports.
Effect : result Effects: 1) Results
2) Property
Manner : Manners 1) Methods
2) Correct behaviour
Moral : a moral lesson Morals : 1) Moral lesson
2) Conduct
Some noun`s will have two meanings in the singular number, but three meanings in plural
number.
Singular Plural
Letter (1) Letter of the alphabet Letters (1) Letters of the alphabet
(2) Epistle (2) Epistles
(3) Literature
Ground : (1) Earth Grounds: (1) Enclosed land

(2) Reason attached to house

(2) reasons
(3) dress
Some nouns have different meaning in singular and plural number.
Singular Plural
Advice: counsel Advices: Information Airs:
affected manners
Air: atmosphere
Goods: merchandise
Good : benefit, well being
Campasses:
Compass: extent, range
an instrument for drawing
Respect: regard
Respects : compliments
Iron : a kind of metal
Irons : Fetters
Force: Strength
Forces : troops
Plural number should be formed for numbers, letters, figures and symbols by adding an
apostrophe and "S" to their singular forms.
Eg:
1) Add two 5‟s and four 2‟s.
2) There are more P‟s than R‟s in this page.
Sometimes plural number should be formed to some nouns by adding ‘S’ to a compound noun.
The Miss smith (singular Miss smiths).
The Misses smiths.
Abstract nouns have no plural number. Whenever they appear in plural forms, they will have to be
treated as common nouns.
Eg:
Hope
Charity
Love
Kindness.
Provocation
Kindness
Provocations (Common Noun used in Plural number which means instances or cases of provocation)
Kindnesses = (Common Noun used in Plural number which means acts of kindness)
Material nouns will have no plural number. But whenever the material nouns which indicate the
names of materials or substances out of which things are made appear in plural number, they will
have to be treated as common nouns.
Copper
Iron
Tin
Wood.

Coppers = (Common Noun used in Plural number which means copper coins)
Irons = (Common Noun used in Plural number which means fetters)
Tins = (Common Noun used in Plural number which means cans made of tin)
Woods = (Common Noun used in Plural number which means forests.)
Some plural nouns which indicates value, distance, weight, measurement will have to be treated as
singular nouns, as such they must be followed by singular verbs, but not plural verbs.
Hundred rupees seem to be a very high price for this pen. (wrong) Hundred rupees seems to be a very
high price for this pen. (right)
The expression „One and a half should be treated as plural noun that should be followed by a plural
verb, but not a singular verb
Eg : 1) I paid one and a half rupee for this paper. (Wrong)
I paid a one and a half rupees for this paper. (Right)
6. DISCUSSION
Noun - Case
Definition of Case
As a grammatical concept of a noun, case indicates the position of a noun, noun phrase or a pronoun
used in any clause of a sentence.
There are six types of cases in English language.
1) Nominative case or subjective case
2) Objective case or Accusative case
3) Dative case
4) Possessive case or Genitive case
5) Appositive case
6) Vocative case
Definition of Nominative Case
Whenever a noun, noun phrase or a pronoun is used as a subject of a verb or the complement of a
subject and a verb of state of being or existence, it is said to be in nominative case or subjective case.
Here are the examples for the definition of Nominative case.
Eg : 1) Rama killed Ravana.
In this sentence the noun „Rama‟ is used as a subject of a VOA, killed, so it is to be identified as a
Nominative case.
2) The box is heavy.
In this sentence the noun phrase „the box‟ is used as the subject of the verb of state of being or
existence, „is‟, so it is to be identified as a Nominative case.
3) She is a doctor
Here the pronoun „She‟ is used as the subject of the verb of state of being or Existence, „is‟, so it is
also to be identified as NOMINATIVE CASE.
Again the NP, „the doctor‟, is used as a complement. So it can also be identified as a Nominative case
because it is used as the complement of the sub, „she‟, and verb of state of being or existence „is‟
Definition of Objective Case
Whenever a noun, noun phrase or a pronoun is used as an object of a verb of action or verb of
possession or of a preposition, it is said to be in objective case or accusative case.
Here are the examples for the Definition of objective case.

1) Rama killed Ravana.
In this sentence, the noun „Ravana‟ is used as an object of VOA „killed‟, so it is to identified
as in objective case.
2) Latha has a new car:
Here the noun phrase „a new car‟, is used as the object of verb of possession, „has‟. So it is to
be identified as an objective case.
3) Latha went with Mohan.
Here the noun „Mohan‟ is used as the object of preposition „with‟. So it is also to be identified
as in objective case.
Definition of Dative Case
Whenever a noun, noun phrase or a pronoun is used as an indirect object of a verb, it is said to be in
„Dative case‟. „Dative means belonging to`‟.
Here is an example for the definition of DATIVE CASE.
S VOA I.O D.O
Eg: Rama gave Sita a present.
Here Sita is used as an Indirect object of VOA „gave‟, because it tells us about a person, so it is to be
identified as in Dative case.
Definition of Direct Object
An object which tells us about a person or a thing is called a direct object.
Definition of Indirect Object
An object which tells us about a person alone is called an indirect object.
Definition of Possessive Case
It indicates the possession of a person, an animal, or of a thing. The possession of a person or of an
animal is always indicated by an apostrophe and‟S1 or an apostrophe alone. The idea of possession
for a lifeless thing is always indicated by the preposition „of.
Here are the examples for the definition of possessive case.
Eg : 1) This is Rama‟s pen:
P.C.
Here Rama‟s is in possessive case.
2) There is no boys‟ college in this town.
P.C.
Here „boys‟ is in possessive case.
For the development of agriculture, we need more funds.
P.C.
Here the preposition „of indicates the idea of possession between „development‟ and „agriculture‟.
Rules Relating to the Formation of Possessive Case
1. Possessive case is formed for living persons, animals by adding an apostrophe and „s‟.
Eg:
1) Rama‟s pen
2) Siva‟s dance
3) Cow‟s milk
4) King‟s death.
2. Possessive case is formed for non living things by using the preposition „of.
Eg:
1) The development of agriculture
2) The state of health.
3. Possessive case is formed for certain plural nouns not ending with S, by adding an apostrophe
and „S‟ as in the case of singular nouns.
Eg:
1) Men‟s college
2) Women‟s hostel
3) Children‟s books.
4. Possessive case should be formed for plural nouns ending with „S‟ by adding only apostrophe
without „S‟ to their end.
Eg:
1) Boys‟ hostel
2) Girls‟ college
3) Merchants‟ association
4) Students‟ Union
5. Possessive case should be formed for certain nouns containing two or more hissing sounds
which means „S‟ sounds by adding only an apostrophe without „S‟ to their end.
Eg:
1) Moses‟ laws
2) Jesus‟ name
3) For goodness‟ „sake‟
4) For conscience‟ sake
6. Possessive case should be formed for certain nouns containing only one hissing sound which
means „S‟ sound by adding an apostrophe and „S‟ to their end.
Eg:
1) Keat‟s poetry
2) Bates‟s business.
7. Possessive case should be formed for compound nouns by adding an apostrophe and „S‟ to the
last word of the compound noun.
Eg: My brother in law‟s marriage.
8. Possessive case should be formed for two nouns used in apposition to each other by adding an
apostrophe and „S‟ to the second of the two nouns used in apposition.
Eg:
1) Patel, advocate‟s house
2) Moorthy, My lecturer‟s class.
9. The possessive case should be formed for the lifeless things by using the preposition „of but
not by adding an apostrophe and „S‟.
Eg:
1. The state of her health (not her health‟s state).
2. For the development of agriculture (not agriculture‟s development)
10. Whenever a lifeless object is personified, possessive case should be formed by adding an
apostrophe and „S‟.
Eg:
1) The Nature‟s laws
2) The Earth‟s bounty
3) The Spring‟s flowers.
11. There are some expressions which always appear in possessive case.
1) A stone‟s throw
2) A hair‟s breadth
3) At arm‟s length
4) In a week‟s time
5) To his heart‟s content
6) At his wit‟s end, etc.
12. The pronoun forms, my, our, thy, your, his, her, its, mine, ours, thine (yours), yours, his, hers,
its, theirs, cannot be used in possessive case by adding an apostrophe and „S‟ because they are
originally in possessive case.
Eg : This is my car.
Ours is a new car
Definition of Appositive Case
13. Whenever a noun, noun phrase or a pronoun is used in apposition to some other noun, noun
phrase or pronoun it is said to be in appositive case. "Apposition" means that which is placed
near.
Eg :
1) M y friend, Rama, is a doctor.
2) My father met your uncle, a lawyer, in Bombay.
Here in the first sentence the noun, „Rama‟, is in appositive case because it is used in
apposition to the noun phrase, „my father‟.
In the second sentence the noun phrase, „a lawyer1 is also in appositive case because it is used
in apposition to the noun phrase, „your uncle1.
Definition of Vocative Case
Whenever a noun, noun phrase or a pronoun is directly called out or named, it is said to be vocative
case.
Here are the examples for the definition of vocative case.
1. Rama, come here.
Here Noun, „Rama1, is directly called out or addressed by name. So it is in vocative case.
2. O Death, where is thy sting?
Here the Noun phrase, „O Death‟, is directly called out or addressed by name. So it is also in
vocative case.

7. NOUN-PERSON
Conclusion
Definition of Person
Person, as a grammatical concept, indicates whether a person or persons speaking, person or persons
spoken to, a person or persons spoken of or spoken about.
Person is of three types. They are
1) First person
2) Second person
3) Third person.
Definition of First Person:
A person or persons speaking is said to be in first person.
Applicability of First Person
The first person can be applied as a grammatical concept only to the first person personal pronoun
forms alone.
First person personal pronoun forms:
Here are the personal pronoun forms which are always said to be in 1st person.
1. I, we, mine, ours Subject of verb - I know Rama
Complement of subject & verb -The car is mine.
2. Me, Us Object of VOA/VOP - Rama helps me
Object of preposition - Latha went with him
3. My, our Adjectives - This is my car.
Adverbs - This is my new car.
These pronoun forms will do two functions each about which we have discussed in PARTS OF
SPEECH PROGRAMME".
Definition of Second Person
A person or persons spoken to is said to be in second person. Applicability of Second Person:
We can apply the second person only to certain second person personal pronoun forms.
Second Person personal pronoun forms:
Forms Functions
1. You, thou (you), yet (you) Subject of verb complement of sub &
VOSOB
Thine (yours), yours 1) You come to me.

2) It is you who did it
2. You, thee (you) Object of VOA/VOP

Object of preposition
1. Latha saw you.
2. I praise Three.
3. Mohan came with you.

3. Thy (your), your Adjectives Adverbs

1. This is your car.
I glorify Thy noble name.
These pronoun forms also will do different functions as we discussed in PARTS OF SPEECH
PROGRAMME.
Definition of Third Person
A person or persons spoken of or spoken about is said to be in third person.
The Applicability of Third Person
The third person, as a Grammatical concept, can be applied to every noun like, „Rama‟, or Noun
phrase like, „Rama and Krishna‟, and also to these third person personal Pronoun forms.
REFERENCES
[1] High School English Grammar and Composition by Wren & Martin.
[2] Modern English Grammar by Dr. V. Krishna Murthy – Vol – I
[3] Modern English Grammar - Vol. 2 by Dr. V. Krishna Murthy
[4] Modern English Grammar - Vol. 3 by Dr. V. Krishna Murthy
[5] Modern English Grammar – Vol – 4 by Dr. V. Krishna Murthy
[6] Contemporary English Grammar and Composition by David Green
[7] Grammar by William Pulmer.
Citation: Dr Atiya Naheed. “Noun and its Allied Concepts, Gender, Number, Case and Person: a Critical
Review” International Journal on Studies in English Language and Literature (IJSELL), vol 5, no. 11, 2017,
pp. 48-70. DOI: https://doi.org/10.20431/2347-3134.0511006.
Copyright: © 2017 Authors. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative
Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium,
provided the original author and source are credited.

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International Journal on Studies in English Language and Literature (IJSELL)

Volume 5, Issue 11, November 2017, PP 48-70

International Journal on Studies in English Language and Literature (IJSELL) Page | 48

Definition of Collective Noun

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Definition of Common Gender

Masculine Gender Feminine Gender Masculine Gender Feminine Gender

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Numbers are of two types.

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2. His means are small, but he has incurred no debt.

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Bandit – Banditti (Bandits)

Madame (Madam) – Mesdames

Cherub – Cherubim (cherubs)

Seraph – Seraphim (seraphs)

Brother 1) Brothers, sons of the same parent

2) Brethren - members of society.

Cloth 1) Cloths, kinds of pieces of cloth.

2) Clothes - ready made garments.

Die 1) dies - stamps for coining,

2) Dice - cubes used in games.

International Journal on Studies in English Language and Literature (IJSELL) Page | 62

People (1) Nation Peoples : Nations

(2) men and women

Powder (1) a dose of medicine Powders: doses of

in fine grains. medicine

Practice (1) Habit Practices : habits

(2) Exercise of a profession

2) The flag of a regiment.

Custom : habit Customs : 1) Habits

2) Duties levied on imports.

Effect : result Effects: 1) Results

Manner : Manners 1) Methods

Moral : a moral lesson Morals : 1) Moral lesson

Ground : (1) Earth Grounds: (1) Enclosed land

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(2) Reason attached to house

Some nouns have different meaning in singular and plural number.

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Here are the examples for the Definition of objective case.

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Thine (yours), yours 1) You come to me.

2. You, thee (you) Object of VOA/VOP

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3. Thy (your), your Adjectives Adverbs

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