A noun can be the subject or object of a sentence. Notice this sentence

Democracy is a Western idea.

In this sentence democracy and idea are nouns. (they are abstract nouns)

A noun is the simplest form of a noun phrase. A noun can be preceded by

(i) an article or demonstrative: an idea, the idea, this idea; and/or

(ii) an adjective: a Western idea [There can be more than one adjective, or an adverb and an adjective]: a quintessentially Western idea.

(iii) and/or numerals and quantifying phrases: three very influential Western ideas; such a tradition. (quantifying phrases such as a few/some/one of the many)

A noun can be followed by prepositional phrases and relative or complement clauses. There will be nouns and noun phrases within the prepositional phrase as in ‘traditions of public discussion’.

III. Noun phrases can also have phrases in apposition following the main noun. Notice the following sentence

The ancient Sanskrit epics, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, are colossally longer than the works that the modest Homer could manage.

The Ramayana and the Mahabharata add to the meaning of the main noun (epics)and are placed next to it. They are separated from the main sentence by commas. Notice the expansion here:

The ancient Sanskrit epics, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, which are frequently compared with the Iliad and the Odyssey, are colossally longer than the works that the modest Homer could manage.

The relative clause—which are frequently compared with the Iliad and the Odyssey— that follows, adds more information to the epics.

IV. Parenthetical phrases or clauses may also follow the noun phrase.

(i) This can be traced back even to the Upanisads—the dialectical  treatises that were composed from about the eighth century BCE and which are often taken to be foundations of Hindu philosophy.

The clause italicised here gives additional information about the noun ‘Upanisads’. .

Use the suffixes -ion or -tion to form nouns from the following verbs. Make the necessary changes in the spellings of the words.

Example: proclaim – proclamation

cremate –

invent –

direct-

dislocate-

act-

tempt-

meditate-

associate-

exhaust-

immigrate-

imagine-

dedicate-

Qu. Now fill in the blanks with suitable words from the ones that you have formed.

(i) Mass literacy was possible only after the……….. of the printing machine.

(ii) Ramesh is unable to tackle the situation as he lacks ……..

(iii) I could not resist the ……….to open the letter.

(iv) Hardwork and …………are the main keys to success.

(v) The children were almost fainting with ……….after being made to stand in the sun.

There are nouns (formation, government) which are formed from the corresponding verbs (form, govern) by suffixing -(at)ion or ment. There may be a change in the spelling of some verb – noun pairs: such as rebel, rebellion; constitute, constitution.

2. Read the paragraph below. Fill in the blanks with the noun forms of the verbs in brackets.

Martin Luther King’s (contribute) to our history as an outstanding leader began when he came to the (assist) of Rosa Parks, a seamstress who refused to give up her seat on a bus to a white passenger. In those days American Blacks were confined to positions of second class citizenship by restrictive laws and customs. To break these laws would mean (subjugate) and (humiliate) by the police and the legal system. Beatings, (imprison) and sometimes death awaited those who defied the System. Martin Luther King’s tactics of protest involved non-violent (resist) to racial injustice.

II. Using the Definite Article with Names

You know that the definite article ‘the’ is not normally used before proper nouns. Nor do proper nouns usually occur in the plural. (We do not say: *The Nelson Mandela, or *Nelson Mandelas.)

But now look at this sentence

… the decades of oppression and brutality … produced the Oliver Tambos, the Walter Sisulus, … of our time.

Used in this way with the and/or in the plural, a proper noun carries a special meaning. For example, what do you think the names above mean? Choose the right answer.

(a) for example Oliver Tambo, Walter Sisulu, …

(b) many other men like Oliver Tambo, Walter Sisulu …/many men of their type or kind, whose names may not be as well known.

Did you choose option (b)? Then you have the right answer!

Here are some more examples of ‘the’ used with proper names. Try to say what these sentences mean. (You may consult a dictionary if you wish. Look at the entry for ‘the’.)

1. Mr Singh regularly invites the Amitabh Bachchans and the Shah Rukh Khans to his parties.

2. Many people think that Madhuri Dixit is the Madhubala of our times.

3. History is not only the story of the Alexanders, the Napoleons and the Hitlers, but of ordinary people as well.

II. Noun Modifiers To describe or give more information about a noun (or to modify a noun), we useadjectives or adjectival phrases. Look at these examples from the text:

a. An eminently suitable spot

b. His wide, flat belly

c. Symmetrical pointed scales

d. A ricocheting bullet

Nouns can also be used as modifiers

a. The dinner party

b. A designer dress

c. The car keys

We can use more than one noun as modifier. Proper nouns can also be used:

(a) The Christmas dinner party

(b) A silk designer dress

(c) The Maruti car keys

In the examples below, there is an adjectival phrase in front of a noun modifier:

(a) The lovely Christmas party

(b) A trendy silk designer dress

(c) The frightfully expensive golden Maruti car keys

You know that we can combine sentences using words like and, or, but, yet and then. But sometimes no such word seems appropriate. In such a case we can use a semicolon (;) or a dash (—) to combine two clauses. She has no interest in music; I doubt she will become a singer like her mother. The second clause here gives the speaker’s opinion on the first clause.