Select the answer choice that identifies the noun in the sentence.
1. Many of these people have been ignored.
- Many
- These
- People
- Ignored
2. Most of the calls to this company are placed on lengthy holds.
- Most
- Placed
- Lengthy
- Holds
3. The U.S. Declaration of Independence was written in 1776.
- U.S.
- Declaration
- Written
- In
4. Tom and Dave were in the same platoon during the Gulf War.
- War
- And
- Were
- During
5. This is a mighty fine job of woodworking, if I do say so myself.
- Job
- Mighty
- Fine
- Say
6. My mother tried to live in South Georgia for two years but couldn’t stand the heat.
- Live
- Heat
- Tried
- But
7. Rosemary, come and meet our new dog!
- Come
- Meet
- Our
- Dog
8. Keeping warm in the winter is both more difficult and more important for elderly persons.
- Keeping
- Difficult
- Persons
- Elderly
9. Susan was exceedingly proud of her beautiful new home.
- Exceedingly
- Home
- Proud
- Beautiful
10. Napoleon and Hitler were both great military strategists; megalomania, leading to poor judgment, was their downfall.
- Downfall
- Their
- Leading
- Military
Answers – Identifying Nouns
1. C: “People” is the only noun in this sentence. It is the plural of “person.” A noun identifies a person, place, or thing. “Many,” although the subject of the sentence, is an adverb indicating amount. “These” is an adjective modifying the noun “people.” “Ignored” is a transitive verb; “have been ignored” is the plural past participle used to form the passive voice.
2. D: In this sentence context, “holds” is a plural noun. (“Calls” and “company” are also nouns but are not choices here.) B (placed) is a verb. C (lengthy) is an adjective modifying the noun.
3. B: Declaration is the only noun in this sentence. U.S. (A) in this context is an adjective modifying Declaration. Written (C) is a verb. In (D) is a preposition.
4. A: War is the only choice offered that is a noun. (Nouns in the sentence are proper nouns Tom, Dave; platoon; and War.) “And” is a conjunction. “Were” is a verb (past tense). “During” is a preposition indicating a relationship of time between the verb “were” and the noun “War.”
5. A: The only noun of the choices given is “job.” (Other nouns in the sentence are “woodworking,” “I,” and the intensive pronoun “myself.”) “Mighty” (B) is an adverb modifying the adjective “fine” (C). “Say” (D) is a verb.
6. B: “Heat” is the only noun choice offered. “Live” (A) is a verb (infinitive). “Tried” (C) is also a verb (past tense). “But” (D) is a conjunction.
7. D: “Dog” is a noun. “Come” (A) is a verb (imperative). “Meet” (B) is also a verb. “Our” (C) is a possessive pronoun modifying the noun “dog.”
8. C: “Persons” is a plural noun. “Keeping” (A) is the gerund form of a verb in this sentence (i.e. it functions as the subject like a noun, but it is not a noun). “Difficult” (B) is an adjective modifying the noun phrase “Keeping warm in the winter.” “Elderly” (D) is an adjective modifying the noun “persons.”
9. B: “Home” is the only noun of the choices offered. (The name “Susan” is a proper noun, but it is not a choice.) “Exceedingly” (A) is an adverb modifying the adjective “proud” (C). “Beautiful” (D) is an adjective modifying the noun “home.”
10. A: Of the choices listed, only “Downfall” is a noun. (Other nouns in the sentence not offered as choices are Napoleon, Hitler, strategists, megalomania, and judgment.) “Their” (B) is a possessive third-person plural pronoun modifying the noun “downfall.” “Leading” (C) is a verb (progressive participial form) and is part of a verb phrase modifying the noun “megalomania.” “Military” (D) is an adjective modifying the noun “strategists.”