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Fun Easy English Classroom February 26
 

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common nouns
Common Nouns

Today in the Fun Easy English classroom you are going to learn about common nouns an important part of English grammar.
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Grammar: Common Nouns

Definition of a common noun.
  • A common noun is:
  • a word used to name a general person, animal, place, thing, or abstract idea
  • usually written beginning with an uppercase (capital) letter only when it begins a sentence
  • the opposite of a proper noun
Common Noun Examples
  • Three deer were eating.
  • The neighbors arrived on Sunday.
  • The flowers are really beautiful in March.
  • Hiking up the mountain is fun.
  • Your bicycle needs to be cleaned.
  • I enjoy teaching English at the college.
  • Try to clean up your room.
  • You should study for the exam tomorrow.
  • I like talking with my friends.
  • That tree needs to be trimmed.
  • Apples are really delicious this time of year.
  • Note: the following are NOT common nouns
  • John (proper noun which names a specific person)
  • flock (collective noun which names a group)
From YOUR Teacher: Common Nouns

Common nouns make up most of the words in the English language.
Test: Grammar Common Nouns

Study the examples of common nouns listed above. For each test question, you will be given four words. Three of the words will be common nouns and one word will NOT be a common noun.
1.  Which of the following words is NOT a common noun?

     a.  herd
     b.  tree
     c.  mountain
     d.  car
2.  Which of the following words is NOT a common noun?

     a.  Barack Obama
     b.  table
     c.  bird
     d.  desk
3.  Which of the following words is NOT a common noun?

     a.  deer
     b.  flowers
     c.  Mount Everest
     d.  mountain
4.  Which of the following words is NOT a common noun?

     a.  apple
     b.  dog
     c.  moose
     d.  Melissa
5.  Which of the following words is NOT a common noun?

     a.  leaf
     b.  flock
     c.  cherry
     d.  car
6.  Which of the following words is NOT a common noun?

     a.  equipment
     b.  girl
     c.  Starbucks
     d.  jewelry
7.  Which of the following words is NOT a common noun?

     a.  tables
     b.  Mount Rushmore
     c.  dish
     d.  radios
8.  Which of the following words is NOT a common noun?

     a.  CIA
     b.  women
     c.  bus
     d.  birds
9.  Which of the following words is NOT a common noun?

     a.  trees
     b.  cars
     c.  Wolverine
     d.  desk
10.  Which of the following words is NOT a common noun?

     a.  Star Fleet
     b.  leaf
     c.  cherry
     d.  party
 
Additional Lessons
About These Lessons

The following classroom lessons are great for students who want additional conversation, listening, and reading practice.
  • Conversation Lesson - Intermediate Level. Let's Learn English conversation lesson with a conversation video, a video script, audio listening practice, and a new words section.
Conversation Lesson 5 - Greatest Vacation of All Time
(Intermediate - Conversation, Listening, Reading)

In this lesson Anna goes to a travel agent to find the Best Vacation Ever! But does she? Travel agent Dan wants to sell her the Most Expensive Vacation Ever. But does he?
Lesson Video

Watch the video and then read the video script.
Video Script

Anna: “Do you need a vacation?” Wow. That was the best vacation I have ever had … in my head. A beach is much better than here. I need a vacation!
Professor Bot: I hear you, Anna. I need a vacation too but not at the beach. Sand is not good for robots! When we compare things, we use special forms of adjectives. "Better" is a comparative adjective. That is used to compare two things. "Best" is a superlative adjective. It shows that one thing has more of ...something than ALL of the others. Try to find more of these adjectives. Look for ER or EST at the end.
Dan: NO! You can’t get your money back. I don’t care that it was your worst vacation ever!
Dan: Hello! Have a seat! Welcome to the World’s Best Vacation Travel Agency!
Anna: Thank you and congratulations!
Dan: For what?
Anna: For being the world’s best travel agency.
Dan: Right … thanks.
Dan: Trudy, hold my calls. I am going to sell our most expensive vacation.
Trudy: Sure thing, Boss.
Dan: The Mountain Getaway is good for you. It’s a little pricey. But think of it -- you, on top of a mountain for seven days!
Anna: I’m afraid of high places.
Dan: Of course you are. That’s why our Deep Sea Adventure is better for you! It is pricier than the Mountain Getaway. Just you and the animals of the sea!
Anna: Shark! Shark!
Dan: No, there are no sharks in your dream vacation! You need the Safari Camp Out! It is our priciest vacation. But I think it’s the best one for you. During the day, you’ll see elephants, giraffes and lions. At night, you’ll sleep out under the stars.
Anna: Look, I think this was a bad idea.
Dan: Sure, you can leave. But then you won’t see the latest vacation technology.
Professor Bot: Did you find all of those adjectives? Dan started with good - The mountain getaway; then he moved to better - The Deep Sea Adventure. And finally, he said the Safari Campout was the best vacation for Anna!
Anna: Exactly what is the “latest vacation technology” … exactly?
Dan: I’m happy you asked. Meet the Travel Max 2000!
Anna: Wow.
Dan: So, tell me, how do you like to travel?
Anna: Well, I like travel that is cozy and romantic but still exciting.
Dan: Great. Tell me more.
Anna: I like traveling in a plane but not in a helicopter! Planes are a little scary but helicopters are scarier! My favorite way of traveling is by train. Ships can be the scariest! Have you seen the movie “Titanic”? Oh, and no horses. But I will ride a camel. And no bike tours. Biking is THE slowest AND least romantic way to travel. Excuse me, but I think the Travel Max 2000 is on fire.
Dan: Yes, we’re both on fire! We really want to sell you the most ex-, I mean, best vacation ever!
Anna: No, I mean it’s really on fire!
Dan: You killed it. You killed the Travel Max 2000!
Anna: I am so sorry! Can I help you fix it?
Dan: No, no!
Anna: Don’t cry. I know what you need -- a vacation!
Anna: The Safari Campout looks fun. It is the priciest. But I think you deserve it.
Dan: No, no!
Professor Bot: Oh Anna. This is the smokiest lesson yet! There were a lot of comparatives and superlatives but … I can’t breathe. Just go to the website to learn the best ways to use them!
Listening

Now practice listening to only the audio portion of the conversation.
New Words
  • agency - n. a business that provides a particular service
  • camel - n. a large animal of Africa and Asia that has a long neck and one or two large humps on its back and that is often used for desert travel
  • campout - n. an occasion when people go camping together
  • Congratulations - n. a message telling someone that you are happy because of his or her success or good luck
  • cozy/cozier - adj. small, comfortable, and warm
  • deserve - v. used to say that someone or something should or should not have or be given something
  • getaway - n. a short vacation
  • latest - adj. most recent
  • least - adj. smallest in amount or degree
  • on fire - expression. in the process of burning / feeling very strong enthusiasm, love, etc.
  • pricey - adj. costing a lot of money​
  • sink - v. to go down below the surface of water
  • smoke - n. the cloud of black, gray, or white gases and dust that is produced by burning something​
  • technology - n. the use of science in industry, engineering, etc., to invent useful things or to solve problems​
  • vacation - n. a period of time that a person spends away from home, school, or business usually in order to relax or travel​
  • worst - adj. least appropriate, useful, or helpful
Conversation Lessons

Study all 30 English intermediate conversation lessons. Let's Learn English conversation lessons each with a conversation video, a video script, audio listening practice, and a new words section. These lessons are for intermediate students.
Conversation Lessons

Study all 52 English beginner conversation lessons. Let's Learn English conversation lessons each with a conversation video, a video script, audio listening practice, video speaking practice, video pronunciation practice, a new words section, and a writing activity. These lessons are for beginning students.
Source: Voice of America
 
Additional Information
Avoid Ineffective Study Methods

The complete lesson includes an audio program explaining this topic, the script for the audio program, a words in this story section, and other important information.
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Audio Program

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Improve Your Pronunciation by Training Your Ears

The complete lesson includes an audio program explaining this topic, the script for the audio program, a words in this story section, and other important information.
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Audio Program

Listen to the audio program explaining this topic.
 
Improve Your Long-Term Memory by Spacing Practice

The lesson includes an audio program explaining this topic, the script for the audio program, a words in this story section, and other important information.
Click for the complete lesson
Audio Program

Listen to the audio program explaining this topic.
 
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