Proper nouns and common nouns

Notes

  • Nouns can generally be preceded by a number-measure word combination.
    • Some nouns this is optional, e.g. 小时
    • Some nouns can't have a measure word e.g. 年
  • Repeating single-character nouns to mean "every [noun]"
    • In this case no measure word needed.
    • Reduplicated nouns can only be subject or adverbial adjunct.
  • Plural nouns
    • Often no need to mark plural
    • Other elements of sentence can indicate plural, e.g. 都, numbers
    • Personal nouns and some animate nouns can be made plural with 们 (but only when nothing else in the sentence marks plural)
  • Nouns involving the suffixes 子, 儿, 头
  • Nouns can be subject and object.
    • Some nouns can be predicate without 是, e.g. 今天晴天.

Types of nouns

Could explain these as different rules can apply

  • Proper
  • Animate
    • Personal
  • Inanimate
  • Abstract

See Also

Sources