Of Nouns.
A Noun is the name of any person, place, or thing; as, niwi, garden; Nipon, Japan.
Nouns are either Proper or Common:—
- A Proper Noun is the name of any particular person, place, or thing, as Yokohama, Kosi.
- A Common Noun is a name given in common to everything of the same kind, as tukuye, table.
Nouns are varied by number and gender.
Of Number.
There are two numbers, the Singular and Plural.
In Japanese, nouns change their forms in a few cases; generally they have the same forms, both in their plural and singular. But when they change their forms the plural is rendered by adding domo, gata, or ra to the singular; as ko, child; danna, gentleman; shosei, student, in the singular; and kodomo, dannagata, shoseira, in the plural.
The number of nouns generally are distinguished by numeral adjectives; as hito hitori, one person; hito futari, two persons.
Of Gender.
Nouns have three genders—the Masculine, Feminine, and Neuter.
