What does a noun mean: A person, place, thing, or idea. In the phrase, "Jack and Jill went up the hill to fetch a pail of water," what are the nouns: Jack, Jill, hill, water, pail. In the phrase, "Jack and Jill went up the hill to fetch a pail of water," how can you tell the common nouns from the proper nouns: The proper nouns are capitalized.. What is an example of a concrete noun: Food. What is an example of an abstract noun: Intelligence. Which is an example of a compound noun: Toothpaste. How are nouns usually pluralized: By adding an "s" or "es" at the end. The plural of "knife" is_________: knives. The plural of "belief" is ________: beliefs