Editing Gilbertese language (section)

=== Nouns===
Gilbertese lacks a morphological noun-marker system. This means that—by itself—a noun cannot be identified as such. However, singular nouns can be distinguished from other words, as they are preceded by the article "''{{Lang|gil|te}}''". However, not all singular nouns can take the article. These include names of people and places, words for cardinal directions, and other specific nouns.

Any noun can be formed from a verb or an adjective by preceding it with the article "''{{Lang|gil|te}}''".

*''{{Lang|gil|nako}}'' (to go)
*''{{Lang|gil|te nako}}'' (the going)
*''{{Lang|gil|uraura}}'' (red)
*''{{Lang|gil|te uraura}}'' (the redness)

Nouns can be marked for possession (by person and number). Plurality is only marked in some nouns by lengthening the first vowel.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Kiribati (Gilbertese): Grammar Handbook |last=Trussel |first=Stephen |publisher=Vermont Peace Corps Language Handbook Series |year=1979 |location=The Experiment Press |pages=85–86 |chapter=Lesson 13 |chapter-url=https://www.trussel.com/kir/lessons/gramlesson13.pdf}}</ref> Even then, the singular form might be used—despite plural referents—if no other indicators of their plurality are present.

*''{{Lang|gil|te boki}}'' (book)
*''{{Lang|gil|booki}}'' (books)

There is no obligatory marked gender. Sex or gender can be marked by adding ''{{Lang|gil|mmwaane}}'' (male) or ''{{Lang|gil|aiine}}'' (female) to the noun.

*''{{Lang|gil|te moa}}'' (chicken)
*''{{Lang|gil|te moa mmwaane}}'' (rooster) (writing ''{{Lang|gil|mwane}}'' is more usual)
*''{{Lang|gil|te moa aiine}}'' (hen) (writing ''{{Lang|gil|aine}}'' is more usual)
* ''{{Lang|gil|tariu}}''<ref>with possessive suffix -u, my.</ref> (my brother or my sister, if he or she has the same sex as the speaker)
* ''{{Lang|gil|maneu}}''<ref>with the same possessive suffix.</ref> (my brother or my sister, if he or she has a different sex from the speaker)

For human nouns, the linker 'n' may be used.

*''{{Lang|gil|ataei}}'' (child)
*''{{Lang|gil|ataeinimmwaane}}'' (boy)
*''{{Lang|gil|ataeinnaiine}}'' (girl)

[[Agent noun|'''Agent nouns''']] can be created with the particle ''{{Lang|gil|tia}}'' (singular) or ''{{Lang|gil|taan(i)}}'' (plural).{{citation needed|date=February 2023}}

In Gilbertese, nouns can be classified as either '''animate''' or '''inanimate'''. The category of animate nouns includes humans and most animals, whereas inanimate nouns refer to all other entities.

'''Possession''', when the possessor is inanimate, is marked with the "n" clitic. In writing, it may be joined with the previous word, or written separately. In cases where the "n" marker would be otherwise incompatible with the language's phonotactics, one might use "in" or "ni" instead. In phrases where the possessor is animate, a special possessive pronoun needs to be employed (see [[Gilbertese language#Pronouns|Pronouns]]).

Nouns can also be classified as '''alienable''' or '''inalienable'''. Inalienable nouns include, among others, parts of the body, family, and feelings. Words which are newly introduced into the language are never considered to be inalienable. The meanings of certain words may vary according to whether or not they are considered alienable.

Adjectives can also be formed from nouns by '''reduplication''' with the meaning of "abundant in", e.g., {{Lang|gil|karau}} ("rain"), {{Lang|gil|kakarau}} ("rainy").