Nouns have number, gender and case.
Number — There are three numbers: the singular, the dual and the plural. The dual and the plural are formed by adding the number ‘two’ or ‘several’ to the singular: Thurlta, a kangaroo; Thurltapakula, a couple of kangaroos; Thurlta gutthalagu, several kangaroos.
Gender — For human beings, gender is defined by the use of different words: Wimbadya, a man; Kambukka, a woman; Kurtyungga, a boy; Karnkali, a girl; Mundhanggura, a child of either sex.
The gender of animals is shown by the use of words which indicate male or female: Thurlta dhuladya, a male kangaroo; Thurlta ngammugga, a female kangaroo.
Certain male animals have a name that distinguishes them, without the sex being specified and certain females are also recognisable by a special word. In these cases, it is unnecessary to give the name of the animal.
Case — The principal cases are: nominative, causative, instrumental, accusative, genitive, dative and ablative.
Nominative — When the action described stays with the subject, the noun is not declined. Example: Wimbadya ngingganunna, the man is seated.
Causative — When the given action can be transferred to an object, in the accusative, the subject takes a case-suffix: Wimbadyawa waku burtatyi, the man a snake killed. Kulliwa yerrandyi dhuttatyi, a dog an opossum bit.
Instrumental — In many Australian languages, the grammar of which I have previously studied, the suffix is the same for the instrumental and the causative, but in Kūrnū it is the genitive suffix which is applied in the instrumental case. Examples: Kumbukkawa wimbadya bulkatyi kurnkarna, a woman beat a man with a yam stick. Wimbadyawa thurlta bundatyi karpukkarna, a man pierced a kangaroo with a spear. Kutyunggawa thapura wurtatyi mulkarna, the boy caught a cod with a net. Bulkawutthuru wangulu wunnarna, he killed a wallaby with a boomerang.
Genitive — Wimbadyarna wunna, a man’s boomerang. Kumbukkarna kurnka, a woman’s yam stick. Kullirna gurni, a dog’s tail.
Accusative — Is the same as the nominative.
Dative — Yuppira, a camp. Yuppiramirra, to a camp.
Ablative — Yuppirandu, of a camp/from a camp.