The nouns in Iroquois are varied, but with accidence differing from the Aryan and Semitic variations, some of the distinctions being more subtle, and, so to speak, metaphysical. The dual is expressed by prefixing the particle _te_, and suffixing _ke_ to the noun; thus, from _kanonsa_, house, we have _tekanonsake_, two houses. These syllables, or at least the first, are supposed to be derived from _tekeni_, two. The plural, when it follows an adjective expressive of number, is indicated by the syllable _ni_ prefixed to the noun, and _ke_ suffixed; as, _eso nikanonsake_, many houses. In other cases the plural is sometimes expressed by one of the words _okon_ (or _hokon_) _okonha_, _son_ and _sonha_, following the noun. In general, however, the plural significance of nouns is left to be inferred from the context, the verb always and the adjective frequently indicating it. All beings are divided into two classes, which do not correspond either with the Aryan genders or with the distinctions of animate and inanimate which prevail in the Algonkin tongues. These classes have been styled noble and common. To the noble belong male human beings and deities. The other class comprises women and all other objects. It seems probable, however, that the distinction in the first instance was merely that of sex,--that it was, in fact, a true gender. Deities, being regarded as male, were included in the masculine gender. There being no neuter form, the feminine gender was extended, and made to comprise all other beings. These classes, however, are not indicated by any change in the noun, but merely by the forms of the pronoun and the verb. The local relations of nouns are expressed by affixed particles, such as _ke_, _ne_, _kon_, _akon_, _akta._ Thus, from _onónta_ mountain, we have _onontáke_, at (or to) the mountain; from _akéhrat_, dish, _akehrátne_, in (or on) the dish; from _kanónsa_, house, _kanonsákon_, or _kanónskon_, in the house, _kanonsókon_, under the house, and _kanonsákta_, near the house. These locative particles, it will be seen, usually, though not always, draw the accent towards them.