In this post we will explore the kinds of noun with examples. You can also find inforgraphics of noun to save for a quick revision.
Definition of Noun
A noun can be the name of anything, any person, place, thing, idea, concept or emotion.
Examples are boy, woman, plane, auditorium, love, kindness, bravery.
Kinds of Noun
- Common Nouns
- Proper Nouns
- Collective Nouns
- Abstract Nouns
- Material Nouns
- Concrete Nouns
- Compound Nouns
Common and Proper Nouns
A common noun is a name given to any non-specific thing.
It can be anything not specified, a girl, a ship, a mountain in general.
A proper noun is a name of particular things.
If we specify something individual with a name it becomes a proper noun
Martha, Titanic, Mount Everest
Proper Nouns always start with a capital letter.
Examples of Common Nouns
- Boy
- College
- City
- Country
- Month
- University
- Day
Examples of Proper Nouns
- Chris
- Royal College
- Montreal
- Japan
- October
- The University of Guelph
- Monday
There are few exceptions like names of seasons, games and animals are not proper nouns and general rules of common nouns apply to them for capitalization.
Collective Nouns
Collective nouns are names given to a collection of objects, people, animals etc.
We use collective nouns in our language every day.
Some examples of collective nouns are:
- Class (group of students)
- Army (group of soldiers)
- Team (group of players and workers)
- crew (workers on a ship, plane, etc)
- Galaxy (collection of stars)
- Bunch (a collection of keys, flowers, bananas)
- Gang (a group of criminals)
- Flight(multiple stairs)
Abstract Noun
Abstract nouns are names given to non-physical ideas or concept like, freedom, happiness, courage, fear, agenda, activity,
We cannot touch or see them in a physical form but they are understood mentally.
Some examples in sentences:
- Life is short.
- Time is a great healer.
- Truth is beauty.
- He has a great sense of humour.
Material Noun
Material nouns are names of materials, substances or ingredients we can use to make other things. They are tangible things. Material nouns can be grouped into the following categories
Some examples are:
- Metals like iron, gold, silver, copper, …
- Edible materials or substances measured in bulk like tea, sugar, rice, barley, …
- Geological bodies: sand, mud, rock, etc.
Concrete Noun
Concrete nouns are persons or things that one can perceive with the senses such as sight, hearing, smell, touch or taste. It is a type of a common noun.
Some examples are:
- car
- cat
- desk
- phone
- book
- pilot
Compound Noun
Compound nouns are two or more words joined together with a hyphen or without it to convey a different sense.
Some examples are:
- Football
- playground
- bookstore
- mother-in-law etc.
Overview of the kinds of Nouns
Common Nouns-unspecific things or people.
Proper Noun– specific things, places, people, start with a capital letter.
Collective Noun-name of group or Collection.
Abstract Noun– the name of emotion, idea, nonphysical thing, cannot be sensed by five senses.
Material Nouns-substances, metals, ingredients used to make other things.
Concrete Nouns can be perceived with senses.
Compound Nouns are two or three nouns put together to convey a different sense.
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