THE NOUN

(1.Common noun, 2. Proper noun, 3.Collective noun, 4.Abstract noun, 5.Material noun)

Definition :

A noun is a word, it is used as the name of a person, animal, place, bird, idea, emotion or thing.For example boy , girl, table, chair, peacock, honesty, happiness, wisdom, book etc.,

e.g.

Person David, Sister, Woman, BrotherPlace Chennai, London, Delhi, Maxico

Animal Tiger, Elephant, Lion, DeerBird Parrot, Crow, Swan, Peacock

Emotion Happiness, Sadness, Thought, ToyThing Pen, Book, Computer, Pencil

Types of nouns

NOUNS ARE NAMING words. They identify people, things or place in our world. Nouns come in six different forms: proper, common, abstract, concrete, collective, and compound. Further, the nouns can be classified into two major types as : countable and uncountable nouns.

1. Common noun :

Definition :

A common noun is a name given in common to every person or thing of the same class of kind.These common nouns are words for things.e.g.chair bicycle televisionhammer ladder computeraxe calculator cookersaw crayons bookcourage ruler printerlaziness lawnmower dictionary

These common nouns are words for animals.

e.g.

cat kitten liondog puppy tigerhorse foal elephant

goat kid whalefrog tadpole kangaroosheep lamb bear

These common nouns are words for places.

e.g.

airport hostel templeuniversity hotel mosquestadium bank schoolpark library collegefarm theater post officezoo mall police station

These common nouns are words for people who do certain things.

e.g.

artist teacher police officersinger headmaster plumberdancer manager driverdirector doctor writermagician lawyer farmerartist clerk friend  

2. Proper noun :

Definition :

A proper noun is the name of some particular person, place, thing, particular event, or group. This proper noun begins with a capital letter. If the noun is nonspecific, that is, the noun refers to a general idea and not a specific person, place, or thing, it is usually not a proper noun, so it it not capitalized.

e.g.

Specific NonspecificWorld war II A warEnglish class A classThe American Bar Association The association

These people’s names are proper nouns.

e.g.

Aladdin Muhammad Ali Dad

Harry Potter George Washington MomMahatma Gandhi Hitler GrannySanta Claus Nelson Mandela Uncle David Confucius Jayalalitha Miss ParkAlex Rodriguez Jacky chan Mr.Raj

The names of the days of the week and the months of the year are proper nouns.

e.g.

days of the week monthsSunday January AugustMonday February SeptemberTuesday March OctoberWednesday April NovemberThursday May DecemberFriday JuneSaturday July

The names of special days and celebrations are also proper nouns.

e.g.

New Year’s Day DewaliValentine’s Day RamadanIndependece Day ChristmasLabour Day Memorial DayFalg Day ThanksgivingRepublic Day Veteran’s Day

The names of famous places, buildings and monuments are proper nouns.

e.g.

The Taj Mahal The Statue of Liberty The Eiffel Tower Chaco Canyon PuebloThe Golden Gate Bridge the Leaning Tower of Pisa Labour Day Graceland The Great Wall of China Buckingham Palace

The names of people who live in a particular country are also proper nouns.

e.g.

Country PeopleAfghanistan AfghansAustralia Australians

Britain the BritishGermany GermansUSA AmericansIndia Indians

3. Collective noun :

Definition :

i) A collective noun is a name of a number (collection) of persons or things taken together and spoken of as one whole as:Crowd, mob, team, flock, herd, army, fleet, jury, family, nation, parliament, committee.

ii) Nouns that refer to a specific group of persons or things are called Collective Nouns.

These are nouns for groups of people. Here are some collective nouns for groups of people.

e.g.

a family a committeea community a companya band a ganga choir the governmentan audience the army

Many collective nouns can be used with a singular or plural verb.

e.g.

The crowd was orderly. The people were clapping, yelling and cheering.

Here are more collective nouns we can use for groups of people.

e.g.

A crowd of people An army of soldiersa panel of judges A tem of playersa class of schoolchildren a company of actorsa gang of thieves a band of musicians

Many groups of animals have their own special collective nouns.

e.g.

a brood of chickens a litter of puppies a school of fisha flock of birds a pack of wolves a swarm of bees a drove of sheep a pride of lions a troop of monkeys

a herd of cattle a pod of dolphins a gaggle of geese

Some groups of things also have their own special collective nouns.

e.g.

a bunch of bananas a deck of cards a fleet of vehiclesa bunch of flower a cluster of grapes a suite of roomsa bunch of keys a grove of trees a suite of furniturea bouquet of flower a fleet of ships a set of tools

Some nouns name the amount or form of something.

e.g.

a loaf of bread a bar of soap a bar of chocolate

The words a piece of mean a single serving or part of something.

e.g.

a slice/piece of bread a slice/piece of cheese a sheet/piece of papera piece/square of chocolate a piece of chalk a piece of advice

4. Abstract noun :

Definition :

An abstract noun is usually the name of a feelings, ideas, action, state and characteristics, or qualities considered apart from the object to which it belongs as.

Most abstract nouns end with these suffixes:

e.g.

-ism -ment -itynationalism argument personality

-tion -ship -enceaggravation friendship silence

This abstract noun cannot be seen, heard, touched or tasted but it can only be felt by our sense. The abstract noun is not visible.

e.g.

Quality wiseness, goodness, kindness, whiteness, darkness, honesty, wisdom, braveryAction quarreling, jog, laughter, theft, movement, judgement, hatredState poverty, childhood, boyhood, manhood, youth, slavery, sleep, death

For example, we cannot be 'happiness' but we can feel that in our heart or mind. The names of the subject of study (e.g. grammar, music, chemistry, etc.) are also Abstract Nouns.

(i) Concrete nouns :

in opposite to abstract noun, the concrete nouns can be seen or touched by us.

e.g.

building iron steel gold

(ii) Countable nouns :

(countables) are the names of objects, people, etc. that we can count. And they have their own singular and plural forms.

e.g.

book apple doctor horsebooks apples doctors horses

(iii) Uncountable nouns :

(uncountables) are the names of things which we cannot count, e.g. milk, oil, sugar, gold, honesty.

The uncountable nouns generally refer to

e.g.

drinks coffee, tea materials wood, glass, gold, silverliquids milk, oil, petrol games cricket, tennis, footballgases air, oxygen

Countable nouns have plural forms while uncountable nouns do not. Even the abstract nouns are also uncountable nouns.For example, we say boys but we cannot say oils.

 

5. Material noun :

Definition :

There are the raw elements or objects existing in nature.

e.g.

Iron Gold Stones BrassAluminium Mercury Plastic Mat

THE NOUN - EXERCIES

Find Common, Proper, Abstract, Material, Collective, Countable, Uncountable, Concrete Nouns from the following list.

1. Which of the following noun is a Proper Noun?a) singer b) Peter c) milk d) sister Answer

2. Which of the following noun is a Common Noun?a) birds b) London c) iron d) India Answer

3. Which of the following noun is a Collective Noun?a) team b) book c) marbles d) ships Answer

4. Artist is a ............ Noun?

a) Collective b) Abstract c) Concrete d) Countable Answer5. Family is a ............ Noun?

a) Collective b) Abstract c) Concrete d) Countable Answer6. Which of the following noun is not a Abstract Noun?

a) goodness b) bravery c) family d) childhood Answer7. Which of the following noun is not a Countable Noun?

a) books b) gold c) horse d) apple Answer8. Which of the following noun is not a Proper Noun?

a) team b) London c) Monday d) Nelson Answer9. Birds fly in the sky.

a) Proper Noun b) Common Noun c) Abstract Noun d) Collective Noun Answer10. I saw a bunch of grapes.

a) Common Noun b) Material Noun c) Collective Noun d) Abstract Noun Answer

Fill in the blanks in the fowlloing sentences with suitable collective nouns :

( good ness, bunch, iron, chain, queen, school, hive, set, wood, horse, paper )1. I have lost a ........... of keys.

2. There seems to be a plan behind this ........ of events.3. There is a large ........ of fish near the coast.

4. Do not disturb that ...... of bees.5. There is a fine ..... of pictures in the palace.

 

Fill in the blanks in the fowlloing sentences with Feminine forms of the words given at the end :

( lass, niece, mare, baroness, spinster, heroine, priestess, heiress, hostess )1. She is the ...... of the story. (hero)

2. The young ..... did not know what to say. (lad)3. She remained a ..... all her life. (bachelor)4. He bought a beautiful chestnut ......(horse)5. The ..... wore a diamond necklace. (baron)

 

Fill in the blanks with the correct forms of the Plural of the words given at the end :

1. She is the ...... of the story. (synopsis)2. I saw many ....... on the underside of the leaf. (larva)

3. The building was six ..... high. (storey)4. My two ...... have come to see me.(son-in-law)

5. He is good at telling funny ....... (story)

Common Nouns Exercises: Name the professionals

1. One who cuts hair is a . Answer

2. One who cures sick people is a . Answer

3. One who sells medicines and drugs is a . Answer

4. One who makes bread is a . Answer

5. One who operates on sick people is a . Answer

6. One who makes chairs and tables is a . Answer

7. One who sells tickets on a buss is a . Answer

8. One who cultivates the land is a . Answer