Types of Nouns

Published on: Feb 25 2011 by Shenron

A noun is a part of speech, i.e. very well known in English. Normally people have memorized it as “a noun is a name of a person, place or a thing,” here thing also refers to animal. There are different types of noun that makes a sentence. All these different types have different rules. Let us start with the types of noun

Different Types of Nouns

There are different types of nouns that are used in grammar and composition in English. They are different from each other on the basis of their character and nature.

In this article we will understand these types of nouns with examples and explanations.

Types of Nouns: Proper Nouns

Proper nouns are those nouns which are “one and only”. If the proper noun is the name of a very unique and important thing, it will be prefixed by “the”. In the following statements, the words in italics are the proper nouns.

  • Damien is the star football player in the school.
  • Washington D.C. is the capital of the country.
  • The Sun gives us light and warmth for survival.

In these statements, the first statement contains a proper noun that is the name of a person. The second statement contains a proper noun that is the name of a place. The third statement contains a proper noun that is the name of a thing.

Types of Nouns: Common Nouns

Common nouns are names of common things which are not special or one and only. A common noun is mostly prefixed with “a”. In the following statements, the words in italics are the Common nouns.

  • A pen is mightier than a sword.
  • He is just another regular boy.
  • We went to the park, on a windy summer day.

In the first statement, the common nouns are inanimate things. In the second statement the common noun is a boy which can be any boy. The third statement has the word “day” as a common noun. This is again due to the absence of specifications and the possibility that there could be many days like that one.

Types of Nouns: Collective Nouns

Collective nouns are those that are used to refer a group of certain objects, or things. Different objects, animals, people, and things have different terms as a group. Hence, it is important to know these. In the following statements, the words in italics are the Collective nouns.

  • A pride of lions.
  • A mob of people.
  • A bouquet of flowers.

The first statement, refers to a group of an animal; lions. Different animals’ groups have different names, like a HERD of cows, etc. The second statement contains a word used to describe a group of people. Different situations need the use of different words for the same. The third statement refers to a group of flowers. Different things have different words to explain them as a group. However, a group of flowers is best expressed as a bouquet.

Types of Nouns: Abstract Nouns

Abstract nouns are names of those things which are unseen but can be felt like emotions, ideas and concepts. These are words that cannot be described or calculated. In the following statements, the words in italics are the Abstract nouns.

  • I think I am falling in Love.
  • The epiphany was overwhelming.
  • It was his stroke of genius.

In the first statement, the feeling of love is the noun. The second statement shows the idea of an epiphany as an abstract noun. The third statement contains the concept of genius as the noun.

Types of Nouns: Concrete Noun

Concrete nouns are those that can be seen, felt and measured. The concept of concrete nouns is the opposite of abstract nouns. In fact, All the nouns those are not abstract are concrete nouns. In the following statements, the words in italics are the concrete nouns.

  • Damien is the star football player in the school.
  • A pen is mightier than a sword.
  • A pride of lions.

In the first statement, the proper noun is a concrete noun also as it is a person that is existent. In the second statement, the concrete nouns are common nouns also. Both objects can be touched and felt. The third statement contains a concrete noun that is a collective noun also describing a group of animals that can be seen, heard, smelt, touched etc.

Types of Nouns: Countable Nouns

Countable nouns are those that show its numerical status whether it is single or plural. In the following statement, the words in italics are the countable nouns.

  • The guys were meeting at the gym.

In the statement, the first noun is in plural state which refers to the fact that there is more than one guy subject to the action. The second noun is singular in state which shows that there is only one gym subject to the action.

Types of Nouns: Mass Noun

Mass nouns are the words which are in abundance but uncountable and not in numerical order. The words in italics are the mass nouns.

  • We need to get them some water.
  • The wood was burning.
  • The information was incomplete

The nouns in all the statements refuse to let the reader know if they are singular or plural.

Types of Nouns: Pronouns

They are words that replace nouns in order to avoid repetition in a statement or conversation. They are on the basis of gender.

  • HE is the pronoun used for a male noun.
  • SHE is the pronoun used for a female noun.
  • IT is the pronouns used for a thing that one does not know the gender of, or that does not have a definite gender.
  • THEY is a pronoun used for plural nouns.
  • THIS is a pronoun used for a singular noun that is in the vicinity.
  • THESE is the pronoun used for plural nouns in the vicinity.
  • THAT is the pronoun used for a singular noun that is not around.
  • THOSE is the pronoun used for a plural noun that is not around.

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