The Noun

The noun is a naming word. A noun is the name of a place, thing, person, or idea. Because there are so many things and ideas to be named in our existence, there are many kinds of nouns.

The broadest category of noun is the concrete noun. Most nouns are concrete nouns. Names of places, things and persons are “concrete” nouns. Concrete nouns are nouns that can be seen, felt, tasted, smelt, or touched. Names of ideas, such as “wisdom”, which doesn’t directly affect our physical senses, are called “abstract” nouns. Abstract nouns are ideas, and therefore are creations of the human mind.

Proper Vs Common Noun

A common noun names something that is not specific. For example, the word “dog” is a common noun. That is because there are billions of dogs in the world, and if I say “the dog is on the road,” you have no idea which dog I am talking about. The proper noun names a specific dog, example “Rover.” The proper noun, therefore, narrows down.

Nouns can fall into any one of the following categories.

Proper nouns

Georgetown, Washington, Patrick, Rover, Caribbean Examination Council (organization), Christmas (specific thing)

Common nouns

Concrete nouns

Table, fire, sofa, electricity, bed, air, flower, road, cheetah, classroom, grass, phone, friend, meal, perfume.

Abstract nouns

The abstract noun is a product of the human mind or imagination. It is something we make up in our minds to name “something abstract.” Without the human mind, the abstract noun might no longer exist. The abstract noun is the name of an idea, concept, experience, state of being, trait, quality, feeling or other entity that cannot be physically experienced with the five senses – you cannot see, touch, hear, smell or taste it.

Education, life, wisdom, power, honesty, wickedness, righteousness, friendship, love, hatred, jealousy, charity,

Although abstract nouns cannot affect our physically being directly, they can affect us indirectly. Example: The eerie silence drove fear into my heart; the fear caused my skin to grow goosebumps.

In the example above, fear, a perception of the human mind, resulted in goosebumps on the body, a concrete noun.

Below are some more examples of abstract nouns.

Possessive nouns

A possessive noun names the owner of another noun in the same sentence. Example: Chris’ car is blue in color. The boy’s hair is short and black. You form a possessive noun by adding an apostrophe + s or simply an apostrophe if the noun that possesses the other noun already ends in an s.

Please note that “it’s” is an exception to the rule. We don’t use “it’s” to show possession. Instead we use “its,” without the apostrophe. That’s because “it’s” means “it is.” So, the dog is wagging its tail. NOT: The dog is wagging it’s tail.

Collective Nouns

A collective noun is a word that refers to a group of people, animals, or things, treated as a single unit. Unlike singular nouns, which refer to one individual, collective nouns denote a group that functions together. Examples include “team,” “class,” “family,” or “herd”. While they refer to multiple entities, collective nouns are often treated as singular in grammar. 

Here are some examples.

A murder of crows swirled overhead. “Murder” is a collective noun which names a large number of crows operating together.

A gaggle of geese swam peacefully in the lake. “Gaggle” is a collective noun which names a number of geese swimming together.

A bloat of hippos attacked me as I ventured into the water. “Bloat” is a collective noun which names a number of hippos operating together.

A string of ponies galloped along the trail. “String” is a collective noun which names a number of ponies running together.

A flock of sheep are walking on the road. “Flock” is a collective noun which names a number of sheep walking on the road.

A parliament of owls lighted on the tree. “Parliament” is a collective noun which names a number of owls on the tree.

A band of men blocked the roadway. “Band” is a collective noun which names a number of men on the roadway.

A pride of lions roared in the jungle. “Pride” is a collective noun which names a number of men on the roadway.

A school of fish swam in the lake. “School” is a collective noun which names a number of fish swimming in the lake.

A pod of whales passed under the ship. “Pod” is a collective noun which names a number of whales.

Countable nouns Versus Uncountable Nouns

A countable noun is a word used to refer to something that can be counted.

Countable nouns name things that can easily or practicably be counted. Examples include: moon, star, country, boy, girl, car.

An uncountable noun is a word used to refer to substances, concepts or things that cannot be counted.

Uncountable nouns name things that are difficult or impracticable to count. Examples include bread, rice, flour, water. Even if these nouns are measured, they are still uncountable. Examples: a glass of water, a loaf of bread, a slice of bread, a bag of flour, a cup of rice. In these examples, a countable noun is used to measure the uncountable noun; however, the uncountable noun remains uncountable.

Sometimes, we go to the shop and ask for “two waters.” In this case, it is understand that it means two bottles of water. Two bottles of water can be counted, but water itself remains uncountable. However, in the context where the countable noun is omitted, the uncountable noun is treated as countable due to context.

In the same way, context can change a countable noun to countable. Example: The doctor advised Sally to avoid food containing egg. In this case, it doesn’t mean 1/2 of an egg, 1 egg, 2 eggs, or any particular number of eggs. It simply means egg in general. Egg in this context is considered uncountable.

Plural nouns

A plural noun is a word that names more than one person, place, thing, or idea.

Examples: girls, children, sheep, boxes, goats, countries.

Note that regular verbs form their plural by simply adding “s” to the noun, while irregular verbs require greater alteration such as “es” or changing the form of the word itself.

Some examples of irregular nouns: children, boxes, flies, countries, sheep, babies, butterflies, men, women, deer, mice, feet, teeth, geese, people, lice, knives, cacti, oxen, loaves, fungi.

Compound nouns

Plural nouns

Singular nouns