Kinds of Noun

  

In English Grammar, there are five kinds of noun as given below;

A.       Proper Noun

B.       Common Noun

C.       Collective Noun

D.       Material Noun

E.       Abstract Noun

Let us discuss these kinds of noun one by one in a very easy manner.

We try to explain it in a simple way using definition, examples, and in the last describing grammatical rules about it. 

So that you may become familiar with them while their usage in your speeches or writings.

A. Proper Noun

It is the name of some distinguished, famous, notable person, place and thing.

Examples:

·      Allama Iqbal    (person)

·      Baghdad        (Place)

·      Bible              (Thing)

 

Rules

There are two grammatical rules about Proper Noun.

It will always begin with capital letter irrespective of its position is sentence, whether it begins the sentence or situates in any position in a sentence.

If Proper Noun contains two or more words, every one of them will begin with capital letter.

Allama Iqbal was the great scholar.

He attributes his scholarly wisdom to Allama Iqbal.

Both rules are illustrated in above examples.

 

B.  Common Noun

It represents the name given in common to person, place and thing of same class or kind.

Examples:

woman, cow, kine, teacher, student, baby, boy, girl, man (Person)

farm, street, road, city, village, town, shop (Place)

television, radio, cup, bottle, book, table, chair (Thing)

 

 Rules

The only grammatical rule about usage of common noun is that it will always begin with small letter unless it begins the sentence. 

Means, it will begin with capital letter only when it begins the sentence.

Cow gives milk. (Common noun beginning the sentence)

I bought a cow.  (Not beginning the sentence)

 

C.  Collective noun

It denotes the name of group of persons or things spoken of as one whole.

 

Examples:

swarm, pile, bundle, crowd, mob, pack, army, fleet, army, jury, union, flock, team, committee, stock, herd

 

Rules:

Remember there are three rules regarding usage of collective noun.

Capital letter is used in beginning if it begins the sentence.

The jury consists of five members.

Jury of five members gave the verdict.

When collective noun is used as a subject in the sentence it takes singular verb and singular pronoun.

The army moves to its positions.

The team is going to play its final match.

When collective noun implies some divide in a group or does not imply collectiveness as a single entity, and denotes individuality within group, it takes the plural verb in a sentence.

 

The jury were divided in opinion.

   

This stock have different rates/prices.

      

 D.  Material Noun

It is the name of matter or substance of which anything is made.

 

Example:

gypsum, clay, silt, iron, steel, rubber, plastic, milk, gold, rice, sugar, copper

 

Rules

Alike common noun it begins with capital letter only when it begins the sentence, otherwise it is always begun with small letter.

 

E.  Abstract Noun

It represents the quality, state and action and is considered apart from the object to which it belongs.

To elaborate further the Abstract noun is the name of intangible concepts or ideas rather than anything having physical existence.

As we know noun is nothing but the name of person, place or thing, but there are certain things which does not have physical existence. 

To name such things which are physically non-existent, means we cannot see or touch them comes into this category which we call Abstract Noun.

To make it further easier to understand we have differentiated them in three categories i.e Quality, State and Action. 

Following examples will help us clearing the concept about Abstract Nouns.

Example:

bravery, wisdom, truth, honesty, integrity, kindness, mildness (Quality)

fever, addiction, death, health, grief, pleasure, brotherhood, childhood, happiness, slavery, sickness (State)

hatred,  love, theft,  laughter,  judgment (Action)

 

Rules

     It does not begin with capital letter except when it begins the sentence.

-        Honesty is the best policy

-   He is famous for his honesty.

     

     Hopefully the description given here about kinds of noun would be helpful for students or those who are trying to learn the correct use of English language.