Noun: Definition, Types and Functions with Examples

Lesson 1

Noun: Definition and Meaning

According to Cambridge Dictionary, a noun is "A word that refers to a person, place, thing, event, substance or quality."

British Council defines noun as "Nouns are words that give a name to people, places or things, though they can also refer to ideas and other abstract objects."

From the definitions mentioned above, we learn that:

1. A noun is one of eight major parts of speech in English.
2. A noun is a naming word.
3. A noun names a person, place, thing, idea, event, substance, quality or other abstract object. 

Example:

Salim is going to Mumbai to buy a necklace for his wife who is a charity-giving woman.

In the above-mentioned sentence, (Know more about sentence ) Salim, Mumbai, necklace and charity are nouns denoting a person, place, thing or an idea respectively. (Learn also noun phrase.)

11 Common Types of Noun

(1) Proper Noun 
(2) Common Noun 
(3) Collective Noun 
(4) Material Noun 
(5) Abstract Noun 
(6) Concrete Noun
(7) Singular Noun 
(8) Plural Noun 
(9) Countable Noun 
(10) Uncountable Noun 
(11) Compound Noun 

Tip to Remember:- Five C's and two P's are for SAUM. Here C stands for common, collective, concrete, countable, and compound noun. P stands for proper and plural nouns. SAUM stands for singular, abstract, uncountable, and material nouns. 

What is a Proper Noun?

Proper nouns are the specific names of persons, places or things. 

Examples:

(a) Ram is a good student. 
(b) India is our country. 
(c) The Qur'an is the holy book of Islam. 

In the examples above, Ram, India and Qur'an are proper nouns that are specific names. (learn more about proper noun)

What is a Common Noun?

Common nouns are the general or nonspecific names for persons, places or things.

Examples:

(a) A man was fighting in the market. 
(b) This city is beautiful. 
(b) put it on the table. 

In the examples mentioned above, man, city and table are common nouns that are not specific. (learn more about common noun.)

What is a Collective Noun?

Collective nouns show a group of persons or things.  

Examples: 

(a) Our team is working on this blog. 
(b) A group of people came here yesterday. 
In the given examples, team and group are collective nouns that refer to a group.

What is a Material Noun?

Material nouns are the names of materials and substances such as gold or silver from which something else is made. 

Examples: 

(a) Her chain is made of gold. 
(b) Her necklace is made of silver.
In the examples, gold and silver are material nouns. From gold or silver, we make jewels or gems.

What is an Abstract Noun?

Abstract nouns denote quality or state or ideas that are not physical objects. 

Examples: 

(a) Always speak the truth. 
(b) Happiness is mine. 
Truth and happiness are abstract nouns that are not physical objects.

What is a Concrete Noun?

Concrete nouns are the nouns that can be felt by any of the five senses of yours.  

Examples: 

(a) The children are making a noise. 
(b) The taste of this dish is awesome. 

Noise and taste are concrete nouns. They are identified by hearing and eating. (learn more about concrete noun)

What is a Singular Noun?

Singular nouns indicate "oneness" and show one person, place or thing. 

Examples: 

(a) A boy came to me yesterday. 
(b) This city is one of the five most populated cities in India.

Boy and city are singular nouns.

What is a Plural Noun?

Plural nouns show more than one person, place or thing.  

Examples:

(a) Your children go to school everyday. 
(b) My brothers were fighting then. 
Children and brothers are plural nouns.

What is a Countable Noun?

Countable nouns can be counted. 

Examples:

(a) I have two pens.
(b) Give me a pencil. 

Pens and pencil are countable nouns. 

What is an Uncountable Noun?

Uncountable nouns can not be counted.

 

Examples: 

(a) your information is right. 
(b) your advice proved to be helpful. 

In the examples, information and advice are uncountable nouns.

What is a Compound Noun?

Compound nouns are made of two or more words. 

Examples: 

(a) This playground is beautiful. 
(b) Your football looks awesome. 
Playground and football are compound nouns. 

Most Common Functions of Nouns 

A noun renders different functions in a sentence. A noun can function as:

1. A subject: (Noun becomes the subject of a verb.) (Know more about verb )

Example: John goes to school everyday. (John is the subject here.)

2. A direct object (Noun becomes the direct object of a verb) 

Example: I phoned John yesterday. (John is the direct object.) 

3. An indirect object ( Noun becomes the indirect object of a verb)

Example: The teacher gave the student a gift. (student is the indirect object.)

4. An object of a Preposition (Know more about preposition) 

Example: They are going to the market. (Market is the object of the preposition "To".) 

5. An appositive (Noun in apposition) 

Example: Her boss Rocky scolded her. (Rocky  is an appositive which describes 'Her boss'.)

6. A subject complement (Noun is complement to subject.)

Example: John is a writer. (writer is subject complement.)

7. An object complement (Noun is complement to object.) 

Example: She made me a good person. (person in a good person is an object complement.)

Exercise 1

Specify the types of the  nouns in bold, while marking them with singular or plural

1. Since the homework wasn't completed, the teacher beat him.
2. I need some books on English grammar. 
3. Her chain is made of gold. 
4. The Quran is an Islamic book.
5. Since the team of India won the match, it got awarded.
6. I was delighted at the news of his success.
7. A woman can do anything for her children.

Answer keys:- 

1. Compound & Singular Noun 

2. Common & Plural Noun 
3. Material & Uncountable Noun 
4. Proper & Singular Noun 
5. Collective & Singular Noun 
6. Abstract & Singular Noun 
7. Common & Singular Noun

Exercise 2

Specify the functions of the nouns in bold 

1. Her brother, Nadim, is a good guy. 
2. The teacher will beat Nadim.
3. I went to the airport in my car.
4. The dogs were barking. 
5. Did you give Nadim the book?

Answer keys:-

1. Appositive
2. Direct object
3. Object of a Preposition
4. Subject
5. Indirect object