Types of Nouns Explained

The classic definition of a noun is very well-known. Most people have it memorized, "A noun is the name of a person, place, or thing." In the definition, a thing also refers to an animal. A noun is a part of speech, a very important one in the English language. However, there are several different types of nouns that make a sentence. All these different types have different rules and different restraints.

Nouns are distinguished on the basis of their nature and character. The different types of nouns are as follows.

• Proper Noun
• Common Noun
• Collective Noun
• Abstract Noun
• Concrete Noun
• Countable Noun
• Uncountable/Mass Noun

Given below are their explanations with examples.

Proper nouns are names of people, places, or those things that are "one and only". If the proper noun is the name of a very unique and special thing, then 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.

Common nouns are names of common things. A common noun is mostly prefixed with "a", as compared to the "the" for proper nouns. 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 objects. In the second statement, the common noun refers to a boy. It is a common noun because there is no specification and he could 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.

Collective nouns are those that are used to label 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 a certain animal; lions. Different animal groups have different names. Like it is always a HERD of cows, etc. The second statement contains a quintessential word used to describe a group of people.

Different situations require the use of different words for the same. Like in high schools, there are CLIQUES of students. The third statement refers to a group of flowers. Different things have different words to describe them as a group. However, a group of flowers is best expressed as a bouquet.

Abstract nouns are names of abstract things. Emotions, ideas, and concepts would come in this category. These are words that cannot be definitively 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.

Concrete nouns are those that are tangible and obvious. The concept of concrete nouns is the exact opposite of that of abstract nouns. In fact, other than abstract nouns, all nouns 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 also a concrete noun as it is a person that is existent and tangible. In the second statement, the concrete nouns are also common nouns. Both objects can be touched and felt.

The third statement contains a concrete noun that is a collective noun describing a group of factual animals that can be seen, heard, smelt, touched etc.

Countable nouns are those that show their numerical status. As in, whether they are singular 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 the 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.

These nouns are the exact opposite of countable nouns. Hence, they are often known as uncountable nouns. These nouns are words that never let out the numerical status of the subject. In the following statements, 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.

This type is not a noun, really. They are words that replace nouns in order to avoid repetition and redundancy 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 pronoun 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.

Whenever we are talking, we always have to refer to a person or thing by a name. We cannot talk without using a name. In the same way, we need nouns, which makes us realize their importance.