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Definition :
A noun is a word, it is used as the name of a person, animal, place, bird, idea, emotion or thing.
For example boy , girl, table, chair, peacock, honesty, happiness, wisdom, book etc.,
e.g.
Person
Place
Animal
Bird
Emotion
Thing
Types of nouns
NOUNS ARE NAMING words. The y identify people, things or place in our world. Nouns come in
six different forms: proper, common, abstract, concrete, collective, and compound.
Further, the nouns can be classified into two major types as : countable and uncountable nouns.
1. Common noun :
Definition :
A common noun is a name given in common to every person or thing of the same class of kind.
These common nouns are words for things .
e.g.
chair
bicycle
television
hammer
ladder
computer
axe
calculator
cooker
saw
crayons
book
courage
ruler
printer
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laziness
lawnmower
dictionary
kitten
lion
dog
puppy
tiger
horse
foal
elephant
goat
kid
whale
frog
tadpole
kangaroo
sheep
lamb
bear
hostel
temple
university
hotel
mosque
stadium
bank
school
park
library
college
farm
theater
post office
zoo
mall
police station
These common nouns are words for people who do certain things.
e.g.
artist
teacher
police officer
singer
headmaster
plumber
dancer
manager
driver
director
doctor
writer
magician
lawyer
farmer
artist
clerk
friend
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2. Proper noun :
Definition :
A proper noun is the name of some particular person, place, thing, particular event, or group. This
proper noun begins with a capital letter. If the noun is nonspecific, that is, the noun refers to a
general idea and not a specific person, place, or thing, it is usually not a proper noun, so it it not
capitalized.
e.g.
Specific
Nonspecific
World war II
A war
English class
A class
The association
Muhammad Ali
Dad
Harry Potter
George Washington
Mom
Mahatma Gandhi
Hitler
Granny
Santa Claus
Nelson Mandela
Uncle David
Confucius
Jayalalitha
Miss Park
Alex Rodriguez
Jacky chan
Mr.Raj
The names of the days of the week and the months of the year are proper nouns.
e.g.
days of the week
months
Sunday
January
August
Monday
February
September
Tuesday
March
October
Wednesday
April
November
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Thursday
May
Friday
June
Saturday
July
December
The names of special days and celebrations are also proper nouns.
e.g.
New Years Day
Dewali
Valentines Day
Ramadan
Independece Day
Christmas
Labour Day
Memorial Day
Falg Day
Thanksgiving
Republic Day
Veterans Day
The names of famous places , buildings and monuments are proper nouns.
e.g.
The Taj Mahal
Buckingham Palace
The names of people who live in a particular country are also proper nouns.
e.g.
Country
People
Afghanistan
Afghans
Australia
Australians
Britain
The British
Germany
Germans
USA
Americans
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India
Indians
3. Collective noun :
Definition :
i) A collective noun is a name of a number (collection) of persons or things taken together and
spoken of as one whole as:
Crowd, mob, team, flock, herd, army, fleet, jury, family, nation, parliament, committee.
ii) Nouns that refer to a specific group of persons or things are called Collective Nouns.
These are nouns for groups of people. Here are some collective nouns for groups of people.
e.g.
a family
a committee
a community
a company
a band
a gang
a choir
the government
an audience
the army
An army of soldiers
a panel of judges
A tem of players
a class of schoolchildren
a company of actors
a gang of thieves
a band of musicians
a litter of puppies
a school of fish
a flock of birds
a pack of wolves
a swarm of bees
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a drove of sheep
a pride of lions
a troop of monkeys
a herd of cattle
a pod of dolphins
a gaggle of geese
Some groups of things also have their own special collective nouns.
e.g.
a bunch of bananas
a deck of cards
a fleet of vehicles
a bunch of flower
a cluster of grapes
a suite of rooms
a bunch of keys
a grove of trees
a suite of furniture
a bouquet of flower
a fleet of ships
a set of tools
a bar of soap
a bar of chocolate
a slice/piece of cheese
a sheet/piece of paper
a piece of chalk
a piece of advice
a piece/square of
chocolate
4. Abstract noun :
Definition :
An abstract noun is usually the name of a feelings, ideas, action, state and characteristics, or
qualities considered apart from the object to which it belongs as.
Most abstract nouns end with these suffixes:
e.g.
-ism
-ment
-ity
nationalism
argument
personality
-tion
-ship
-ence
aggravation
friendship
silence
This abstract noun cannot be seen, heard, touched or tasted but it can only be felt by our sense. The
abstract noun is not visible.
e.g.
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wiseness, goodness, kindness, whiteness, darkness, honesty, wisdom,
Quality
bravery
Action
State
For example, we cannot be 'happiness' but we can feel that in our heart or mind. The names of the
subject of study (e.g. grammar, music, chemistry, etc.) are also Abstract Nouns.
iron
steel
gold
apple
doctor
horse
books
apples
doctors
horses
coffee, tea
materials
liquids
games
gases
air, oxygen
Countable nouns have plural forms while uncountable nouns do not. Even the abstract nouns are also
uncountable nouns.
For example, we say boys but we cannot say oils.
5. Material noun :
Definition :
There are the raw elements or objects existing in nature.
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e.g.
Iron
Gold
Stones
Brass
Aluminium
Mercury
Plastic
Mat
Definition :
The Gender of noun indicates the sex or the absence of sex.
For example, boy, girl, hero, heroine, lion, lioness, etc.
1. Masculine Gender :
Definition :
A noun that denotes a MALE SEX is called Masculine Gender.
Masculine nouns are words for men, boys and male animals.
e.g.
boy
lion
bull
dog
2. Femine Gender :
Definition :
A noun that denotes a FEMALE SEX is called Femine Gender.
Feminine nouns are words for women, girls and female animals.
e.g.
girl
lioness
cow
bitch
3. Common Gender :
Definition :
A noun that denotes either a male or a female sex is said to be of the common gender.
e.g.
child
student
4. Neuter Gender :
friend
pupil
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Definition :
A noun that denotes a lifeless thing is called Neuter Gender. The noun that denotes a thing that is
neither male nor female is called Neuter Gender.
e.g.
book
pen
room
tree
Feminine
father
mother
son
daughter
brother
sister
nephew
niece
man
woman
uncle
aunt
master
mistress
emperor
empress
bachelor
maid / spinster
sir
madam
2. Here are some masculine and feminine nouns for male and female animals. There is
one general word for the animal and special word for male and female.
Animal
Masculine
Feminine
chicken
rooster
hen
duck
drake
duck
cattle
bull
cow
goose
gander
goose
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fox
fox
vixen
tiger
tiger
tigress
pig
boar
sow
horse
stallion
mare
donkey
jack
jenny
Feminine
boy
girl
bachelor
maid / spinster
brother
sister
dog
bitch
king
queen
drake
duck
monk
nun
hart
roe
buck
doe
earl
countees
Feminine
author
authoress
count
countess
giant
giantess
heir
heiress
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lion
lioness
host
hostess
mayor
mayoress
steward
stewardess
shepherd
shepherdess
poet
poetess
Feminine
Actor
Actress
Duke
Duchess
Emperor
Empress
Tiger
Tigress
Waiter
waitress
Negro
Negress
Abbot
Abbess
Traitor
Traitress
Executor
Executix
Testator
Testatrix
Feminine
Man-servant
Maid-servant
Milk-man
Milk-maid
Grand-father
Grand-mother
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Bull-calf
Cow-calf
Cock-Sparrow
Hen-Sparrow
He-goat
She-goat
Land-lord
Land-lady
Pea-cock
pea-hen
Note : Objects without life are often personified, that is, spoken of as if they were living beings. We
then regard them as males or females.
The Masculine Gender is often applied to objects remarkable for Strength and violence; as,
The Sun
Summer
Winter
Death
the Earth
Spring
Nature
Definition :
Numbers are often used before nouns to tell you exactly how many people or things there are.
Numbers are adjectives, too. They tell us how many people, animals, or things there are. Sometimes
they are calledadjectives of quantity.
e.g.
I have two childrens
two princes
seven elves
sixteen snails
one giant
a hundred
many more
1. Singular Number :
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Definition :
A noun that denotes onl y ONE person or thing is said to be in the SINGULAR NUMBER.
e.g.
Book
Basis
Index
2. Plural Number :
Definition :
A noun that denotes MORE THAN ONE person or thing is said to be in the PLURAL NUMBER.
e.g.
Books
Bases
Indices
Formation of Plurals
The usual construction of plural nouns from singular nouns is to add -s to the end of a word.
e.g.
Singular
Plural
Singular
Plural
Bird
Birds
Boy
Boys
Dog
Dogs
Chair
Chairs
Cat
Cats
Table
Tables
Cow
Cows
Desk
Desks
Nouns ending in -s, -sh, -ch, -o, -x, or -z form the plural by adding -es to the singular; as,
e.g.
Singular
Plural
Singular
Plural
Bus
Buses
Match
Matches
Brush
Brushes
Tax
Taxes
Mango
Mangoes
Hero
Heroes
Buzz
Buzzes
Kis
Kisses
Plural
Singular
Plural
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Dynamo
Dynamos
Piano
Pianos
Ratio
Ratios
Memento
Mementos
Photo
Photos
Stereo
Siereos
Logo
Logos
Canto
Cantos
video
videos
zoo
zoos
kangaroo
kangaroos
hippo
hippos
Nouns ending in -y, preceded by a consonant, form their plural by changing y into i and
adding es,
e.g.
Singular
Plural
Singular
Plural
City
Cities
Duty
Duties
Baby
Babies
Lady
Ladies
Army
Armies
Story
Stories
Nouns ending in -y, preceded by a vowels, form their plural by adding s to the singular,
e.g.
Singular
Plural
Singular
Plural
Boy
Boys
Day
Days
Monkey
Monkeys
Key
Keys
Toy
Toys
Way
Ways
Nouns ending in -f or -fe form their plural by changing -for -fe into v and adding -es ; as,
e.g.
Singular
Plural
Singular
Plural
Calf
Calves
Thief
Thieves
Leafe
Leaves
Knife
Knives
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Self
Selves
Wife
Wives
Plural
Singular
Plural
chief
chiefs
handkerchief
handkerchiefs
roof
roofs
cliff
cliffs
Plural
Plural
scarf
scarfs
scarves
hoof
hoofs
hooves
wharf
wharfs
wharves
dwarf
dwarfs
dwarves
Irregular nouns :
A few nouns form their plural by changing the inside vowel of the singlar; as,
e.g.
Singular
Plural
Singular
Plural
Man
Men
Thief
Thieves
Woman
Women
Tooth
Theeth
Analysis
Analyses
Goose
Geese
Plural
Singular
Plural
Ox
Oxen
Child
children
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e.g.
Sheep
Deer
Swine
Cod
Trout
salmon
aircraft
spacecraft
Series
species
pair
score
thousand
(when used
Hundred
after numerals)
gross
Spectacles
Tongs
Trousers
Drawers
Draughts
Jeans
pyjamas
Mumps
Measles
Billiards
Assets
thanks
tidings
aims
riches
shorts
pants
binoculars
scissors
Maths
News
Physics
electronics
measles
billiards
Politics
Certain collective Nouns though singular in form, are alwa ys used as plurals: as
e.g.
poultry
cattle
people
gentry
Some nouns given different meaning when the y are in singular and plural.
e.g.
Singular
Meaning
Plural
Meaning
Air
Gas around us
Airs
unnatural manners
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Good
Fine, nice
Goods
Luggage
Copper
a kind of metal
Coppers
police men
Wood
Timber
Woods
forest
Compass
Range
Compasses
Respect
Regard
Respects
Compliments
Physic
medicine
Physics
natural science
Force
strength
Forces
troops
The plural form for numbers and letters is made by adding apostrophe and s.
e.g.
dos and donts
Function of a Noun
A noun can have one of the following five uses or functions
The subject of a verb:
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1. Nominative Case
Definition :
He bought a book
In the given example He is the subject. It is the answer to the question who bought the book?
Bought the book? is the Predicate and it contains the Verb Bought. So the noun He is said to
be in the Nominative Case.
e.g.
Proper Noun
Common Noun
Material Noun
Collective Noun
Note :To find the Nominative Case ask the question WHO or WHAT to the verb
Definition :
e.g.
In the given example A dog is teh answer to the question What did John kill? Therefore the
noun dog is called the OBJECT and it is said in the Objective Case.
e.g.
Common Noun
Collective Noun
We went to London
Proper Noun
Material Noun
Note : To find the Objective or Accusative Case put WHOM or WHAT before the verb and its
object.
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Definition :
A noun or a pronoun, when it is used to show owenership or possession, authority, origin,
kind etc.,
It is said to be in the Possessive or Genitive Case.
e.g.
When the noun is Singular, the Possessive Case is formed by adding S (apostrophe S) to the
noun and when it is S ending Plural by adding an apostrophe after the S (S)
e.g.
Singular
Possessive
Plural
Possessive
Boy
Boys
Boys
Boys
Book
Books
Books
Books
Girl
Girls
Girls
Girls
Man
Mans
Men
Mens
Our
Ours
Women
Womens
My
Mine
Parents
Parents Day
You
Yours
80
80s
2009
2009s
It
Its
Who
Whose
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Definition :
When a noun indicates the indirect object of the verb - generall y, GIVE it is said to be in the
Dative Case.
David gave Mirza a pen
In the above sentence Dav i d was the person to whom Mirza gave a pen. The Indirect object of a verb
denotes the person to whome something is given or for whom something is done.
Mirza bought Sachin a letter.
COMPOUND NOUNS
Definition :
When we put two or more words together to create a new word, we have made a compound noun.
Nouns of more than one word are called compound nouns.
e.g.
noun + noun
police officer
ice-cream
firefighter
noun + verb
carwash
haircut
milkshake
verb + noun
cross-road
cookbook
jump rope
adjective + noun
black eye
blue jeans
hotdog
adverb + noun
on-looker
downtime
overtime
adverb + verb
input
output
upswing
Compound nouns can take three forms: hyphenated, solid and open.
HYPHENATED COMPOUNDS
When two or more words are connected by one or more hyphens, the result is a hyphenated compound.
Some compound words are hyphenated to avoid being misread or ambiguous.
e.g.
sister-in-law
jack-in-the-box
state-of-the-art
shout-out
mind-set
five-year-old
SOLID COMPOUNDS
Solid compounds are words that are used as a single unit of meaning and it is closed up as solid, or
closed, compounds.
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e.g.
rollback
restroom
whatever
breakfast
needlepoint
slingshot
OPEN COMPOUNDS
Sometimes no hyphenating or closing up is necessary to form a compound. Open compounds are words
that are used as a single unit of meaning but are still written separately as two words.
e.g.
wet nurse
roller coaster
whatever
sleeping bag
first aid
mug shot
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