What are the Different Types of Nouns in English?

What are nouns?

Nouns are the words we use for things that exist in the world.

Example 1: "The cat jumped onto the table."

In this sentence the wo
rds cat and table are both nouns because they are things that exist in the world.

Example 2: "Otis took the trash out."

In this sentence both Owl and trash are both nouns seeing as they too are things that exist in the world.

What are the Different Types of Nouns?

There are four different types of nouns in the English language: common nouns, proper nouns, abstract nouns and collective nouns.

What are Common Nouns?

Common nouns are the names of objects that exist in the world.

Examples of common nouns: tree, rock, cat, man, king, diamond

Example 1: "The cat sat on the chair."

In this example, both cat and chair are common nouns because they are common things that exist in the world.

Example 2: "The troll ate the goblin."

Even though there are  no trolls or goblins in the real world the words troll and goblin are still common nouns. They are common nouns because they still perform the function of a common noun in this sentence. They are objects that exist in a world (even if that world is imaginary).

What are Proper Nouns?

Proper nouns are names. They can be names of people, people, events or organizations. Proper nouns are always written with capital letters.

Examples of proper nouns: Steve, Peter, London, Macdonalds

Example 1: "Otis lives in Rome."

In this example, both Otis and Rome are proper nouns seeing as they are both names. Rome is the name of a place and Otis is a person's name.

Example  2: She likes watching the Olympic Games.

Olympic Games is a proper noun in proper noun in this sentence because it is  the name of an event.

What are Abstract nouns?

Abstract nouns are abstract concepts. They are things that exist within our minds. Abstract nouns are thing like emotions and abstract concepts like justice and liberty.

Examples of Abstract nouns: love, hate, empathy, truth, wisdom

Example 1: "Otis brings justice to the education system."

Justice is an abstract noun because it is not something that exists in the physical world, but rather something that exists in our minds.

Example 2: "Otis believes in love"

The word love is a nouns in this sentence because it is used describe something that exists in Otis's mind. In this case the word love indicates an emotion that exists in Otis's mind.

What are Collective Nouns?

Collective nouns are words for a group of objects.

Examples of collective nouns: troop, flock, deck

Example 1: "A herd of cattle stampeded through my shop."

The word herd is a collective noun because it is a word for a group of objects in this case cattle.

Example 2: "My dog just had a litter of puppies" 

The word litter is also a collective noun because it too indicated a group of many different objects. In this case puppies instead of cattle.

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Learn the 10 parts of speech in English grammar with easy definitions and clear examples. Ideal for beginners, students, and language learners.

Sources.

GeeksforGeeks. Available: https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/english-grammar/

Grammarly. Available: https://www.grammarly.com/blog

Lutrin, B. & Pincus, M. 2007. English Handbook and Study Guide: A Comprehensive English Reference Book. South Africa: Berlut Books

Oasis. Available: https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/grammar/home

Scribbr. Available: https://www.scribbr.com/knowledge-base/

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