“Parts of speech” are the basic types of words that English has.

A sentence is a combination of
different words. It is only because of these words that a sentence becomes meaningful and
understandable by others. These words can therefore be called different parts of speech. Parts of
speech are categories of words that indicate how the words function grammatically in a sentence.
English has eight main parts of speech: nouns, pronouns, adjectives, verbs, adverbs, prepositions,
conjunctions, and interjections.

Noun
What is a noun?
A noun is a word that names something, such as a person, place, thing, or idea. In a
sentence, nouns can play the role of subject, direct object, indirect object, subject complement,
object complement, appositive, or adjective.
What is a noun?
A noun is a word that refers to a person, place, or thing. The category of “things” may
sound super vague, but in this case it means inanimate objects, abstract concepts, and activities.
Phrases and other parts of speech can also behave like nouns and can be the subject in a
sentence, as in Jogging is a fun exercise. Here, the verb jogging acts like a noun and is the
subject of the sentence.
Nouns make up the largest class of words in most languages, including English. A noun is
a word that refers to a thing (book), a person (Betty Crocker), an animal (cat), a place (Omaha), a
quality (softness), an idea (justice), or an action (yodeling). Noun is a word that refers to a person,
place, thing, event, substance, or quality:
'Doctor', 'coal', and 'beauty' are all nouns.

There are a number of different categories of nouns-

There are common nouns and proper nouns.
 A common noun refers to a person, place, or thing but is not the name of a particular
person, place, or thing. Examples are animal, sunlight, and happiness.
 A proper noun is the name of a particular person, place, or thing; it usually begins with a
capital letter: Abraham Lincoln, Argentina, and World War I are all proper nouns.
 A collective noun is a noun that names a group of people or things, such as flock or squad.
It's sometimes unclear whether the verb for a collective noun should be singular or plural.
In the United States, such nouns as company, team, herd, public, and class, as well as the
names of companies, teams, etc., are treated as singular, but in the United Kingdom they
are often treated as plural: (US) "The team has been doing well this season." vs. (British)
"The team have been doing well this season."
 For learners of English, the most important feature of a noun is whether it can be counted.
A count noun is a noun that can be used after a or an or after a number (or another word
that means "more than one"). Count nouns have both singular and plural forms and can

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 be used with both singular and plural verb forms, as with the word letter in "A letter for
you is on the table. Letters for you arrive regularly." Sometimes the plural form of a count
noun is the same as its singular form, as in "I saw a deer in my yard yesterday. There are a
lot of deer in the woods near my house."

Types of Nouns
There are several different types of noun, as follows:
(1) Common noun
A common noun is a noun that refers to people or things in general, e.g. boy, country, bridge, city,
birth, day, happiness.
Common nouns are words that refer to undefined or generic people, places, or things. For example,
the country is a common noun that refers to a generic place while the word Canada is not a common
noun because it refers to a specific place. Common nouns are only capitalized when they begin
sentences or are used in the names or titles of something, as in Grand Canyon or Iron Man.
common nouns:
house, cat, girl, foot, country

(2) Proper noun

A proper noun is a name that identifies a particular person, place, or thing, e.g. Steven, Africa,
London, Monday. In written English, proper nouns begin with capital letters.
Proper nouns help distinguish a specific person, place, or thing. These words should be capitalized.
The names and titles of things are always proper nouns, such as the brand name Starbucks and the
personal name Jenny.
proper nouns:
Spain, Fido, Sony

(3) Collective nouns-

A collective noun is a noun that functions as a singular noun while referring to a group of
people or things. A collective noun refers to a group that functions as one unit or performs the
same action at the same time. For example: the team plays in the main gym.

collective nouns:
crowd, flocks, committee, a sum of money
Collective nouns refer to groups of people or things, e.g. audience, family, government, team, jury.
In American English, most collective nouns are treated as singular, with a singular verb:

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The whole family was at the table.

In British English, the preceding sentence would be correct, but it would also be correct to treat
the collective noun as a plural, with a plural verb:

The whole family were at the table.

For more information about this, see matching verbs to collective nouns.

A noun may belong to more than one category. For example, happiness is both a common noun
and an abstract noun, while Mount Everest is both a concrete noun and a proper noun.
(4) Gerunds are nouns that are identical to the present participle (-ing form) of a verb, as in
"I enjoy swimming more than running."

(5) Countable nouns

Countable nouns are nouns which can be counted, even if the number might be
extraordinarily high (like counting all the people in the world). Countable nouns can be
used with a/an, the, some, any, a few, and many.

Here is a cat.
Cat is singular and—obviously—countable.

Here are a few cats.

Here are some cats.
A countable noun (also known as a count noun) is one that you can count. When you have
three books or 10 pennies, you are describing a noun that is countable.

countable nouns:
table, apple, rabbit, ear

(6) Uncountable nouns- Uncountable nouns are nouns that come in a state or quantity which
is impossible to count; liquids are uncountable, as are things that act like liquids (sand, air).
They are always considered to be singular, and can be used with some, any, a little, and
much.

An I.Q. test measures intelligence.

Intelligence is an uncountable noun.

Students don’t seem to have much homework these days.

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 This example refers to an unspecified, unquantifiable amount of homework, so homework
is an uncountable noun.
An uncountable noun (also known as a mass noun) is one that cannot be counted. For
example, happiness cannot be counted. You don’t say that you have “a happiness” or “three
happinesses.” Uncountable nouns typically don’t have plural forms.

uncountable nouns:
salt, seafood, luggage, advice

(7) Concrete noun

A concrete noun is a noun which refers to people and to things that exist physically and can be
seen, touched, smelled, heard, or tasted. Examples include dog, building, coffee, tree, rain, beach,
tune.
A concrete noun is something that can be perceived through the five senses. If you can see, hear,
touch, taste, or smell something, it uses a concrete noun.
concrete nouns:
table, apple, rabbit, ear

(8) Abstract noun

An abstract noun is a noun which refers to ideas, qualities, and conditions - things that cannot be
seen or touched and things which have no physical reality, e.g. truth, danger, happiness, time,
friendship, humour.
Abstract nouns are intangible ideas that can’t be perceived with the five senses, such as social
concepts, political theories, and character traits. For example, the abstract noun anger refers to an
emotion and the abstract noun courage refers to a quality a person has.
abstract nouns:
love, creativity, democracy

9) Singular nouns
Singular nouns are nouns that refer to only one person, place or thing. For example, a cat is one
animal and a banana is one fruit.
singular nouns:
house, cat, girl, foot, country
10. Plural nouns-
Plural nouns, unlike collective nouns, require plural verbs. Many English plural nouns can be
formed by adding -s or -es to the singular form, although there are many exceptions.

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cat—cats
These two cats are both black.
Note the plural verb are.

tax—taxes
house—houses
A plural noun refers to more than one of something. Many singular nouns just need an S added at
the end to make them plural (e.g., bee becomes bees). For some nouns that already end with an S,
you may need to add -es to the end to make their plural forms (e.g., classes and buses). Some
singular nouns also change spelling when made plural (e.g. countries and babies).
regular plural nouns:
houses, cats, girls, countries
Not all nouns follow this pattern. Those that become plural in other ways are called irregular plural
nouns. Some examples are man and men, wolf and wolves, foot and feet, and sheep and … sheep.
irregular plural nouns:
person and people
life and lives
mouse and mice
tooth and teeth
11. Possessive nouns-
Possessive nouns are nouns which possess something; i.e., they have something. You can identify
a possessive noun by the apostrophe; most nouns show the possessive with an apostrophe and an
s.

The cat’s toy was missing.

The cat possesses the toy, and we denote this by use of ‑’s at the end of cat.

When a singular noun ends in the letter s or z, the same format often applies. This is a matter of
style, however, and some style guides suggest leaving off the extra s.

I have been invited to the boss’s house for dinner.

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Mrs. Sanchez’s coat is still hanging on the back of her chair.
Plural nouns ending in s take only an apostrophe to form a possessive.

My nieces’ prom dresses were exquisite.

12. Compound nouns-
A compound noun combines two or more words into one. Compound nouns can appear as a single
word, multiple words used separately, or words connected by hyphens. compound nouns: dry-
cleaning, jack-in-the-box, toothpaste, haircut, output, ice cream, potato chip

Cases of Noun
DEFINITION
1. Subject of the Verb
The subject of the verb can be determined by answering the question 'who' or 'what' performed the
action in the sentence?

Let's take a look at the following example:

"Raj gave the apple to his friend."
In the above-mentioned sentence, 'who' or 'what' performed the action of 'giving'?
Raj performed the action of giving the apple. Therefore, 'Raj' is the subject of the verb 'gave'.
When the subject performs the action, it is said to be in the nominative case.

DEFINITION
2. Nouns in the Nominative Case
When a noun is used as the subject of a verb, it is said to be in the nominative case.
For example: The boy ate an apple.
The boy is the subject performing the action, so "boy" is in the nominative case.

DEFINITION
3. Object of the Verb
The object of the verb is the person or thing upon or to which the action was performed.
For example:

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Raj threw the ball outside the park.
Upon what or to what is the action performed?
The action of throwing is performed upon the ball. Therefore, 'the ball' is the object of the verb. It
is in the objective case.

The girl thanked her mother.

Upon or to whom is the action in the sentence being performed?
The action of thanking is performed towards the girl's mother. Therefore, 'her mother' is the object
of the verb in the sentence. It is in the objective case.

DEFINITION
4. Nouns in the Objective Case
Nouns that are used as the object of the verb are said to be in the objective case.
For example:
The boy ate an apple.
'an apple' is the object of the verb and therefore is in the objective case.

The wind blew the leaves away.

'the leaves' are the object of the verb and are therefore in the objective case.

DEFINITION
5. Direct Object
The direct object of the verb is the object upon which an action is directly performed.
For example:
Rita gave Theresa a gift.
In the above sentence, both 'Theresa' and 'a gift' are the objects of the verb. However, the action of
giving is performed directly upon the gift. Therefore, 'a gift' is the direct object of the verb 'gave'.

DEFINITION
6. Indirect Object

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The indirect object is the object for whom or to whom something is done. Usually, the indirect
object follows immediately after the verb.
For example:
Rita gave Theresa a gift.
In the above sentence, 'Theresa' and 'a gift' are both objects of the verb 'gave'. However, Theresa
is the object to whom or for whom something is done. Therefore, Theresa is the indirect object of
the verb.

DEFINITION
7. Noun in the Genitive Case
Nouns that show possession or ownership are said to be in the possessive or genitive case.
For example:
His father's house
In the above phrase, the noun 'father's' shows that the house belongs to the father. It shows
ownership or possession. Therefore, 'father's' is said to be in the genitive case.

DEFINITION
8. Formation of the Genitive Case by adding 's
The genitive case is often formed by adding 's to the singular noun.
For example: the girl's pencil, the man's beard, the teacher's desk

DEFINITION
9. Formation of the Genitive Case by adding an Apostrophe to the Plural Noun Ending
in s
The genitive case may be formed by adding an apostrophe only to the plural nouns ending in 's'
For example: the boys' playground, the horses' food

DEFINITION
10. Formation of the Genitive Case by Adding 's to the Noun Not Ending in s
The genitive case may be formed by adding 's to the nouns not ending in s.
For example: the children's toys, the men's meeting

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DEFINITION
11. Formation of the Genitive Case when a Noun has Several Words
When a noun or a title has several words, the genitive case is formed by attaching the appropriate
genitive sign to the last word of the noun.
For example:
The Queen of England's speech
The President of India's car

DEFINITION
12. Formation of the Genitive Case When Two Nouns are in Apposition
When two nouns are in apposition, the genitive case is formed by putting the genitive sign after
the latter noun only.
For example:
This is Milton the poet's book.
That is Rudyard Kipling the writer's house.

DEFINITION
13. Formation of the Genitive Case when Two Nouns are Closely Connected
When two nouns are closely connected, the genitive case may be formed by putting the genitive
sign with the latter noun.
For example:
Paul and Mary's house
Elizabeth and Charles's family

DEFINITION
14. Formation of the Genitive when Connected Nouns imply Separate Possession
When two or more connected nouns imply separate possession, the genitive sign is put alongside
both nouns.
For example:
Shakespeare's and Milton's poetry

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Paul's and Harry's passports

DEFINITION
15. Noun in Apposition
When a noun follows another noun in order to describe it, the second noun is said to be in
apposition to the first noun. (Apposition means to be placed nearby).
For example:
Noun in Apposition in the Nominative Case -
Blake, the poet, was also a painter.
Noun in Apposition in the Objective Case -
He telephoned Mrs. Brown, the teacher.
Noun in Apposition in the Genitive Case -
Rajashree, the artist's paintings are now on sale.
EXAMPLE
Possessive Case With Shared Possession
To form the possessive case of the noun when there are two nouns and they share possession of
something, we must add 's to the second noun only.
For example: Mark and Jill's car is across the street. - the 'car' belongs to both Mark and Jill. Hence,
's is only added once to the second noun 'Jill'.
EXAMPLE
Possessive Case By Other Means
The possessive case of a noun may be formed in different ways. For example, we may indicate
shops, restaurants, schools or colleges, by referring to the owner's name.
For example:
Let's go to the dentist's.
She studies at Saint Mary's.

DEFINITION
16. Noun Case Identification and Formation
Nouns have different cases: subjective (nominative) case, objective (accusative) case, possessive
(genitive) case.

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To identify the subjective case of a noun, place 'Who' or 'What' before the verb.
To identify the objective case of a noun, place 'Whom' or 'What' before the verb and its subject.
To identify the possessive case, look for 's or s' at the end of the noun.

CORRECT USAGE OF NOUNS

Function is an important aspect of grammar, for the same word can function in more than one way.
Recognizing nouns: A Noun is a word used as the name of a person, place or thing; as

 Ram is my elder brother.

 Delhi is the capital of India.
 The rose smells sweet.
 The sun shines bright.
 Mohan was carried away by her beauty.

Common Errors
Common mistakes with nouns-
Incorrect: I would like to buy some furnitures.
Correct: I would like to buy some furniture.

Incorrect: Have you got any informations?

Correct: Have you got any information?

Incorrect: Have you packed your luggages?

Correct: Have you packed your luggage?

Incorrect: Is there any breads?

Correct: Is there any bread? OR Are there any loaves?

Explanation: Nouns like scenery, furniture, news, information, luggage and bread are always used
in the singular. They do not have a plural form.

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Incorrect: He told these news to me.
Correct: He told me this news.

Explanation: The noun news is only used in the singular. So, we cannot use these before news.
When a verb (e.g. told) takes two objects, we prefer to put the indirect object (e.g. me) before the
direct object (e.g. this news). Note that the indirect object is usually a person as in the above
example.

Incorrect: The government should pay attention to the problems of the poors.
Correct: The government should pay attention to the problems of the poor.

Incorrect: He provided the blinds with food.

Correct: He provided the blind with food.

Explanation: Expressions like the poor, the dead, the blind, the unemployed are always plural. You
don’t have to say the poors or the blinds.

Wrong: The sceneries here are not good.

Right: The scenery here is not good.

Wrong: Did you hear these news?

Right: Did you hear this news?

Explanation
Nouns like furniture, information, advice, news, luggage and scenery normally have only a
singular form.

Wrong: Students should wear white pants.

Right: Students should wear white trousers.

'Pants' means underclothes covering the upper part of the leg.

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Wrong: I am learning a new poetry.
Right: I am learning a new poem.

Wrong: He is my cousin brother.

Right: He is my cousin.

Explanation
Cousin means any child of any aunt or uncle. There is no need to say cousin brother since the noun
he already reveals the sex of the person.

Wrong: One of my friend has agreed to come with me.

Right: One of my friends has agreed to come with me.

Wrong: Some of my friends has arrived.

Right: Some of my friends have arrived.

Explanation
The noun following one of, some of, none of and similar expressions must be plural in number,
but the verb must agree with the subject in number.

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