Nouns

What is a noun?

A noun is word that names something, such as a person, place, thing, or idea. In a sentence,
nouns can play the role of subject, direct objects, indirect object, subject complement,
object complement, appositive, adjective.

Types of nouns

1. Name a person.
• Johnny deep
• The president
• My mother
• a girl

2. Name a place.
• My bedroom
• Syria
• Mount Vesuvius

3. Name a thing.
• Shoe
• freedom
• basketball

4. Proper noun.
Proper noun is a specific name of a person, place, or thing, and is always capitalized.
• Mr. James
• Amazon
• Dr. Morgan
5. Common noun.
Common nouns are word used to name general items rather than specific ones.
• You broke my favorite mug.
• The are waiting for us in the restaurant.

Common noun types:

Common or generic nouns can be broken down into three sub types.

1. Concrete nouns
Concrete noun is something that is perceived by the senses; something is real
• I heard the doorbell.
• My keyboard is sticky.
Doorbell and keyboard are real things that can be sensed

2. Abstract nouns

Abstract noun is is something that cannot be perceived by senses.

• We cannot imagine the courage it took to do that.

Courage is an abstract noun, Courage cannot be seen, heard, or sensed.

3. Collective nouns
A collective noun denotes a group or collection of people or things.

• That pack of lies disgraceful.

Pack of lies as used here is a collective noun, take a singular verb as if they
are one entity – in this case, the singular verb is.

• A pride if lions roamed the savanna.

Pride of lions is also a collective noun.

6. Nouns as subjects
Every sentence must have a subject, and that subject will always be a noun, The
subject of a sentence is the person, place, thing that is doing or being the verb in
sentence.
• A few minutes ago, The student sat down in front of a computer.
• Now the student is reading some information.
• Tomorrow, the student is going to take a test.
• Is the student going to pass the test?

In these sentences the word “student” is being used as the subject of the sentence
because the student is doing the action.

7. Nouns as objects

Nouns can also object of a verb in a sentence. An object can either a direct object or
indirect object.

• Give the book to her.

“Book” = direct object. (what is being given).

“Her” = indirect object (who the book are being given to).

8. Nouns as subjects and object complements

Another type of noun use is called a subject complement.
• Marry is a teacher.
In this sentence, “teacher” is used as a subject complement. Subject complements
normally follow linking verbs.

• I now pronounce you husband and wife.

“Husband and wife” are used as object complement. Verbs that denote making,
naming, or creating are often followed by object complements.

9. appositive nouns and nouns as modifires

An appositive noun is a noun that immediately follows another noun in order to further
define or identify it.
• My brother, Michel, is six years old.
Michel is an appositive here, further identifying the subject of the sentence, my brother.
 NOTE:
Sometimes, nouns can be used adjectivally as well.
• He is a speed demon.
Speed is normally a noun, but here it is acting as an adjective modify demon.

10. Countable nouns and uncountable nouns

Countable nouns.
countable nouns are nouns which can be counted, even if the number might be
extraordinary 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 a singular—countable.
• Here are some cats.

Uncountable nouns.
Uncountable nouns are nouns that come in state or quantity which is impossible it
count.
• An I.Q. test measures intelligence.
Intelligence is an uncountable noun.
• Students don’t seem to have much homework these days.
This example refers to an unspecified, unquantifiable amount of homework, so
homework is an uncountable noun.

11. Possessive nouns

Possessive nouns are nouns which possess something. You can identify a possessive
noun by adding an apostrophe + s to the noun.
• The cat’s toy was missing.
The cat possesses the toy, and we denote this by use of an apostrophe + s at the end
of cat.
Plural nouns ending in an s simply take an apostrophe at the end to form a possessive
noun.
• The chickens’ eggs were taken by the farmer early in the morning.