What is a Noun? An Elaborate Discussion on the Types of Nouns

Classification of Nouns

Classification of Noun: Mainly Noun is of two kinds. Such as;

• Concrete Noun.
• Abstract Noun.

# Classification of Concrete Noun: Concrete Noun is of four kinds. Such as;

• Proper Noun.
• Common Noun.
• Collective Noun.
• Material Noun.

# Classification of Nouns on the basis of counting: Noun is of two kinds on the basis of counting. Such as;

• Countable Noun.
• Uncountable Noun.

ELABORATE DISCUSSION

Concrete Noun

Definition of concrete noun: A concrete noun is the name of something which has external physical existence and can be perceived through senses. It can be seen, smelt, touched or tasted.
For example:

• The materials that can be seen: book, table, chair, cow, lion, building etc.
• The materials that can be smelt: air, gas, odour etc.

A.(a). Proper Noun

Definition of Proper Noun: A proper noun is the name of a particular person, place, thing or any other thing.
For example:

• Particular name of person: Rahim, Karim, Salama, Shuma etc.
• Particular name of things: Titanic, The Quran, The Daily News etc.
• Particular name of place: Dhaka, Khulna, Rajshahi, Barishal, Bangladesh etc.

Some important note:
Note-1: The first letter of particular proper noun is always capital letter.
Note-2: Proper noun is the particular name of person, thing, place or any other things.

A.(b): Common Noun

Definition of Common Noun: A common noun is one which is common to each member of a class of persons or things.
For example:

• I have seen many rivers.
  Note: In above sentence, “river” is a common noun.

Comparison between proper noun to common noun.

For example : Shown in Table-

A.(c). Collective Noun

Definition of Collective Noun: A collective noun is the name of a group or collection of persons or things of the same kind thought as one undivided whole.

For example of collective noun: class, army, flock, band, herd, jury, crowd, gang, team , party, infantry, fleet, navy, audience, committee, group etc. are called collective noun.

Rule-1: If collective noun is used as a subject in a sentence, then the subject becomes singular number and accordingly s/es is added with verb.
For example:

• A gang of robbers has come.
• A team of players goes to play football today.

Rule-2: If collective noun does not mean a group of person or things, then it is called “Noun of multitude”. In such noun phrase “verb” is used. were, are etc. are used instead of am. is. On the other hand “has” is used instead of “have”.
For example:

• The class are divided into two divisions.
• The class has sixty students.

Note: In sentence i) “are” is used instead of “is”. On the other hand “has” is used instead of “have”.

A. (d). Material Noun

Definition of material noun: A material noun is a name which indicates a matter or substance as a mass and does not indicate any part or number of it.

For example: salt, plate, water, gold, iron, milk, tea, etc. are called material noun.
Note: Singular verb is used after material noun. Such as;

• Water is essential to life.
• Gold is a precious material.

Abstract Noun

Definition of Abstract Noun: An Abstract noun is that noun which indicates some abstract idea or quality which has no physical existence and cannot be touched, smelt, heard, or perceived through the sense but can only be imagined.

For example: honesty, boyhood, justice, heroism etc. are called abstract noun.

Formation of Abstract Noun

From Common to Abstract Noun. Example is shown in below table;

Note: Common noun can be converted into abstract_noun by adding ism, hood, y, ship etc.

From adjective to Abstract Noun. Example is shown in table;

From verb to Abstract Noun. Example is shown in table;

Countable Noun

Definition of Countable Noun: A countable noun is the name of anything which can be counted by number.
For example: pen, book, child, flower, star, river, chair, table etc. are called countable noun.

Uncountable Noun

Definition of uncountable noun: An uncountable noun is the name of anything which cannot be counted by number and can be measured by some other units only.

For example: wood, forgiveness, water, salt, virtue, honesty, air, sight, beauty etc. are called uncountable noun.
Some Rules of countable noun and uncountable noun.

Rule-1: Many + countable noun.
For example:

• He has many books.
• Many boys are playing in the field.
• She has broken many plates.
• There are many rules regarding this.

Note: The bold words in the above sentences have met up the rule.

Rule 2: A few + countable noun.
For example:

• I have a few books.
• He has a few friends.
• A few people went there.

Note: The bold words in the above sentences have met up the rule.

Rule-3: Few + countable noun.
For example:

• I have few friends here.
• There are few educated women in our country.
• He has obtained few marks in the math exam.

Note: The bold words in the above sentences have met up the rule.

Rule-4: Much + uncountable noun.
For example:

• There is much water in the pond.
• He has much kindness.
• I have much doubt about it.
• Three eggs per day give much strength.

Note: The bold words in the above sentences have met up the rule.

Rule-5: Little / A little + uncountable noun.
For example:

• There is little water in the pond.
• There is a little water in the pond.
• I have little knowledge about it.
• I have a little knowledge about it.

Note: The bold words in the above sentences have met up the rule.

Rule-6: More + countable/uncountable noun.
For example:

• More water is needed…..(uncountable)
• More people are needed…..(countable).
• More money is needed….(uncountable)
• Does he want more money?……(uncountable).

Note: The bold words in the above sentences have met up the rule. “More” is the comparative degree of many/much.

Rule-7: Fewer + countable noun.
For example:

• There are fewer lies in his speech today.
• Fewer books were sold.
• Today fewer problems have been given as assignments.

Note: The bold words in the above sentences have met up the rule. “fewer” is the comparative degree of “few”.

Rule-8: Less + uncountable noun.
For example:

• He spends less money than his brother.
• He has less weight than I.

Note: The bold words in the above sentences have met up the rule. “Less” is the comparative degree of “Little” and “Least” is the superlative degree of “Little”.

Rule-9: Fewest + countable noun.
For example:

• She has the fewest pens.
• I have been to the fewest places.

Note: The bold words in the above sentences have met up the rule. Few, fewer, and fewest are used for countable nouns.

Rule-10: Least + uncountable noun.
For example:

• This glass contains the least water.
• He understands the least explanation.
• The girl seems to know the least gentility.

Note: The bold words in the above sentences have met up the rule. Much/many –more-most are used in both countable and uncountable. Little-less-least-are used for uncountable noun.

Rule-11: The few + countable noun.
For example:

• The few people that went there were not enough.
• Akbar was greater than the few other kings of India.
• What do you want to do with the few chairs?

Note: The bold words in the above sentences have met up the rule.

Rule-12: Very few + countable noun.
For example:

• Very few people of Bangladesh are educated.
• Very few girls of this school are beautiful.
• He speaks very few words.

Note: The bold words in the above sentences have met up the rule. “ Very few” is used to indicate “something is very poor in number”.

Rule-13: The very few + countable noun.
For example:

• The very few people that went there were not enough.
• The very few people of Bangladesh are educated.
• What do you want to do with the very few chairs?

Note: The bold words in the above sentences have met up the rule. To give emphasis something, “the very few” is used.

Rule-14: Most + countable/uncountable.
For example:

• Most people of this place are Muslims.
• Most heat was wasted.
• Most children are fond of eating sweetmeats.

Note: The bold words in the above sentences have met up the rule. Much/many –more-most are used for both countable and uncountable noun.

Rule-15: Several + countable noun.
For example:

• Several students study regularly.
• Several pills are missing.
• Several people are caused the chaos.

Note: The bold words in the above sentences have met up the rule. Several mean some.

Rule-16: The rest of + countable/uncountable noun.
For example:

• Ten students were there; two were of science, three were of arts group and the rest of them were of commerce group.
• The rest of her pens have been lost.
• The rest of the people were sitting there.
• The rest of the salt was sold.

Note: The bold words in the above sentences have met up the rule.

Rule-17: Some + countable/uncountable noun.
For example:

• I want some water.
• Some people say so.
• I have bought some books.

Note: The bold words in the above sentences have met up the rule.

Rule-18: Some of + countable/uncountable noun.
For example:

• Some of them went there.
• You can drink some of the milk.
• Some of the trees broke down because of storm.

Note: The bold words in the above sentences have met up the rule.

Rule-19: Many of + countable noun.
For example:

• Many of them know magic.
• Many of the books are written in English.
• Many of the books were in good condition.

Note: The bold words in the above sentences have met up the rule.

Rule-20: Much of + uncountable noun.
For example:

• Much of the milk of the pot is stale.
• Much of this food contains vitamins.
• Much of the water of this pond was contaminated.

Note: The bold words in the above sentences have met up the rule.

Rule-21: Several of + countable noun.
For example:

• Several of them were very honest.
• Several of us were very strong physically.
• Several of the rivers of Bangladesh have been useless.

Note: The bold words in the above sentences have met up the rule.

USE OF ONE KIND OF NOUN AS ANOTHER

Use of proper noun as common noun.

Example is shown in table:

Explanation:
# In sentence 1-A Nazrul and Byron both are proper noun. But in sentence 1-B Byron is used as common_noun.

# In sentence 2-A Rabindranath and Homer are used as proper noun. But in sentence 2-B Homer is used as common noun.

# In sentence 3-A Mir Jafar is used as proper noun. But in sentence 3-B Mir Jafar is used as common noun.

# In sentence 4-A Shumon is used as proper noun. But in sentence 4-B Shumon is used as common noun.

# In sentence 5-A Akbar is used as proper noun. But in sentence 5-B Akbar is used as common noun.

# In section 6-A Tuhin is used as proper noun. But in sentence 6-B Tuhin is used as common noun by using “one”.

More example of common and proper noun are given below;

• He is our Imran Khan.
• Imran Khan is a very good player.
• Will any Rabindranath be born in India again?
• My son is the Sun of our family.
  Explanation:
• Imran Khan is a common noun.
• Imran Khan is a proper noun.
• Rabindranath is a proper noun.
• The Sun is a common noun.

Use of common noun as proper noun.

For example:

• He lives in our state.
• He lives in the United States of America.
• He is a member of British Council.
  Explanation:
• In this sentence “State” is a common noun.
• In this sentence “States” is proper noun.
• In this sentence “council” is a proper noun.

Use of material noun as common noun.

For example:

• The instrument is made of iron.
• The police put the prisoner in irons.
• She likes gold.
• The gold of her ring is costly.
• We grow rice.
• The rice of Barishal is fine.
  Explanation:
• In this sentence “iron” is a material noun.
• In this sentence “irons” is a common noun.
• In this sentence “The gold” is a common noun.
• In this sentence “rice” is a material noun.
• In this sentence “The rice” is a common noun.

Use of collective noun as common noun.

Example is shown in table:

Explanation:

• In sentence 1-A “The class” is a collective noun. But in a sentence 1-B “three classes” is a common noun.
• In sentence 2-A “The army” is a collective noun. But in sentence 2-B “armies” is a common noun.
• In sentence 3-A “A team” is a collective noun. But in sentence 3-B “teams” is a common noun.
• In sentence 4-A “ A flock” is a collective noun. But in sentence 4-B “ flocks” common noun.

Use of common noun as Abstract noun.

Example is shown table:

Explanation:

• In sentence 1-A “ a mother” is common noun. But in sentence 1-B “The mother” is an abstract noun.
• In sentence 2-A “ a beast” is common noun. But in sentence 2-B “beasts” is an abstract noun.
• In sentence 3-A “ father” is a common noun. But in sentence 3-B “father” is an abstract noun.

Use of Abstract noun as common noun.

Example is shown in table:

Explanation:

• In sentence 1-A, “justice” is an abstract noun. But in sentence 1-B “justice” is a common noun.
• In sentence 2-A “beauty” is an abstract noun. But in sentence 2-B “beauty” is a common noun.
• In sentence 3-A “danger” is an abstract noun. But in sentence 3-B “danger” is a common noun.

Function of the Noun

# Noun is used in a sentence for the following purposes:

• Noun is used as subject.
• Noun is used as object.
• Noun is used as a complement.
• Noun is used as prepositional object.
• Noun is used as noun of apposition.

For example:

• Rahim is a good boy. –(Noun is used as subject).
• I eat a banana.
• We elected him captain.
• The cat is fond of milk.
• Is Mr. Kamal, teacher of B.L.G High School, a qualified man?
  Explanation:
• Rahim is a noun and used as subject.
• Banana is a noun and used as object.
• Captain is a noun and used as complement.
• Milk is a noun and used as prepositional object.
• Teacher is a noun and used as noun in apposition.

OTHER WORDS OR GROUP OF WORDS ARE USED AS NOUN.

For example: (Shown in table):

Explanation:

• In sentence 1-A “poor” is an adjective. But in sentence 1-B “ The poor” is a noun (common noun).
• In sentence 2-A “brave” is an adjective. But in sentence 2-B “ The brave” is a noun (Common noun).
• In sentence 3-A “ rich” is an adjective. But in sentence 3-B “ The rich” is a noun (Common noun).

Use of Verb as noun

Explanation:

• In sentence 1-A “Show” is a verb. But in sentence 1-B “ show” is a noun.
• In sentence 2-A “ go” is a verb. But in sentence 2-B “ go” is a noun.

Use of Adverb as noun.

Explanation:

• In sentence 1-A “then” is an adverb. But in sentence 1-B “ then” is a noun.
• In sentence 2-A “ here” is an adverb. But in sentence 2-B “ here” is a noun.
• In sentence 3-A “ never” is an adverb. But in sentence 3-B “ forever” is a noun.
• In sentence 4-A “ While” is an adverb. But in sentence 4-B “ while” is a noun.

Use of Prepositional adverbial particle as noun.

Explanation:

• In sentence 1-A “ up, down” are prepositional adverbial particle. But in sentence 1-B “ ups and downs” is a noun (Phrasal noun).
• In sentence 2-A “ in, out” are prepositional adverbial particle. But in sentence 2-B “ ins and outs” is a noun (Phrasal noun).

Use of Conjunction as noun.

Explanation:

• In sentence 1-A “ but” is a conjunction. But in sentence 1-B “ buts” is a noun.
• In sentence 2-A “ and” is a conjunction. But in sentence 2-B “ ands” is a noun.

Use of infinitives as nouns.

Explanation:

• In sentence 1-A “ to see” is an infinitive. But in sentence 1-B “ To see” is a noun.

Use of Gerund as noun.

Explanation:

• In sentence 1-B “ Walking” is a gerund working here as a verbal noun.
• In sentence 2-B “catching” is a gerund working here as a verbal noun.

Use of phrase as noun

Explanation:

• In sentence 1-B “ a bed of roses” is a phrase which acts as noun (Phrase noun / phrasal noun).
• In sentence 2-B “ a walking shadow” is a phrase which acts as noun (Noun phrase / phrasal noun.)

Use of clause as noun

Explanation:

• In sentence 1-B “ what he wants” is a clause which acts as noun (Noun clause/sub-ordinate noun clause)
• In sentence 2-B “ what he had done” is a clause which acts as noun (Noun clause / sub-ordinate noun clause).
• Clause means a group of words with a finite verb is called clause.

Read more…
Understanding Parts of Speech: Types and Definitions Explained

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