Nouns in English Grammar

Nouns are words that are used to mention places, names of people, cities, things, quality etc.

Examples -

Germany is a developed country.
In above example, Germany and country are nouns.

Monday is a boring day.
In above example, Monday is a noun.

Types of Nouns.
Nouns are divided into below types in English Grammar.

1. Proper Nouns
2. Common Nouns
3. Countable Nouns
4. Uncountable Nouns
5. Collective Nouns
6. Concrete Nouns
7. Abstract Nouns
8. Compound Nouns
9. Animate Nouns
10. Inanimate Nouns
11. Gerund Nouns

Now Let us learn each type one by one.

1.Proper Nouns
Proper noun is the noun that is used to refer to unique thing.
For example -
Modi is the PM of India.

2.Common Nouns
Common noun is the noun that is used to refer to general thing (Not Unique).
For example -
The PM is a very very important person.

3.Countable Nouns
Countable noun is the noun that is used to refer to nouns that can be counted.
We say 1 book, 2 books etc. So book is a countable noun.
For example -
Books are a source of knowledge.

4.Uncountable Nouns
Uncountable noun is the noun that is used to refer to nouns that can not be counted.
We can not say 1 water, 2 water etc. So water is a Uncountable noun.
For example -
Water is a vital part of life.

5.Collective Nouns
Collective noun is the noun that is used to refer to group of things.
For example -
The meeting was headed by Obama.

6.Concrete Nouns
Concrete noun is the noun that is a physical thing and can be recognized by senses.
For example - Boy, school, tree
The goat was eating grass.

7.Abstract Nouns
Abstract noun is the noun that is a virtual concept or idea and can not be recognized by senses.
For example - happiness, worries, anxiety
History is  amazing.

8.Compound Nouns
Compound noun is the noun that is made up of 2 or more nouns.
For example - son-in-law, butter chicken etc
Butter Chicken was very tasty.

9.Animate Nouns
Animate noun is the noun that is used to refer to living things.
For example - boy, tree etc
Tree was very big.

10.Inanimate Nouns
Inanimate noun is the noun that is used to refer to non-living things.
For example - building, car etc
Car was in full speed.

11.Gerund Nouns
Gerund noun is the noun that is formed by suffixing -ing to a verb.
For example - Shopping, Swimming etc
I like shopping.

Singular and Plural Nouns

Nouns can be of 2 types.

1. Singular
2. Plural.

Singular noun is used to refer to one entity. For example -

a book, a pen, a boy, a Car.

Plural noun is used to refer to multiple entities. For example -

books, pens, boys, Cars.

Please remember that we must use determiner in front of Singular noun like a, an, the, that etc.

a book, that pen, an apple, the bottle

Rules to make plural forms of nouns.

1. use "s" at the end of nouns to make it plural. For example - books, pens
2. use "es" at the end of nouns ending with -ss, -ch, -s, -sh, -x. For example -  catches, matches, dishes etc
3. use "ies" at the end of nouns ending with "y" and is preceded by consonant For example - butterflies
4. use "ves" at the end of nouns ending with "fe". for example - wife - wives

There are some irregular plurals for some nouns as well.

For example - 

1. tooth - teeth
2. man - men
3. woman - women
4. foot - feet
5. person - people
6. wife - wives
7. wolf - wolves
8. mouse - mice
9. child - children
10. sheep - sheep
11. deer - deer
12. criterion - criteria
13. crisis - crises
14. shelf - shelves
15. ox - oxen
16. mother-in-law - mothers-in-law

If you know any other irregular plurals, please write them in comment below.

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