All About Noun - Definition, Types of Noun, Examples and The Golden Rules with Audio

What is noun?

A noun is a part of speech that is used to name a person, place, thing, quality, or action. A noun can function as a subject, object, complement, appositive, or object of a preposition.

Plural vs singular

Nouns can be singular or plural. The plural form of a noun is usually formed by adding s at the end of the noun. But this is not always the case. There are exceptions to the rule. Some plurals are irregular:

Singular  Plural

fish         fish

tooth       teeth

man        men

woman    women

Different types of nouns

There are different types of nouns:

Types of Nouns

(I) Common Nouns

Common nouns are the names given to persons and things that are of the same type. These nouns refer to general things rather than particular examples. There is something similar among the things that are named using common nouns.

(a) A country must remain united at all points of time.

(b) Living in a metropolitan city has its own benefits.

(c) The 21st century man is under a lot of stress.

(d) The birth of a girl is the best thing that can happen in any family.

(e) Any student who wishes to crack banking exams must be willing to work hard.

(II) Proper Nouns

Proper nouns are the names given to particular persons or things. These nouns are used to name specific items that are generally one-of-a-kind. Think of a common noun as the name given to a group of similar items and a proper noun as the specific name given to an item belonging to that group.

(a) At present, India is one of the most in􀃓uential countries in the world economy.

(b) Alice is a bright and spirited girl.

(c) Kanpur is a heavily populated city.

(d) Apple and Samsung are currently engaged in sti􀃗 competition.

(e) Delhi has not been granted full statehood as yet.

(III) Abstract Nouns

An abstract noun is the name of a quality, idea, action, emotion, state or a similar “thing” that cannot be physically interacted with. Basically, abstract nouns are used to name intangible things, rather than concrete objects.

(a) Bravery on the battlefield is different from bravery in real life.

(b) Success is not sweet, if one has not worked hard for it.

(c) Teenage is the journey that transforms a child into an adult.

(d) The love for your country should not translate into hostility towards others.

(e) Suicide should not be regarded as a solution to personal problems.

(IV) Collective Nouns

Collective nouns are the names that refer to a group of people or things seen as a single unit. You can see these nouns as the names of collections. Although collective nouns can be both singular and plural, but generally they are used in the singular form.

(a) The jury is of the view that the accused is guilty as charged.

(b) Our class is not interested in participating in any extracurricular activities.

(c) A herd of cows has been spotted near the river.

(d) The team is con􀃒dent of performing well in the upcoming matches.

(e) Musicians must be conscious of what their target audience wants.

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Countable & Uncountable Nouns

Nouns can also be classi􀃒ed as countable nouns and uncountable nouns. It is important to note that countable nouns can be singular as well as plural. However, uncountable nouns don’t have any plural form. They are used only in the singular form. Examples of countable and uncountable nouns are:

(a) Singular Countable Nouns – a pen, a cup, a pencil, a ball, an eraser etc.

(b) Plural Countable Nouns – pens, cups, pencils, balls, erasers etc.

(c) Uncountable Nouns – knowledge, furniture, advice, luggage, baggage, equipment, scenery, poetry,

money, news, trafic, information, machinery etc.

By Dr. Vijender A senior Faculty of Delhi , For Audio, video classes and notes , you can contact on 8447410108 . and please subscribe the Blog for continue study material .

 Some important rules for noun

Rule 1: The following words are uncountable and are normally used in the singular form only. The indefinite article “A or An” Should not be used with them.They have no plural forms. ‘A/An’ not used before them.

Ex: Luggage / Baggage / Breakage / Advice / Furniture / Information / Scenery / Poetry / Work / Soap / Food / Bread / Fish / Paper / Machinery etc.

Incorrect – The Sceneries of Kashmir is very beautiful.

Correct – The Scenery of Kashmir is very beautiful.

Incorrect – I know that he has many informations.

Correct – I know that he has much information / a lot of information.

Incorrect – They gave me a good advice.

Correct – They gave me a piece of good advice.

Incorrect – I want a Soap/Bread.

Correct – I want a piece of Soap/Bread.

Rule 2: The words such as “News / Maths / Ethics / Politics / Phonetics / Economics / Statistics / Measles / Mumps / Rickets / Billiards / Innings” look like plural nouns but give singular meaning. So, they take singular form of verbs.

Correct – Mathematics is a difficult subject.

Correct – But say “His Mathematics are very weak”.

Rule: When preceded by a possessive adjective, the noun takes a plural verb.

Incorrect – Billiards are an interesting game.

Correct – Billiards is an interesting game.

Incorrect – The news are not reliable.

Correct – The news is not reliable.

Rule 3: Some Nouns have the same form whether singular or plural.

Ex: Sheep / Deer / Service / Series / Series / Species /Fish / Apparatus

Incorrect – He saw two sheeps in the zoo.

Correct – He saw two sheep in the zoo

Incorrect – A series of lectures are to be delivered tomorrow.

Correct – A series of lectures is to be delivered tomorrow.

Rule 4: The following nouns are always used in the plural form only

Cattle / People / Police / Electorate / Poultry / Trousers / Scissors / Spectacles / Binoculars / Crackers / Swine / Gentry / Clergy. All these are used with plural form of verbs.

Incorrect – The police is coming towards us now.

Correct – The police are coming towards us now.

Incorrect – The scissor is very sharp.

Correct – The scissors are very sharp.

Rule 5: Add ‘S’ to the main word in compound noun to make it plural.

Sister-in-Law, the plural form is Sisters-in-Law, not Sister-in-Laws

Brother-in- Law, the plural form is Brothers-in-law, not Brothers-in- Laws.

Rule 6: The possessive case of a compound noun is formed by adding ‘S’ to the last word.

Father-in-Law, Father-in-Law’s property.

Sister-in-Law, Sister-in-Law’s property.

Rule 7: After the phrases One of / Some of/ Each of / Either of /Neither of / Any of / None of, a plural form of a noun is used.

One of my best friends (not one of my best friend)

One of the biggest cities (not One of the biggest city)

Each of the boys is (not Each of the boys are)

Either of the teachers is (not Either of the teachers are)

Rule 8: Nouns indicating numerals should be used in singular form “A Dozen eggs / Two Dozen Oranges”. But say Hundreds of eggs / Houses / A hundred rupees / Two hundred rupees.

Rule 9: After collective nouns either a singular or plural form of verb is used.

Correct – The team is strong (here, we are treating the TEAM as an UNIT)

Correct – The team are fighting among themselves (Here, we are saying about the players of the team)

Rule 10: An “Apostrophe” and ‘S’ should be used with living beings only to show possession.

Incorrect – The table’s legs were broken.

(This is wrong, because the table is a non living thing)

Correct – We can say “The legs of the table were broken”

Rule 11: Say, “A five rupee note”, ” A two mile walk”

Rule 12: Don’t say “family members / cousin brother or cousin sister” but say “The members of the family / he or she is my cousin”.

Rule 13: When two nouns are connected by “and”, and are closely related, add an apostrophe and S to the last noun.

Incorrect – Kareena’s and Saif’s house (if you think they are wife and husband then this sentence is wrong)

Correct – Kareena and Saif’s house (as they live in a SINGLE house)

Correct – Incorrect – But you can say “India’s and Pakistan’s population”.

Rules of Nouns for Solving questions in Competitive Exams

☞1. Some nouns always take a singular verb.

Scenery, advice, information, machinery, stationery, furniture, abuse, fuel, rice, gram, issue, bedding, repair, news, mischief, poetry, business, economics, physics, mathematics, classic, ethics, athletics, innings, gallows.

(A) The scenery of Kashmir are enchanting. (Correct use- is)

(A) He has given advices. (Correct use- advice)

☞2. Some nouns are singular in meaning, but they are used as plural nouns and always take a plural verb.

Cattle, gentry, vermin, peasantry, artillery, people, clergy, company, police.

(A) The cattle is grazing in the ground. (correct use- are)

(B)  Police has controlled the situation. ( correct use- have)

☞3. Some nouns are always used in a plural form and always take a plural verb.

Trousers, scissors, spectacles, stockings, shorts, measles, goods, alms, premises, thanks, tidings, annals, chattels, etc.

(A) Where is my trousers? (correct use- are)

(B) Where are my trousers? Correct

(A) Spectacles is  a costly item. ( correct use- are)

☞4. There are some nouns that indicate length, measure, money, weight or number. When they are preceded by a numeral, they remain unchanged in form.

Foot, meter, pair, score, dozen, head, year, hundred, thousand, million.

(A) It is a five – years degree course. (correct use- year)

(A) I have seven dozens of shoes. (correct use- dozen)

☞5. Collective nouns such as jury, public, team, committee, government, audience, orchestra, company, etc. are used both as singular and Plural. It depends on the usage.

(A) The jury was divided in their opinion. (correct use- were)

(A) The team have not arrived  yet. (correct use- has)

☞6. Some nouns have one meaning in the singular and another in the plural:

a.Advice = counsel,

advices = information

b.Air = atmosphere,

 airs = proud

c. Authority = command,

authorities = persons in power

d. Good = wise ,

goods = property

e. Iron = metal,

 irons = fetters, chains

f. Force = strength

forces = army

g. Content = satisfaction,

contents = things contained

h. Respect = regards,

respects = compliments

i. Work = job

works = compositions, factories,.

☞7. People are often confused or they commit mistakes in the use of certain nouns.

(A) Lecturership is wrong: lectureship is correct.

(B) Freeship is wrong; free – studentship is correct.

(C) Boarding is wrong; boarding house is correct.

(D) Family members is wrong; members of the family is correct.

(E) English teacher is wrong; the teacher of English is correct.

(F) Cousin – brother or sister is wrong; only cousin is correct.

(G) Wages means punishments when used in the singular.

Ex- The wages of sin is death.

(H) It also means charges for the labour when used in the plural sense.

Ex- The wages of daily workers have been raised.

☞8. A pronoun must agree with its antecedent in person, number and gender.

Ex- Every student must bring his luggage.

All students must do their home work.

Each of the boys must carry his own bag.

☞9. While using ‘everybody’ ‘everyone’, ‘anybody’, and ‘each’ the pronoun of the masculine or the feminine gender is used according to the context.

I shall be happy to help each of the boys in this practice.

But when the sex is not mentioned, we use the pronoun of the masculine gender.

Anyone can qualify this exam if he tries.

Each of the six boys in the class has finished their tasks. (Incorrect)

Each of the six boys in the class has finished his task. (Correct)

☞10. The pronoun ‘one’ must be followed by ‘one’s’.

One must finish his homework in time.  (Incorrect)

One must finish one’s homework in time.  (Correct)

☞11. Enjoy, apply, resign, acquit, drive, exert, avail, pride, absent, etc., when used as transitive verbs, always take a reflexive pronoun after them. When ‘self’ is added to ‘my’, ‘your’, ‘him’, ‘her’, and ‘it’, and ‘selves’ to our and them – they are known as reflexive pronouns.

He absented from the meeting.

He absented himself from the meeting.

☞12. ‘Who’ denotes the subject and ‘whom’ is used for the object?

who : It’s the subject of a verb—e.g., Who gave you that book?

It’s a predicate nominative (a noun in the predicate that renames or refers to the sentence’s subject)—e.g.,This is who I am.

Whom is an objective pronoun, which is a pronoun that receives the action of a verb. It also has two main uses:

It is the object of a verb—e.g., Whom should I call?

It is the object of a preposition—e.g., From whom did you get this information?

☞13. When two or more singular nouns are connected by ‘either or’; ‘neither nor’, ; and ‘or’, the pronoun used is singular.

Either Rohan or Sohan will give their bike. (Incorrect)

Either Rohan or sohan will give his book. (Correct)

☞14. When a singular and a plural noun are joined by ‘or’, ‘nor’, the pronoun must be plural.

Either the student or his teachers failed in his duty. (Incorrect)

Either the student or his teachers failed in their duty. (Correct)

☞15. ‘Whose’ is used for living persons and ‘which’ for lifeless objects.

Which novel did you select?

Whose photograph is lying there?

☞16. ‘Each other’ is used when there are two subjects or objects and ‘one another’ when there are more than two.

Ram and Sita loved each other.

Those five students, who are sitting there, love one another.

☞17. When a pronoun stands for a collective noun, it must be in the singular number and in the neuter gender if the collective noun is viewed as a whole.but  if it gives an idea of different entities , plural pronoun is used.

The jury gave ‘its’ verdict.

Here the ‘jury’ gives the idea of one whole.

If the collective noun conveys the idea of separate individuals comprising the whole, the pronoun standing for it must be plural.

The jury were divided in their opinions.

in this sentence ,  the ‘jury’ gives the idea of several individuals.

☞18. If pronouns of different persons are to be used together in a sentence, the serial order of persons should be as follows;

second person(2) + third (3)+ first person(1) in  normal sentences. But  when mistake or fault is expressed in the sentence, the order should be; first person(1) + second person(2) + third person(3). RULE-231

You, he and I have finished the work. (Normal idea)

I, you and he are to blame. ( here Confession of guilt is expressed , it’s a negative idea, hence order is 123)

☞19. ‘Some’ is used in affirmative sentences to express quantity or degree. ‘Any’ is uses in negative or interrogative sentences.

I shall buy some apples.

I shall not buy any apples.

Have you bought any apples?

But ‘some’ may be correctly used in interrogative sentences which are, in fact, requests.

Will you please give me some water?

☞20. The use of ‘few’, ‘a few’’ and ‘the few’ should be used with care. They denote ‘number’.

‘Few’ means ‘not many’, ‘almost nothing’.  A ‘few’ is positive and means ‘some at least’. ‘The few’ means ‘whatever there is’.

A few men are free from fault. (Incorrect)

Few men are free from fault. (Correct)

(Here the sense is negative and thus ‘a few’ is wrong.)

Few teams will qualify for the world cup. (Incorrect)

A few boys will pass in the examination. (Correct)

Here the sense is positive and thus ‘few’ is incorrect.

I have already read a few books that are in the library. (Incorrect)

I have already read the few books that are in the library. (Correct)

Here the sense is ‘whatever there is’. ’everything that is in the library’

☞21. Use of ‘less’ and ‘fewer’

‘Less’ denote quantity and ‘fewer’ denote number.

No less than fifty students were selected. (Incorrect)

No fewer than fifty students were selected. (Correct)

There are no fewer than five liters of water in the bottle. (Incorrect)

There are no less than five liters of water in the bottle. (Correct)

☞22. Use of little, a little, the little

‘Little’ means ‘hardly any’

There is little hope of his recovery. (Incorrect)

There is a little hope of his recovery. (correct)

‘A little’ means ‘some’, though not much.

Little knowledge is a dangerous thing. (Incorrect)

A little knowledge is a dangerous thing. (Correct)

‘The little means ‘not much but all there is’.

Little water that is in the bottle may be used for the child. (Incorrect)

The little water that is in the bottle may be used for the patient. (Correct)

☞23. Use of elder, older.

‘Elder’ is used for persons of same family.

‘Older’ refers to persons as well as things and is followed by ‘than’.

Rohan is elder than all other boys of this area. (Incorrect)

Rohan is older than all other boys of this area. (Correct)

Sabu is my older brother. (Incorrect)

Sabu is my elder brother. (Correct)

☞24. Normally ‘than’ is used in the comparative degree, but with words like superior, inferior, senior, junior, prior, anterior, posterior and prefer ‘to’ is used.

Sara is junior than Neeta.( Incorrect)

Sara is junior to Neeta. (Correct)

I prefer reading than walking. (Incorrect)

I prefer reading to walking. (Correct)

☞25. when a comparison is made by using a comparative followed by ‘than’, the word ‘other’ must  exclude the thing compared form the class of things with which it is compared.

He is better than any man. (Incorrect)

He is better  than any other man. (Correct)

‘Any man’ includes the man himself and thus the sentences will be awkward.

☞26. In some cases, the comparison is subtle and must be given proper attention.

Ex- The climate of Delhi is better than Mumbai. (Incorrect)

Here the comparison should be between the climate of Delhi and the climate of Mumbai.

The climate of Delhi is better than the climate of Mumbai. (Correct)

Or

The climate of Ranchi is better than that of Gaya. (Correct)

(Here, ‘That of’ means ‘the climate of’)

If the traits are in plural, it will be ‘those of’.

The products of Reliance are better than those of Suzuki.

The scenery of Kashmir is better than Shimla. (Incorrect)

The scenery of Kashmir is better than that of shimla. (Correct)

☞27. ‘many a’ is always followed by the singular verb.

Many a student were drowned in the river. (Incorrect)

Many a student was drowned in the river. (Correct)

☞28. If the subject is ‘the number of’ the singular verb is used. And when the expression (‘a +number+of) is used , plural verb is used.

The number of students are very small. Incorrect

The number of students is very small. Correct

A number of girls has passed in the examination. (Incorrect)

A number of girls have passed in the examination.( correct)

☞29. When ‘as well as’, ‘along with’, together with’, ‘no less than’, ‘in addition to’ and ‘not’ and ‘with’ join two subjects, the verb will be used according to the first subject.

Ram, as well as his five friends, are going.( Incorrect)

Ram, as well as his five friends, is going. (Correct)

The teacher, along with the students, were dancing.( Incorrect)

The teacher, along with the students, was going. Correct

By Dr. Vijender A senior Faculty of Delhi , For Audio, video classes and notes , you can contact on 8447410108 . and please subscribe the Blog for continue study material .