The nouns

NOUNS A noun is a part of speech that names a person, place, thing, idea, action or quality. All nouns can be classified into two groups of nouns: common or proper. Proper nouns refer to the individual name of a person, place or thing. Examples might include Barcelona, Leonardo da Vinci, or Toyota Corolla. Common nouns are more generalized by comparison, and they can be further divided into abstract, collective, compound, countable concrete, uncountable concrete and verbal. The best way to understand this part of speech is to take a look at several noun examples. 

Abstract Nouns Abstract nouns are those referring to ideas, concepts, emotions, and other “things” you can’t physically interact with. You can’t see, taste, touch, smell, or hear something named with an abstract noun. Some abstract noun examples are included in the following sentences. Success seems to come easily to certain people. His hatred of people smoking indoors is legendary. Concrete Nouns Concrete nouns are words used for actual things you can touch, see, taste, feel, and hear – things you interact with every day. Notice that concrete nouns can also be countable, uncountable, common, proper, and collective nouns. Some concrete noun examples are included in the following sentences. Please remember to buy oranges. Have a seat in that chair.

Collective Nouns   When talking about types of noun, it’s important to remember collective nouns. A collective noun is a word that refers to a group. It can be either singular or plural, but is usually used in the singular. Some collective noun examples are included in the following sentences. Our team is enjoying an unbroken winning streak. There’s a pack of hyenas outside. Watch out for that swarm of bees.