Definition
Noun is a word used to name a person, place or thing.
- Rama was an epic king.
- His valour brought him laurels.
Kinds of Noun
1) Common Noun
A name given in common to every person or thing of the same class or kind.
- I write with a pen.
- The student asked me a few questions.
2) Proper Noun
The name of a particular person or place.
- Ramu is a wise fellow.
- Patna lacks basic civic amenities.
Rule: Proper nouns are always written with a capital letter.
Earlier the capital of india was in calcutta.
Earlier the capital of India was in Calcutta.
Rule: Proper nouns are sometimes used as common nouns and are preceded by articles.
LK Advani is today regarded as Sardar Patel of India.
LK Advani is today regarded as the Sardar Patel of India.
- She is a Lata Mangeshkar.
- Kalidas is the Shakespeare of India.
3) Collective Noun
Name of a group of persons or things (army, committee, jury, team, etc.).
Rule: Usually takes singular verb & pronoun.
The jury were unanimous in their opinion.
The jury was unanimous in its opinion.
Rule: Takes plural verb when individuals are thought of.
The jury was divided in its opinions.
The jury were divided in their opinions.
4) Abstract Noun
Name of a quality, action or state considered apart from the object.
- Innocence is integral to a child.
- Love knows no bound.
5) Material Noun
Name of a material from which a thing is made.
- Cotton is the source of natural fibre.
- Milk constitutes a nutritious food.
Rule: Does not take article.
The tobacco is a cash crop.
Tobacco is a cash crop.
Rule: Takes article when treated as common noun.
They offered me glass of water.
They offered me a glass of water.
Numbers
Numbers are of two kinds – Singular and Plural.
- cow → cows
- chair → chairs
- school → schools
- mango → mangoes
Special Rules
- Some nouns look singular but are treated as plural: cattle, clergy, people, children, police, poultry, peasantry.
The peasantry has always stood as rockstars for the development of a country.
The peasantry have always stood as rockstars for the development of a country.
- Some nouns look plural but are used as singular: mathematics, economics, physics, politics, ethics, classics.
His mathematics is weak.
His mathematics are weak.
- Some nouns are always singular: poetry, information, machinery, dust, furniture, dirt, traffic, money, music.
- Some nouns are plural in form: trousers, spectacles, scissors, pants — use a pair of.
I bought a trousers yesterday.
I bought a pair of trousers yesterday.
Different meaning in singular and plural
| Singular | Meaning | Plural | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advice | counsel | Advices | information |
| Air | wind | Airs | affected manners |
| Colour | hue | Colours | appearance; the flag of regiment |
| Compass | limit, range | Compasses | drawing instrument |
| Custom | habit | Customs | duties on imports |
| Force | strength | Forces | troops |
| Good | profit | Goods | movable property |
| Pain | suffering | Pains | careful effort |
| People | men & women | Peoples | nations |
| Spectacle | sight | Spectacles | eye-glasses |
| Manner | method | Manners | correct behaviour |
| Letter | alphabet unit | Letters | literature |
| Ground | earth | Grounds | reasons, land |
