Kinds of nouns
Sort nouns into proper, common, collective, material and abstract.
You have met nouns as naming words. This lesson sorts them into five kinds so you can use capitals, articles and word forms correctly.
Nouns can be proper, common, collective, material or abstract, depending on what kind of thing they name.
Examples
- We flew to Kolkata in March. (proper)
- The doctor checked my throat. (common)
- A herd of cows blocked the road. (collective)
- This bowl is made of steel. (material)
- Her patience surprised us all. (abstract)
How it works
Proper and common nouns
A proper noun is the special name of one person, place or thing and starts with a capital letter. A common noun is the general name for any one of its kind.
Mount Abu is a hill station; it is a lovely town.
Collective nouns
A collective noun names a group as a single unit, such as a crowd, a team or a bunch.
The audience clapped loudly.
Material nouns
A material noun names a substance or matter from which things are made. Such nouns usually have no plural and do not take a or an.
Grandma's bangles are made of silver.
Abstract nouns
An abstract noun names a quality, feeling, state or idea that you cannot see or touch. Many are formed from adjectives, verbs or common nouns.
We were moved by his kindness.
Quick reference
| From | Word | Abstract noun |
|---|---|---|
| Adjective | happy | happiness |
| Adjective | strong | strength |
| Adjective | free | freedom |
| Verb | grow | growth |
| Verb | obey | obedience |
| Common noun | child | childhood |
| Common noun | friend | friendship |
Common mistakes
✕We visited the taj mahal in agra.
✓We visited the Taj Mahal in Agra.
Proper nouns need capital letters.
✕He showed great brave in the flood.
✓He showed great bravery in the flood.
After great we need the noun, not the adjective.
✕She bought a gold for the wedding.
✓She bought some gold for the wedding.
Material nouns usually do not take a.
Worked example
Exercise 1
Tap the proper noun.
We visited Jaipur last winter.
✓Jaipur
Jaipur names one particular city.
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