Nouns Part III

ABSTRACT NOUNS

These nouns are the names of things that we cannot perceive through our five senses of touching, smelling, seeing, hearing and tasting. These nouns can also refer to medical conditions related to the mind and are also used to express  thoughts.

• She screamed with great delight. - Delight is an abstract noun as it tells about the state of a person’s mind and any actual physical thing. 
• His bravery in the war won him a medal. - The abstract noun bravery is used to name the motivation behind certain actions made by people.
• One should learn to be as independent as possible. – Here, independent describes a state or a way of being, hence it is an abstract noun.

COUNTABLE NOUNS

Nouns Part II

 PROPER NOUNS

These nouns are the names of specific people and places. These nouns also refer to the names of the days of weeks and months, and also the various names for religions, organizations, institutions, etc. Proper nouns basically refer to the names that are specific to that particular noun.  These nouns are always capitalised as they need to be distinct from other nouns.

• William Shakespeare was a playwright. - Proper noun that is the name of a specific person.
• I will be visiting New York next month. - Proper noun that is the name of a specific place.
• Everyone dislikes Monday mornings. - The names of days are proper nouns. 
• The holy book of Islam is the Koran. - Name of a religion and religious text.

COMMON NOUNS

Nouns Part I

Nouns are simply the names we give to everything around us, whether it be a person, an event, a place or an object, etc. Every particular name used to define something is a noun. E.g. : Amsterdam, Anita, Blackberry, Honesty, Waiter, etc.  

The names given to a group of noun to identify them as a whole are calledCollective Nouns. E.g.:  pride of lions, gaggle of geese etc. 

Nouns or pronouns can also modify themselves to show possession of another noun, usually by attaching 's' to the end of the noun. These nouns that show possession are called Possessive Nouns. 

Possessive Nouns

Possessive nouns are used to indicate ownership.

Possessive nouns usually are formed by adding an apostrophe (') and s.

• John's book
• Kerry's car
• Grandma's mirror

When a noun is plural and ends in s, just add an apostrophe (').

• The kids' toys
• My parents' house
• The teachers' lounge

If two people own one thing, add the apostrophe and s to the second person only.

• John and Mary's new house
• David and Sue's wedding