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How Nouns Work


A noun can be a person, animal, place, object, idea, or any other thing that’s tangible or intangible. They are the who and what in a sentence. The following are the different types of nouns:

Common nouns refer to people, places, ideas, or things that are general or non-specific. These nouns are not capitalized (unless they start a sentence).  

  • The theater is sold out for the movie premiere.
 
  • My class welcomed a new student today.

Proper nouns refer to people, places, ideas, or things that are specific. These nouns are always capitalized.  

  • The Enzian Theater is featuring a new indie film this week.
 
  • Billy is a new student in my class.

Singular nouns refer to one person, place, idea, or thing.

  • This week is going to be a busy one.
 
  • After the rain, let's go to the park.

Plural nouns refer to more than one person, place, idea, or thing.

  • I have a great view of the birds from my kitchen window.
 
  • When I finally get my own place, I am going to adopt lots of dogs.

Compound nouns refer to nouns that consist of more than one word (some joined by hyphens).

  • mother-in-law, department store, fire hydrant, coffee cup

Countable nouns refer to nouns that can be counted.

  • image, house, assignment, reporter

Non-countable nouns refer to nouns that cannot be counted.

  • oxygen, anger, grammar, water 

(To see whether a noun is countable or non-countable, place a number before the noun. For example, it makes sense to say five images, but not five oxygens.)

Nouns are typically used as subjects, objects, and adjective.

  • The professor lectured for an hour.  
                          
                          
   In this sentence, professor is the subject; a subject is the who or what in a sentence.

  • John attended the rally.
                            
                             
In this sentence, rally is the object; an object receives the action of the verb: attended.

  • Please recycle that plastic bottle.
                          
                             
In this sentence, plastic is an adjective because it is describing another noun: bottle.


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