What Is a Noun? Definition, Types, and Examples

Nouns form the backbone of language because it serves as the building blocks for sentences. In English, they refer to a wide range of concepts, from tangible objects like books and cats to abstract ideas like justice and happiness. Nouns can be singular or plural, and they can represent people, places, things, qualities, actions, or ideas.

Understanding nouns is essential to get the knack of the English language. So, in this blog, we will be breaking down how nouns are used in sentences. We will also look into its types with examples. Let’s get started!

What is a Noun?

According to Merriam Webster, a noun is defined as “any member of a class of words that typically can be combined with determiners to serve as the subject of a verb, can be interpreted as singular or plural, can be replaced with a pronoun, and refer to an entity, quality, state, action, or concept.”

In simple words, a noun can represent a person, place, thing, or even an idea. Generally, sentences contain at least one noun or a pronoun (which is used in the place of a noun). You can find many nouns in this paragraph alone.

In English grammar and other languages, nouns are one of the main parts of speech. They can be used alone without additional word classes. However, determiners or articles can be used along a noun to make it specific.

In the following examples, we have underlined all the nouns in sentences.

• Becky and Juliet have been friends since they were kids.
• My favourite animated movie is “Beauty and the Beast”.
• Stefan, please pass me the glass of water?
• I would recommend you to watch “Maleficent”. It is a retelling of the legend “Sleeping Beauty”.

How Nouns are Used in Sentences?

The basic word order for a sentence structure always contains a subject, verb, or an object. As you can see in the above examples, a noun takes on different roles based on their relationships to the rest of the word.

Noun as a Subject

In the English language, every sentence must have a subject. It could be a person, place, or thing that is doing or experiencing the thing described by the verb. So, a subject is a noun or a pronoun.

Example:

• Chloe is baking casseroles for dinner.
• Chloe works as an English teacher in a primary school.

In these sentences, the noun ‘Chloe’ acts as a subject as she is performing the actions.

Noun as an Object

Noun also works as an object of a transitive verb in a sentence. An object can be direct that receives the action described by the verb. Or, it could be indirect that receives a direct object. In both cases, the object is a noun.

Example:

• The teacher handed the book.
• The teacher handed the student the book.

In the first sentence, “book” is the direct object, as it is the thing that the teacher handed over. While in the second one, there is an indirect object “student”. The teacher handed over the book to the student. To identify an indirect object, ask yourself to whom or for whom the action is being done.

Noun as Complement

Nouns can also play the role of subject complements or object complements. A subject complement follows a linking verb like “be,” “become,” or “seem” and provides additional information about the subject.

Example:

• The cat is a tabby.

In the sentence, tabby is the subject complement. It is describing the cat’s breed.

Object complements, on the other hand, follow transitive verbs and give more information about the direct object. 

Example:

• They elected her president.

In the sentence, president is the object complement. It is specifying the position she was elected to. Verbs that indicate naming, making, or creating mostly use object complements.

Nouns as Appositives

An appositive is a noun or noun phrase that follows another noun and provides additional information about it.

Example:

• My cat, Smokey, is friendly.

In the sentence, Smokey is an appositive that further identifies the noun cat. Appositives can be restrictive or nonrestrictive, depending on whether the information they provide is essential to understanding the sentence’s meaning.

Nouns as Modifiers

Nouns can also function as modifiers, similar to adjectives. When used in this way, they are called attributive nouns.

Example:

• A garden hose.

In this phrase, garden is an attributive noun which is modifying the noun hose.

Types of Nouns

A noun is classified into several types based on its usage in a sentence. Here is a breakdown of all of them.

Countable & Uncountable Noun

Countable nouns are nouns that can be counted easily. They have both singular and plural forms.

Examples:

• I like to read a book before bed.
• I like to read books.

• She rented an apartment in New York.
• They all live in rented apartments.

• She is an exchange student in Istanbul University.
• Students on exchange programs are allotted hostel dorms. 

Meanwhile, uncountable nouns are nouns that cannot be counted. They generally do not have plural forms. However, they are used with additional words to determine the quantity like little, less, a bowl of, a glass of, a gallon, a stack of, etc.

Examples:

Incorrect: I ate one rice last night.

Correct: I ate some rice last night.

Correct: I ate a bowl of rice last night.

The first sentence is wrong as rice can not be quantified in numbers. We have to measure it differently. Now, look at some other examples.

• I need more information on this topic.
• Please, give me more time to solve this riddle.
• Coat your freshly fried donuts in some sugar to enhance its flavour.

Common & Proper Noun

Common nouns refer to general or unknown categories of people, places, things, or ideas. They begin with a lowercase letter and come after an indefinite article.

Examples:

• I told you to grab a book along.
• Which country do you want to explore next?
• She saw a beaver crossing the river.

On the other hand, proper nouns refer to specific people, places, things, or ideas. They are already known or are specified in the previous context. They begin with an uppercase letter.

Examples: 

• Have you read the third book of the Harry Potter series, “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban”.
• I visited London  in the fall season.
• John was straightaway lying to Lily.

Abstract & Concrete Noun

Abstract nouns refer to ideas, qualities, or concepts that cannot be touched or seen. They could also describe feelings or emotions like love, happiness, hate, fear, beauty, etc.

Examples:

• I like to have an evening snack with tea.
• Don’t let the ugliness of society make you bitter.
• Intelligence is chasing you, but you are faster.
• Do you have the courage to go skydiving?

Unlike abstract nouns, concrete nouns refer to things that can be touched or seen.

Examples:

• Her study table is quite old, so she must change it.
• Would you please lend a pen and a paper.
• I like apples and bananas.

Collective Noun

Collective nouns refer to a group of people, animals, or things.

Examples:

• The Barcelona team was unable to defend the opponent team.
• I saw a flock of seagulls on the seashore.
• The crowd got out of control at Taylor Swift’s concert.

Possessive Noun

Possessive nouns show ownership or possession of the object or another noun. They are often formed by adding “‘s” or “s'” to the noun.

Examples:

• John’s car was parked outside the porch.
• The children’s toys were scattered in the room.
• Due to the economy, the company’s profits are increasing.

Compound Noun

Compound nouns are nouns formed by combining two or more words. Both of these words are also nouns. They have individual meaning if used separately, but also make a completely different word when used together.

Examples:

• The paint of the room does not go with the colour of bed.
• Your bedroom is so messy, you need to clean it.

In these sentences, words have a different meaning when used separately. Have a look at other examples.

• I went to the grocery store just to buy a toothbrush.
• The bookstore is next to the flower shop on street 10.
• You have to try roasted sunflower seeds; they are delicious.

Other Parts of Speech Functioning as Noun

Other parts of speech can also function as nouns in certain contexts.

Verb:

Verbs can also be used as nouns in certain contexts:

Verbals:

Verbals are verb forms that can function as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs. They include gerunds, infinitives, and participles.

Examples:

• Running is my favourite exercise. (Running is a gerund used as a noun.)
• To err is human. (To err is an infinitive used as a noun.)
• The broken vase was expensive. (Broken is a participle used as an adjective.)

Nominalizations:

Nominalizations are nouns created from verbs. They often end in “-tion,” “-ment,” or “-ance.”

Examples: 

• The investigation was successful. (Investigation is a noun formed from the verb “investigate.”)
• The development of the new product was delayed. (Development is a noun formed from the verb “develop.”)

Adjectives:

Adjectives can be used as nouns when they refer to a general concept or quality.

Examples: 

• The young are often idealistic. (The young refers to a group of people.)
• The old are often wise. (The old refers to a group of people.)
• The rich get richer. (The rich refer to a group of people.)

Wrap Up

Most of the words in the English language comprises nouns. A noun could be anything, a human, location, a feeling or emotion, a group, or something in possession. Therefore, it is important to learn what nouns are and how to use them in sentences. You can utilize the grammar correction tool to get the hang of this important part of speech. It will help you to rectify your grammar mistakes effortlessly. So, give it a try and don’t forget to leave a comment down below. Happy writing!