What is a Noun?

A word that is used to name a person, animal, place, or a thing is called a Noun. Nouns are also called as
the Naming Words. Noun is that part of speech which is definitely found in a sentence.

Types of Nouns
Nouns are broadly classified into various categories. The different types of nouns are:

Common Nouns
Proper Nouns
Concrete Nouns
Abstract Nouns
Countable Nouns
Uncountable Nouns
Collective Nouns
Compound Nouns
Singular Nouns
Plural Nouns
Common Nouns
Common nouns refer to people, places, and things in general like chairs or dogs.

Examples: teacher, car, music, danger, receipt, etc.

For Ex- Have you seen my Cat?

Proper Nouns
Proper Noun refers to the name of people, places, organizations or any specific thing. Your name is a
proper noun. For ex- Delhi is a proper noun. We always start a proper noun with a capital letter.

Concrete Nouns
Concrete nouns refer to physical things that you can touch. For ex- Man, Rice, etc.

For Ex- She is fond of reading books.

Abstract Nouns
Abstract nouns refer to the opposite of concrete nouns. They are things that you cannot touch. Abstract
nouns are ideas, concepts, and feelings of a person.

Examples: happiness, courage, danger, truth, etc.

For Ex- Honesty is the best policy.

Countable Nouns
Countable nouns are those nouns that you can count. Countable nouns have singular and plural forms.
Examples: ball, boy, cat, person, etc.

For Ex- Ravi bought a dozen eggs from the market.

Uncountable Nouns
Uncountable nouns refer to the nouns that you cannot count. For ex- Water, sadness, etc.

For Ex- Give me a glass of water.

Collective Nouns
A collective noun refers to a group of individuals, animals or things.

For Ex- Her family lives in different countries.

Compound Nouns
A compound noun refers to a noun that is made with two or more words. Most compound nouns are
[noun + noun] or [adjective + noun]. For ex- cat food, blackboard, breakfast, full moon, etc.

Singular Nouns
Nouns that are used to name a single person, place, animal or object are known as Singular Nouns.

For Ex- A little girl is living alone in that house.

Plural Nouns
When a number of people, places, animals, and objects are referred then we use Plural Nouns.

For Ex- Some apples are kept in the refrigerator.

Important Rules of Noun

1. Some Nouns always take a singular verb.

For ex-Scenery, advice, information, machinery, stationery, furniture, abuse, fuel, rice, gram, issue,
bedding, repair, news, mischief, poetry, business, economics, physics, mathematics, classic, ethics,
athletics, innings, gallows these are some of the words which always take a singular verb.

The scenery of Nainital is enchanting.

She has given advice.
2. some nouns are singular in meaning, but they are used as plural nouns and always tend to take a
plural verb.

For Ex-Cattle, the gentry, vermin, peasantry, artillery, people, clergy, company, police.

(A) The cattle are grazing in the ground.

(B) Police have controlled the situation.

3. some nouns are always used in a plural form and always take a plural verb. For Ex- Trousers, scissors,
spectacles, stockings, shorts, measles, goods, alms, premises, thanks, tidings, annals, chattels, etc.

(A) Where are my trousers? ( Incorrect)

(A) Where are my trousers? ( correct)

4. some nouns indicate length, measure, money, weight, or number but when they are preceded by a
numeral, they remain unchanged in form.

Some of the examples are- Foot, meter, pair, score, dozen, head, year, hundred, thousand, million.

(A) It is a four – years degree course. (Incorrect use )

(A) It is a four–year degree course. (correct use)

5. There are some collective nouns such as jury, public, team, committee, government, audience,
orchestra, company, etc. are used both as singular and Plural.

(A) The jury was divided in their opinion.

6. There are some nouns which have one meaning in the singular and another in the plural:

a. Advice = counsel,

advices = information

b. Air = atmosphere,

airs = proud

c. Authority = command,

authorities = persons in power

d. Good = wise ,

goods = property

e. Iron = metal,

irons = fetters, chains

f. Force = strength

forces = army

g. Content = satisfaction,

contents = things contained

h. Respect = regards,

respects = compliments

i. Work = job

works = compositions, factories,.

So make sure you use them correctly to avoid any mistakes.

7. There are certain nouns in which people are often confused or commit mistakes.
Lecturership ( Incorrect)
lectureship ( correct).
8. Another important rule is a pronoun must agree with its antecedent in person, number and gender.

For Ex- Every kid must bring his luggage.

All kids must do their homework.

9. While you are using ‘everybody’ ‘everyone’, ‘anybody’, and ‘each’ the pronoun of the masculine or the
feminine gender is used according to the context.

I shall be happy to help each of the girls in this practice.

The point to be noticed here is, when the sex is not mentioned, we use the pronoun of the masculine
gender.

For Ex- Anyone can qualify this exam if he tries.

Each of the six boys in the class has finished their tasks. (Incorrect)
Each of the six boys in the class has finished his task. (Correct)
10. When the pronoun ‘one’ is used it must be followed by ‘one’s’.

For Ex- One must finish his lunch in time. (Incorrect)

One must finish one’s lunch in time. (Correct)
11. Words like Enjoy, apply, resign, acquit, drive, exert, avail, pride, absent, etc., when used as transitive
verbs, always take a reflexive pronoun after them. When ‘self’ is added to ‘my’, ‘your’, ‘him’, ‘her’, and
‘it’, and ‘selves’ to our and them – they are known as reflexive pronouns.

For Ex-She absented from the meeting.

She absented herself from the meeting.
12. Words like ‘Who’ denote the subject and ‘whom’ is used for the object?

Who: It’s the subject of a verb—e.g., Who gave you that bag?

It’s a predicate nominative which means that a noun in the predicate that renames or refers to the
sentence’s subject)—e.g., This is who I am.

Whom is an objective pronoun, which is a pronoun that receives the action of a verb. It also has two
main uses:

It is the object of a verb—e.g., Whom should I call?

It is the object of a preposition—e.g., From whom did you get this information?

13. If two or more singular nouns are connected by ‘either or’; ‘neither nor’, ; and ‘or’, the pronoun used
is singular.

For Ex-Either Sita or Rita will give their scooty. (Incorrect)

Either Sita or Rita will give her book. (Correct)
14. When a singular and a plural noun are joined by ‘or’, ‘nor’, the pronoun must be plural.

For Ex-Either the student or his teachers failed in his duty. (Incorrect)
Either the student or his teachers failed in their duty. (Correct)
15. Words like ‘Whose’ is used for living persons and ‘which’ for lifeless objects.

For Ex- Which book did you select?

Whose book is lying there?
16. Words like ‘Each other’ is used when there are two subjects or objects and ‘one another’ when there
are more than two.

For Ex- Ram and Rita loved each other.

Those six students, who are sitting there, love one another.
17. When a pronoun refer to a collective noun, it must be in the singular number and in the neuter
gender if the collective noun is viewed as a whole but if it gives an idea of different entities , plural
pronoun is used.

For Ex- The jury gave ‘its’ verdict.

Here the ‘jury’ gives the idea of one whole.
If the collective noun conveys the idea of separate individuals comprising the whole, the pronoun
standing for it must be plural.

The jury were divided in their opinions.

in this sentence , the ‘jury’ gives the idea of several individuals.

18. If pronouns of different persons are to be used together in a sentence, the serial order of persons
should be as follows;

Second person(2) + third (3)+ first person(1) in General sentences.

When mistake or fault is expressed in a sentence, the order should be; first person(1) + second person(2)
+ third person(3). RULE-231
For Ex- You, he and I have finished the work. (General idea)

I, you and he are to appreciated. ( here Confession of appreciation is expressed, it’s a Positive idea,
hence order is 123)

19. Word-like ‘Some’ is used in affirmative sentences to express quantity or degree. ‘Any’ is uses in
negative or interrogative sentences.

For Ex-I shall buy some mango.

I shall not buy any mangoes.
Have you bought any mangoes?
But ‘some’ may be correctly used in interrogative sentences which are, in fact, requests.

Will you please give me some water?

20. The use of words like ‘few’, ‘a few’’ and ‘the few’ should be used with care. They denote ‘number’.

‘Few’ means ‘not many’, or we can say ‘almost nothing’. A ‘few’ signifies positive and means ‘some at
least’. ‘The few’ on the other hand means ‘whatever there is’.

For Ex-A few women are free from fault. (Incorrect)

Few women are free from fault. (Correct) (Here the sense is negative and thus we cannot use ‘a few’ .)
21. Use of ‘less’ and ‘fewer’

‘Less’ denote quantity while ‘fewer’ denote number.

For Ex-No less than forty students were selected. (Incorrect)

No fewer than forty students were selected. (Correct)
There are no fewer than four liters of water in the bottle. (Incorrect)
There are no less than four liters of water in the bottle. (Correct)
22. Use of words like little, a little, the little
For Ex- ‘Little’ refers to ‘hardly any’
There is little hope of her recovery. (Incorrect)
There is a little hope of her recovery. (correct)
‘A little’ means ‘some’, but not much.

Little knowledge can be a dangerous thing. (Incorrect)

A little knowledge can be a dangerous thing. (Correct)
‘The little refers to ‘not much but all there is’.

Little water that is in the bottle may be used for the child. (Incorrect)
The little water that is in the bottle may be used for the patient. (Correct)
23. Correct Use of elder, older.

‘Elder’ is used to refer the age difference for persons of same family. While ‘Older’ refers to the persons
as well as things and is followed by ‘than’.

Sohan is elder than all other boys of this area. (Incorrect)

Sohan is older than all other boys of this area. (Correct)
Tabu is my older brother. (Incorrect)
Tabu is my elder brother. (Correct)
24.We Normally use ‘than’ in the comparative degree, but with words like superior, inferior, senior,
junior, prior, anterior, posterior and prefer ‘to’ is used.

Tara is junior than Neeta.( Incorrect)

Tara is junior to Neeta. (Correct)
I prefer reading than walking. (Incorrect)
I prefer reading to walking. (Correct)
25. When we do a comparison by using a comparative followed by ‘than’, the word ‘other’ must exclude
the thing compared form the class of things with which it is compared.

She is better than any woman. (Incorrect)

She is better than any other woman. (Correct)
‘Any woman’ includes the woman herself and thus the sentences will be awkward.

26. When ‘many a’ is used it is always followed by the singular verb.

For Ex- Many a kids were drowned in the river. (Incorrect)

Many a kids was drowned in the river. (Correct)
27. When the words like ‘as well as’, ‘along with’, together with’, ‘no less than’, ‘in addition to’ and ‘not’
and ‘with’ join two subjects, the verb will be used according to the first subject.

For Ex- Ravi, as well as his five friends, are going.( Incorrect)
Ravi, as well as his five friends, is going. (Correct)
Rules of Noun with Examples
Rule 1:
Some nouns, like humans, animals, and police, are singular in meaning but are always employed as plural
nouns and take plural verbs.
Police reach late at the crime spot always.
The cattle are following the cowboy.
Rule 2:
Some nouns always take the plural verb and are used in the plural form, things like scissors, premises,
appreciation, spectacles, etc.
Where are my Spectacles?
The scissors are on the table.
Rule 3:
Some nouns, such as news, ethics, machinery, advice, stationery, physics, mathematics, etc., always take
the singular verb.
Physics is my favourite subject of all.
The girls suicide is not what it looks like.
Rule 4:
Some nouns imply the number, measure, money, length, weight, etc. When a definite numeral comes
before these nouns, they remain singular, and when an indefinite numeral is used they become plural.
I have 3 dozen bananas with me.
My school is several kilometres away from my home.
Rule 5:
Both the singular and plural forms of collective nouns can be used.
The government is not showing any interest to stop the protest.
The jury was in disagreement about the verdict.
Rule 6:
Some nouns have different meanings when used in different numbers.
It is good and bad in everything. [Virtue]
Pack all the goods as soon as possible. [Possessions]
He had absolute authority over his subordinates. [Control]
Authorities denied answering the queries. [Persons in power]
Rule 7:
Usually, material nouns do not have an article (such as a, an, or the) preceding them.
I like gold and not silver. [Incorrect]
I like gold and not silver. [Correct]
Rule 8:
A few nouns that are considered to be graceful, lovely, and soft, such as the moon, the earth, nature,
spring, nations, and ships, are considered feminine nouns. Some words, such as the sun, time, winter,
wind, summer, thunder, ocean, war, and wine, are classified as masculine because they denote strength,
firmness, and activity.
The sun stretched his golden arms climbing above the mountains.
Death is the mother of Beauty.
Rule 9:
Even though a work of art or a book’s title sounds plural, it is nevertheless always regarded as singular.
“The Palace of Illusions” is a great work of literature.
The Game of Thrones has one of the greatest CGI effects of all TV series.
Rule 10:
The neuter gender is used when referring to small animals, insects, or very young children.
The bug is coming and going in the room.
The baby is crying since we boarded the train.
Rule 11:
There are certain nouns that have the same form in both the singular and plural, such as deer, sheep,
series of fish, crew, team, jury, aircraft, and counsel.
The crew was great with us.
The crew were responsible for the mishap.
Rule 12:
In spite of referring to living beings, collective nouns are treated as neuter gender and are followed by
the pronoun mostly.
The army is preparing for its exercise.
The band has got its first contract.
So, here were all the rules you need to know about nouns in order to solve the question from the topic
seamlessly. All you need to do now is a practice as much as you can, and the marks are yours.

Some of the collective nouns are given below:-

Examples of Collective Noun.

1. A band of musicians.
2. A board of directors, etc.
3. A bevy of girls, women, officers etc.
4. A bunch of grapes, keys, etc.
5. A bundle of sticks and hay.
6. A caravan of merchants, pilgrims, travellers.
7. A chain/range of mountains or hills.
8. A choir of singers.
9. A class of students.
10. A retinue of servants/ attendants.
11. A clump/ grove of trees.
12. A code of laws.
13. A cluster/ constellation/ galaxy of stars.
14. A company/ regiment/ army of soldiers.
15. A convoy of ships, cars etc. moving under an escort.
16. A course or series of lectures.
17. A crew of sailors.
18. A crowd/ mob of people.
19. A curriculum of studies.
20. A flight of steps, stairs.
21. A fleet of ships or motorcars.
22. A flock of geese, sheep and birds.
23. A gang of robbers, labourers.
24. A garland/bunch/ bouquet of flowers.
25. A heap of ruins, sand, stones.
26. A herd of cattle.
27. A litter of puppies.
28. A pack of hounds, cards.
29. A pair of shoes, scissors, compasses, trousers.
30. A series of events.
31. A sheaf of corn, arrows.
32. A swarm of ants, bees or flies.
33. A train of carriages, followers etc.
34. A troop of horses (cavalry)
35. A volley of shots, bullets.
36. A forum of people (discussing issues)
37. A congregation of people (discussing religious issues)
 PRACTICE QUESTIONS

Directions: Read each sentence to find out whether there is any grammatical error in it. The error, if
any, willbe in one part of the sentence. The number of that part is the answer. If there is no error, the
answer is ‘4’ i.e. Noerror, (Ignore the errors of punctuation, if any).
1. Jaya Jyostsna went (1)/to her friend’s house (2)/and gave her two ten-rupees note. (3)/No error (4).
2. There was (1)/no money in the bank in Dhananjay’s (2)/ and Mritunjay’s joint account. (3)/No error
(4)
3. Thousand (1)/of rupees were (2)/ spent by him. (3)/No error (4)
4. The machineries are (1)/not functioning properly (2)/ these days. (3)/No error (4)
5. The poetries (1)/of R.N. Tagore has been taught (2)/ in the class. (3)/No error (4)
6. Thousand of people (1)/had already been killed (2)/in the accident near Fatuha. (3)/No error (4)
7. Five thousand (1)/rupee is a large amount (2)/ for everybody. (3)/No error (4)
8. There is (1)/no place (2)/in the compartment. (3)/ No error (4)
9. Mr. Sharma is one of the (1)/best teacher (2)/ in our school. (3)/No error (4)
10. One of the important lesson (1)/he taught me was to save (2)/at least thirty percent of my gross
income.(3)/No error (4)
11. The table’s legs (1)/have been (2)/elaborately carved. (3)/ No error (4)
12. None of the student (1)/in the class scored below the (2)/ given cut-off marks. (3)/No error (4)
13. He is (1)/one of the tallest boy (2)/in the class. (3)/No error (4)
14. I have (1)/many works (2)/ to do. (3)/ No error (4)
15. Mritunjay prefers (1)/extra sugars in (2)/ his tea. (3)/No error (4)
16. All the child playing (1)/at the beach ran towards Sam when (2)/ they heard him shout. (3)/No
error (4)
17. Cattles are (1)/ not allowed to (2)/ enter this place. (3)/No error (4)
18. It is a pity that (1)/even five years old boys are (2)/engaged in hazardous factories. (3)/ No error (4)
19. I visited Anna’s and Steve’s house (1)/ twice but found (2)/ the couple absent. (3)/No error (4)
20. A ton’s weight (1)/ is too heavy for anyone to (2)/ carry on his head. (3)/No error (4)
21. He did not approve (1)/ of his son raising stupid questions and thereby (2)/ vexing the teacher.
(3)/Noerror (4)
22. America’s problems (1)/ are, however, not so serious (2)/ and awful as India. (3)/No error (4)
23. The Finance Minister boasts of improving (1)/ the economic condition of (2)/ the country’s.
(3)/No error(4)
24. For your sake as well as for your wife (1)/ we all wish that you may (2)/ get that job. (3)/No error
(4)
25. The expert mason reported to the owner of the hotel that (1)/ there was no question (2)/ of the
wall’s fallingdown. (3)/No error (4)
 ANSWERS:
1. (3); Use 'ten-rupee note'in place of 'ten-rupees note'.
2. (2); Use 'Dhananjay' in place of 'Dhananjay's'.
3. (1); Use 'Thousands' in place of 'Thousand'.
4. (1); Use 'The machinery is' in place of 'The machineries are' because machinery is an 'Uncountable
Noun.
5. (1); Use 'The poetry' in place of 'The poetries'.
6. (1); Use 'Thousands of people' in place of 'Thousand of people'.
7. (2); Use 'rupees' in place of 'rupee'.
8. (2); Use 'room' in place of 'place'. The word 'room' is used with some nouns like train, bus,
car, ship,aeroplane etc.
There is no place for you in this
car. (x) There is no room for you
in this car. (✓)
9. (2); Use 'teachers' in place of 'teacher'.
10. (1); Use 'lessons' in place of 'lesson'.
11. (1); Use 'The legs of the table' in place of 'The table's legs'.
12. (1); Use 'None of the students' in place of 'None of the student'.
13. (2); Use 'boys' in place of ''boy'.
14. (2); Use 'Much work' or 'a lot of work' in place of 'Many works' because 'work' is an uncountable
noun.
15. (2); Use 'sugar' in place of 'sugars'.
16. (1); Use 'All the children' in place of 'All the child'.
17. (1); Use 'cattle' in place of 'cattles'.
18. (2); Use 'five year old boys' in place of 'five years old boys'.
19. (1); Use 'Anna and Steve's' in place of 'Anna's and Steve's'.
20. (4); No error.
21. (2); Use 'son's' in place
22. (3); Use 'India's' in place of 'India'.
23. (3); Use 'country' in place of 'Country's'.
24. (1); Use 'wife's' in place of 'wife'.
25. (3); Use 'the falling down of the wall' in place of 'the wall's falling down'.