Download The Seven Kinds of Nouns

List of Nouns
Using a list of nouns when children are beginning to read is helpful in making teaching easier. Nouns are one of the first
parts of speech that children learn when they begin to read. Use the following list of nouns for each age group to help
your child learn about the ideas things, people and places that surround them.
Kinds of Nouns in the English Language
Nouns have different types or classes. There are proper and common nouns, noncount and count nounts, collective
nouns, and concrete and abstract nouns.
Even though there are different kinds of nouns, a noun can fall into more than one class.
An example of this would be: Kathleen dated three different Davids in college. Davids in that sentence would fall into the
classes of proper, count and concrete.
To further explain the kinds of nouns, you can use this guide and remember that the lists of nouns below contain all of
these types :
KINDS OF NOUNS
Proper Nouns and Common Nouns
Proper nouns are nouns that represent a unique entity (like a specific person or a specific place).
Common nouns which describe an entire group of entities (examples would be the nouns village or women).
Proper nouns as a general rule are capitalized in the English language. Common nouns as a general rule are not
capitalized.
Sometimes the same word can function as both a common noun and a proper noun, where one such entity is special. For
example the common noun god refers to all deities, while the proper noun God specifically refers to the monotheistic
God.
Countable and Uncountable or Noncount Nouns
Countable nouns are common nouns that can become a plural. They can combine with exact numbers (even one, as a
singular) or indefinite numbers (like "a" or "an").
Uncountable (or noncount) nouns are different from by the simple fact that they can't become plural or combine with
number words. Examples from English include "indigestion" and "furniture".
Collective Nouns
Collective nouns name groups consisting of more than one individual or entity. The group is a single unit, but it has more
than one member. Examples include "family", "committee", "corporation","faculty", "army", and "school".
Concrete Nouns and Abstract Nouns
Concrete nouns refer to their ability to register on your five senses. If you can see, hear, smell, taste, or feel the item, it's a
concrete noun.
Abstract nouns on the other hand refer to abstract objects such as ideas or concepts, like the nouns "politeness" or
"hatefulness".
Possessive Nouns
A possessive noun is a noun that names who or what has something. The possessive form is used with nouns referring to
people, groups of people, countries, and animals.
It also refers to where someone works or plays or spends their time.
Add an apostrophe and s ('s) to form the possessive of most singular nouns (ex. Bob's jacket, the cat's tail, Steven King's
books).
Add an apostrophe (') to form the possessive of plural nouns that end with s (ex. retailers' stores, soldiers' weapons,
Americans' banks).
Add an apostrophe and s ('s) to form the possessive of plural nouns that do not end with s (ex. geese's nest, children's toys,
women's dresses).
Common Nouns by Grade Level
Kindergarten
1st Grade
2nd Grade
3rd Grade
4th Grade
5th Grade
ball
bat
bed
book
boy
bun
can
cake
cap
car
cat
cow
cub
cup
dad
day
dog
doll
dust
fan
feet
girl
apple
arm
banana
bike
bird
book
chin
clam
class
clover
club
corn
crayon
crow
crown
crowd
crib
desk
dime
dirt
dress
fang
alarm
animal
aunt
bait
balloon
bath
bead
beam
bean
bedroom
boot
bread
brick
brother
camp
chicken
children
crook
deer
dock
doctor
downtown
actor
airplane
airport
army
baseball
beef
birthday
boy
brush
bushes
butter
cast
cave
cent
cherries
cherry
cobweb
coil
cracker
dinner
eggnog
elbow
advice
anger
answer
apple
arithmetic
badge
basket
basketball
battle
beast
beetle
beggar
brain
branch
bubble
bucket
cactus
cannon
cattle
celery
cellar
cloth
able
achieve
acoustics
action
activity
aftermath
afternoon
afterthought
apparel
appliance
beginner
believe
bomb
border
boundary
breakfast
cabbage
cable
calculator
calendar
caption
carpenter
gun
hall
hat
hen
jar
kite
man
map
men
mom
pan
pet
pie
pig
pot
rat
son
sun
toe
tub
van
field
flag
flower
fog
game
heat
hill
home
horn
hose
joke
juice
kite
lake
maid
mask
mice
milk
mint
meal
meat
moon
mother
morning
name
nest
nose
pear
pen
pencil
plant
rain
river
road
rock
room
rose
seed
shape
shoe
shop
show
sink
snail
snake
snow
soda
sofa
star
step
stew
stove
straw
string
drum
dust
eye
family
father
fight
flesh
food
frog
goose
grade
grandfather
grandmother
grape
grass
hook
horse
jail
jam
kiss
kitten
light
loaf
lock
lunch
lunchroom
meal
mother
notebook
owl
pail
parent
park
plot
rabbit
rake
robin
sack
sail
scale
sea
sister
soap
song
spark
space
spoon
spot
spy
summer
tiger
toad
town
trail
face
fireman
flavor
gate
glove
glue
goldfish
goose
grain
hair
haircut
hobbies
holiday
hot
jellyfish
ladybug
mailbox
number
oatmeal
pail
pancake
pear
pest
popcorn
queen
quicksand
quiet
quilt
rainstorm
scarecrow
scarf
stream
street
sugar
throne
toothpaste
twig
volleyball
wood
wrench
coach
coast
crate
cream
daughter
donkey
drug
earthquake
feast
fifth
finger
flock
frame
furniture
geese
ghost
giraffe
governor
honey
hope
hydrant
icicle
income
island
jeans
judge
lace
lamp
lettuce
marble
month
north
ocean
patch
plane
playground
poison
riddle
rifle
scale
seashore
sheet
sidewalk
skate
slave
sleet
smoke
stage
station
thrill
throat
throne
title
toothbrush
cemetery
channel
circle
creator
creature
education
faucet
feather
friction
fruit
fuel
galley
guide
guitar
health
heart
idea
kitten
laborer
language
lawyer
linen
locket
lumber
magic
minister
mitten
money
mountain
music
partner
passenger
pickle
picture
plantation
plastic
pleasure
pocket
police
pollution
railway
recess
reward
route
scene
scent
squirrel
stranger
suit
sweater
temper
territory
texture
thread
summer
swing
table
tank
team
tent
test
toes
tree
vest
water
wing
winter
woman
women
tramp
tray
trick
trip
uncle
vase
winter
water
week
wheel
wish
wool
yard
zebra
turkey
underwear
vacation
vegetable
visitor
voyage
year
treatment
veil
vein
volcano
wealth
weather
wilderness
wren
wrist
writer
List of Common Nouns for Various Ages
A
B
C
D
E
account
achiever
acoustics
act
action
activity
actor
addition
adjustment
advertisement
advice
aftermath
afternoon
afterthought
agreement
air
airplane
airport
alarm
amount
amusement
anger
angle
animal
answer
ant
ants
apparatus
apparel
babies
baby
back
badge
bag
bait
balance
ball
balloon
balls
banana
band
base
baseball
basin
basket
basketball
bat
bath
battle
bead
beam
bean
bear
bears
beast
bed
bedroom
beds
cabbage
cable
cactus
cake
cakes
calculator
calendar
camera
camp
can
cannon
canvas
cap
caption
car
card
care
carpenter
carriage
cars
cart
cast
cat
cats
cattle
cause
cave
celery
cellar
dad
daughter
day
death
debt
decision
deer
degree
design
desire
desk
destruction
detail
development
digestion
dime
dinner
dinosaurs
direction
dirt
discovery
discussion
disease
disgust
distance
distribution
division
dock
doctor
ear
earth
earthquake
edge
education
effect
egg
eggnog
eggs
elbow
end
engine
error
event
example
exchange
existence
expansion
experience
expert
eye
eyes
apple
apples
appliance
approval
arch
argument
arithmetic
arm
army
art
attack
attempt
attention
attraction
aunt
authority
bee
beef
beetle
beggar
beginner
behavior
belief
believe
bell
bells
berry
bike
bikes
bird
birds
birth
birthday
bit
bite
blade
blood
blow
board
boat
boats
body
bomb
bone
book
books
boot
border
bottle
boundary
box
boy
boys
brain
brake
branch
brass
bread
breakfast
breath
brick
bridge
brother
brothers
brush
bubble
bucket
building
bulb
bun
cemetery
cent
chain
chair
chairs
chalk
chance
change
channel
cheese
cherries
cherry
chess
chicken
chickens
children
chin
church
circle
clam
class
clock
clocks
cloth
cloud
clouds
clover
club
coach
coal
coast
coat
cobweb
coil
collar
color
comb
comfort
committee
company
comparison
competition
condition
connection
control
cook
copper
copy
cord
cork
corn
cough
country
cover
dog
dogs
doll
dolls
donkey
door
downtown
drain
drawer
dress
drink
driving
drop
drug
drum
duck
ducks
dust
burn
burst
bushes
business
butter
button
cow
cows
crack
cracker
crate
crayon
cream
creator
creature
credit
crib
crime
crook
crow
crowd
crown
crush
cry
cub
cup
current
curtain
curve
cushion
F
G
H
I
J
face
fact
fairies
fall
family
fan
fang
farm
farmer
father
father
faucet
fear
feast
feather
feeling
feet
fiction
field
fifth
fight
finger
finger
fire
fireman
fish
flag
flame
alley
game
garden
gate
geese
ghost
giants
giraffe
girl
girls
glass
glove
glue
goat
gold
goldfish
good-bye
goose
government
governor
grade
grain
grandfather
grandmother
grape
grass
grip
ground
hair
haircut
hall
hammer
hand
hands
harbor
harmony
hat
hate
head
health
hearing
heart
heat
help
hen
hill
history
hobbies
hole
holiday
home
honey
hook
hope
horn
horse
ice
icicle
idea
impulse
income
increase
industry
ink
insect
instrument
insurance
interest
invention
iron
island
jail
jam
jar
jeans
jelly
jellyfish
jewel
join
joke
journey
judge
juice
jump
flavor
flesh
flight
flock
floor
flower
flowers
fly
fog
fold
food
foot
force
fork
form
fowl
frame
friction
friend
friends
frog
frogs
front
fruit
fuel
furniture
group
growth
guide
guitar
gun
horses
hose
hospital
hot
hour
house
houses
humor
hydrant
K
L
M
N
O
kettle
key
kick
kiss
kite
kitten
kittens
kitty
knee
knife
knot
knowledge
laborer
lace
ladybug
lake
lamp
land
language
laugh
lawyer
lead
leaf
learning
leather
leg
legs
letter
letters
lettuce
level
library
lift
light
limit
line
linen
lip
machine
magic
maid
mailbox
man
manager
map
marble
mark
market
mask
mass
match
meal
measure
meat
meeting
memory
men
metal
mice
middle
milk
mind
mine
minister
nail
name
nation
neck
need
needle
nerve
nest
net
news
night
noise
north
nose
note
notebook
number
nut
oatmeal
observation
ocean
offer
office
oil
operation
opinion
orange
oranges
order
organization
ornament
oven
owl
owner
liquid
list
lizards
loaf
lock
locket
look
loss
love
low
lumber
lunch
lunchroom
mint
minute
mist
mitten
mom
money
monkey
month
moon
morning
mother
motion
mountain
mouth
move
muscle
music
P
Q
R
S
T
page
pail
pain
paint
pan
pancake
paper
parcel
parent
park
part
partner
party
passenger
paste
patch
payment
peace
pear
pen
pencil
person
pest
pet
pets
pickle
picture
pie
pies
pig
pigs
pin
pipe
pizzas
quarter
quartz
queen
question
quicksand
quiet
quill
quilt
quince
quiver
rabbit
rabbits
rail
railway
rain
rainstorm
rake
range
rat
rate
ray
reaction
reading
reason
receipt
recess
record
regret
relation
religion
representative
request
respect
rest
reward
rhythm
rice
riddle
rifle
ring
rings
river
road
robin
sack
sail
salt
sand
scale
scarecrow
scarf
scene
scent
school
science
scissors
screw
sea
seashore
seat
secretary
seed
selection
self
sense
servant
shade
shake
shame
shape
sheep
sheet
shelf
ship
shirt
shock
shoe
shoes
table
tail
talk
tank
taste
tax
teaching
team
teeth
temper
tendency
tent
territory
test
texture
theory
thing
things
thought
thread
thrill
throat
throne
thumb
thunder
ticket
tiger
time
tin
title
toad
toe
toes
tomatoes
place
plane
planes
plant
plantation
plants
plastic
plate
play
playground
pleasure
plot
plough
pocket
point
poison
police
polish
pollution
popcorn
porter
position
pot
potato
powder
power
price
print
prison
process
produce
profit
property
prose
protest
pull
pump
punishment
purpose
push
rock
rod
roll
roof
room
root
rose
route
rub
rule
run
shop
show
side
sidewalk
sign
silk
silver
sink
sister
sisters
size
skate
skin
skirt
sky
slave
sleep
sleet
slip
slope
smash
smell
smile
smoke
snail
snails
snake
snakes
sneeze
snow
soap
society
sock
soda
sofa
son
song
songs
sort
sound
soup
space
spade
spark
spiders
sponge
spoon
spot
spring
spy
square
squirrel
stage
stamp
star
tongue
tooth
toothbrush
toothpaste
top
touch
town
toy
toys
trade
trail
train
trains
tramp
transport
tray
treatment
tree
trees
trick
trip
trouble
trousers
truck
trucks
tub
turkey
turn
twig
twist
start
statement
station
steam
steel
stem
step
stew
stick
sticks
stitch
stocking
stomach
stone
stop
store
story
stove
stranger
straw
stream
street
stretch
string
structure
substance
sugar
suggestion
suit
summer
sun
support
surprise
sweater
swim
swing
system
U
V
W
Y
Z
umbrella
uncle
underwear
unit
use
vacation
value
van
vase
vegetable
veil
vein
verse
vessel
vest
view
visitor
walk
wall
war
wash
waste
watch
water
wave
waves
wax
way
wealth
yak
yam
yard
yarn
year
yoke
zebra
zephyr
zinc
zipper
zoo
voice
volcano
volleyball
voyage
weather
week
weight
wheel
whip
whistle
wilderness
wind
window
wine
wing
winter
wire
wish
woman
women
wood
wool
word
work
worm
wound
wren
wrench
wrist
writer
writing
The Seven Kinds of Nouns
Justin Higgins
Justin Higgins has traveled throughout South America. He writes articles that appear on various websites with a focus on
travel and science-related topics. Higgins is a graduate from Ithaca College with a Bachelor of Arts in cultural
anthropology.
1.
There are seven types of nouns in the English language. dictionary image by Ben Higham from
Fotolia.com
A noun is defined as the name of a person, place or thing. For this process of naming, we must make use of
many different noun types in order to abide by the rules of English grammar. There are seven different
types of nouns in the English language that we use to convey the meaning of a name.
2. Common Nouns
o
Common nouns refer to a general class of person, place or thing. For example: boy, forest and rock--these
words refer to a category of noun, rather than to the special title of a specific noun.
Proper Nouns
o
Proper nouns are names that refer specifically to the identity of certain special nouns. Proper nouns include
the names of people (Jonathan), geographical names (Australia), brand names (Kleenex), institutional
names (Bank of America) as well as titles of film, literature and artwork (Deer Hunter). Proper nouns are
always capitalized.
Collective Nouns
o
A collective noun refers to a group or collection of nouns with one word. Consider for example the first
word in each of the following phrases: flock of geese, pack of cigarettes, crowd of people, and bundle of
sticks.
Abstract Nouns
o
Abstract nouns refer to concepts that we objectify in thought and speech but have no material form.
Examples of abstract nouns include hope, desire, fear and anguish. These nouns are unique, for we may
treat them as objects in a sentence, yet they do not exist as objects in the physical realm, as do other nouns.
Compound Nouns
o
Compound nouns are nouns that consist of two or more words combined. Some compound nouns are
hyphenated (jack-in-the-box); others consist of separate words (board of trustees); and some compound
nouns are two or more words combined without a hyphen (manslaughter).
Count Nouns
o
Count nouns are nouns that may be counted in numbers; for example, two eggs, three trucks, four birds. To
express plurality, we may add an "s" to the end of the word; in some cases we must add "es": bushes,
rushes, brushes.
Mass Nouns
o
Mass nouns, also called non-count nouns, are nouns that may not be counted, such as milk, water and
sunlight. These nouns may be quantified by certain constants (jar of milk, rays of sunlight), but we may not
number them in the standard plural fashion (three milks, two sunlights).
The different types of nouns
There are several different kinds of nouns.
Common Nouns
Below are some common errors related to nouns:
NO CAPITAL LETTERS
A common noun is the word used for a class of person,
place or thing.
Examples:
Car
Man
Bridge
Town
Water
Metal
Ammonia
Common nouns do not start with capital letters (unless they
start a sentence or are part of a title). It is a common mistake
to capitalize a common noun that is an important word in a
sentence.
The corporal disobeyed
a direct Order.
("order" is a common noun - no capital letter)
It is the largest Church in
Birmingham.
("church" is a common noun - no capital letter)
Proper Nouns
This is covered more in the lesson Capital Letters - Common
and Proper Nouns.
A proper noun is the name of a person, place or thing
(i.e., its own name). A proper noun always starts with a
capital letter.
ONLY CAPITALIZE THE PRINCIPAL WORDS
Examples:
Michael
Africa
Peking
Dayton Peace Accord
United Nations
The Tower of London
Uncle George
("Uncle" is written with a capital letter because it is part
of his name.)
My favourite auntie is Auntie Sally.
(In this example, the first "auntie" is a common noun;
whereas, the
second "Auntie" is part of a proper noun.)
The Red Lion
Collective Nouns
A collective noun is the word used for a group of people
or things.
When names contain words such as 'the', 'of', 'an' or 'in',
these words are not usually given capital letters.
I must visit the Tower of London.
("of" is not a principal word - no capital letter)
Have you seen Day of the Jackal?
("of" and "the" are not principal words - no capital letters)
This is called 'Title Case' and is covered more in Capital
Letters - Title Case.
SINGULAR OR PLURAL?
Writers are sometimes unsure whether to treat a collective
noun as singular or plural. In fact, a collective noun can be
singular or plural depending on the sense of the sentence.
That team is the worst in the
league.
("team" treated as singular)
The team are not communicating amongst themselves.
("team" treated as plural)
When the group is considered as one unit, it is singular.
When the individuals of the group are considered, it is
plural.
Examples:
Choir
Team
Jury
Shoal
Cabinet (of ministers)
Regiment
This is covered in the lesson Collective Nouns - Singular or
Plural?.
FORMING THE PLURAL OF COMPOUND NOUNS
To form the plural of a compound noun, pluralize the
principal word in the compound. When there is no obvious
principal word, add s (or es) to the end of the compound.
Mothers-in-law
(pluralize the principal word "mother")
Paper-clips
(pluralize
the principal word "clip")
A pronoun is a word used to replace a noun.
Forget-me-nots
(no
principal word, so add s to the end)
James is the first choice for the post. He has applied for
it twice already.
Words like 'spoonful', 'plateful' and 'cupful' are exceptions to
("He" is a pronoun. In this example, it replaces the
this rule. They form their plurals by adding an s to the end,
proper noun "James".)
even though the principal words are spoon, plate and cup.
("It" is a pronoun. Here, it replaces the common noun
"post".)
This is covered more in the lesson Compound Nouns Some / Who / This
Forming Plurals.
(The term 'pronoun' covers lots of words, and all three
words above are classified as pronouns. There is whole
section dedicated to pronouns.
Pronouns
Verbal Nouns
Verbal nouns are formed from verbs. They are a type of
common noun.
I love swimming.
("swimming" - the name of an activity; it is formed from
the verb 'to swim'.)
Lateral thinking is required to solve this problem.
("thinking" - the name of an activity; it is formed from
the verb 'to think'.)
Compound Nouns
Compound nouns are nouns made up of two or more
words. Some compound nouns are hyphenated. (This is
covered in the lesson Hyphens in Compound Nouns.)
Mother-in-law
Board of members
Court-martial
Forget-me-not
Manservant
Paper-clip
The different types of nouns
There are several different kinds of nouns.
Common Nouns
A common noun is the word used for a class of person,
place or thing.
Below are some common errors related to nouns:
NO CAPITAL LETTERS
Examples:
Car
Man
Bridge
Town
Water
Metal
Ammonia
Proper Nouns
A proper noun is the name of a person, place or thing
(i.e., its own name). A proper noun always starts with a
capital letter.
Common nouns do not start with capital letters (unless they
start a sentence or are part of a title). It is a common mistake
to capitalize a common noun that is an important word in a
sentence.
The corporal disobeyed
a direct Order.
("order" is a common noun - no capital letter)
It is the largest Church in
Birmingham.
("church" is a common noun - no capital letter)
This is covered more in the lesson Capital Letters - Common
and Proper Nouns.
ONLY CAPITALIZE THE PRINCIPAL WORDS
Examples:
Michael
Africa
Peking
Dayton Peace Accord
United Nations
The Tower of London
Uncle George
("Uncle" is written with a capital letter because it is part
of his name.)
My favourite auntie is Auntie Sally.
(In this example, the first "auntie" is a common noun;
whereas, the
second "Auntie" is part of a proper noun.)
The Red Lion
Collective Nouns
A collective noun is the word used for a group of people
or things.
Examples:
Choir
Team
Jury
Shoal
Cabinet (of ministers)
Regiment
When names contain words such as 'the', 'of', 'an' or 'in',
these words are not usually given capital letters.
I must visit the Tower of London.
("of" is not a principal word - no capital letter)
Have you seen Day of the Jackal?
("of" and "the" are not principal words - no capital letters)
This is called 'Title Case' and is covered more in Capital
Letters - Title Case.
SINGULAR OR PLURAL?
Writers are sometimes unsure whether to treat a collective
noun as singular or plural. In fact, a collective noun can be
singular or plural depending on the sense of the sentence.
That team is the worst in the
league.
("team" treated as singular)
The team are not communicating amongst themselves.
("team" treated as plural)
When the group is considered as one unit, it is singular.
When the individuals of the group are considered, it is
plural.
This is covered in the lesson Collective Nouns - Singular or
Plural?.
FORMING THE PLURAL OF COMPOUND NOUNS
To form the plural of a compound noun, pluralize the
principal word in the compound. When there is no obvious
principal word, add s (or es) to the end of the compound.
Mothers-in-law
A pronoun is a word used to replace a noun.
(pluralize the principal word "mother")
Paper-clips
James is the first choice for the post. He has applied for
Pronouns
it twice already.
("He" is a pronoun. In this example, it replaces the
proper noun "James".)
("It" is a pronoun. Here, it replaces the common noun
"post".)
Some / Who / This
(The term 'pronoun' covers lots of words, and all three
words above are classified as pronouns. There is whole
section dedicated to pronouns.
Verbal Nouns
(pluralize the principal word "clip")
Forget-me-nots
(no principal word, so add s to the end)
Words like 'spoonful', 'plateful' and 'cupful' are exceptions to
this rule. They form their plurals by adding an s to the end,
even though the principal words are spoon, plate and cup.
This is covered more in the lesson Compound Nouns Forming Plurals.
Verbal nouns are formed from verbs. They are a type of
common noun.
I love swimming.
("swimming" - the name of an activity; it is formed from
the verb 'to swim'.)
Lateral thinking is required to solve this problem.
("thinking" - the name of an activity; it is formed from
the verb 'to think'.)
Compound Nouns
Compound nouns are nouns made up of two or more
words. Some compound nouns are hyphenated. (This is
covered in the lesson Hyphens in Compound Nouns.)
Mother-in-law
Board of members
Court-martial
Forget-me-not
Manservant
Paper-clip
The different types of nouns
There are several different kinds of nouns.
Common Nouns
A common noun is the word used for a class of person,
place or thing.
Examples:
Car
Man
Bridge
Below are some common errors related to nouns:
NO CAPITAL LETTERS
Common nouns do not start with capital letters (unless they
start a sentence or are part of a title). It is a common mistake
to capitalize a common noun that is an important word in a
sentence.
Town
Water
Metal
Ammonia
Proper Nouns
A proper noun is the name of a person, place or thing
(i.e., its own name). A proper noun always starts with a
capital letter.
The corporal disobeyed
a direct Order.
("order" is a common noun - no capital letter)
It is the largest Church in
Birmingham.
("church" is a common noun - no capital letter)
This is covered more in the lesson Capital Letters - Common
and Proper Nouns.
ONLY CAPITALIZE THE PRINCIPAL WORDS
Examples:
Michael
Africa
Peking
Dayton Peace Accord
United Nations
The Tower of London
Uncle George
("Uncle" is written with a capital letter because it is part
of his name.)
My favourite auntie is Auntie Sally.
(In this example, the first "auntie" is a common noun;
whereas, the
second "Auntie" is part of a proper noun.)
The Red Lion
Collective Nouns
A collective noun is the word used for a group of people
or things.
Examples:
Choir
Team
Jury
Shoal
Cabinet (of ministers)
Regiment
When names contain words such as 'the', 'of', 'an' or 'in',
these words are not usually given capital letters.
I must visit the Tower of London.
("of" is not a principal word - no capital letter)
Have you seen Day of the Jackal?
("of" and "the" are not principal words - no capital letters)
This is called 'Title Case' and is covered more in Capital
Letters - Title Case.
SINGULAR OR PLURAL?
Writers are sometimes unsure whether to treat a collective
noun as singular or plural. In fact, a collective noun can be
singular or plural depending on the sense of the sentence.
That team is the worst in the
league.
("team" treated as singular)
The team are not communicating amongst themselves.
("team" treated as plural)
When the group is considered as one unit, it is singular.
When the individuals of the group are considered, it is
plural.
This is covered in the lesson Collective Nouns - Singular or
Plural?.
FORMING THE PLURAL OF COMPOUND NOUNS
To form the plural of a compound noun, pluralize the
principal word in the compound. When there is no obvious
Pronouns
principal word, add s (or es) to the end of the compound.
Mothers-in-law
A pronoun is a word used to replace a noun.
(pluralize the principal word "mother")
Paper-clips
James is the first choice for the post. He has applied for
(pluralize the principal word "clip")
it twice already.
("He" is a pronoun. In this example, it replaces the proper Forget-me-nots
(no principal word, so add s to the end)
noun "James".)
("It" is a pronoun. Here, it replaces the common noun
Words like 'spoonful', 'plateful' and 'cupful' are exceptions to
"post".)
this rule. They form their plurals by adding an s to the end,
Some / Who / This
(The term 'pronoun' covers lots of words, and all three
words above are classified as pronouns. There is whole
section dedicated to pronouns.
Verbal Nouns
even though the principal words are spoon, plate and cup.
This is covered more in the lesson Compound Nouns Forming Plurals.
Verbal nouns are formed from verbs. They are a type of
common noun.
I love swimming.
("swimming" - the name of an activity; it is formed from
the verb 'to swim'.)
Lateral thinking is required to solve this problem.
("thinking" - the name of an activity; it is formed from
the verb 'to think'.)
Compound Nouns
Compound nouns are nouns made up of two or more
words. Some compound nouns are hyphenated. (This is
covered in the lesson Hyphens in Compound Nouns.)
Mother-in-law
Board of members
Court-martial
Forget-me-not
Manservant
Paper-clip
Types of Nouns
There are several types of nouns used to make up a sentence in the English language.
1. Proper Nouns
Proper nouns name specific persons, places or things.



Jonathan is my friend.
Fiji is a great place to visit in your holidays.
The Universe is vast and majestic.
If a proper noun names a specific thing, it is usually prefixed by the definite article "the".
2. Common Nouns
Common nouns name any person, place or thing.



A man and a woman were dragged from the raging river.
The boys played in the park.
Because a part on the bike was broken, Jonathan had to walk to the shop.
Usually, common nouns are prefixed by the indefinite article "a".
3. Concrete Nouns
Concrete nouns name things in their material forms.



Rebekah helped her father mow the lawn.
Rachel put the mower in the shed.
The spanner fell on the garage floor.
Concrete nouns are material things that are tangible.
4. Abstract Nouns
Abstract Nouns name concepts, ideas or emotions.



Love is kind and gentle.
His courage saved the day.
Forgiveness is part of the Christian life.
If you cannot taste, touch, hear, smell or see something, it is an abstract noun.
5. Collective Nouns
Collective Nouns name a group or a collection.



A team of champions is not always a champion team.
A number of suberbs make up the city.
A flock of birds flow over head.
6. Compound Nouns
Compound Nouns are made up of two or more words.



The bathroom was vacant.
The teacher wrote the exam notes on the blackboard.
The robber was caught by the policeman.