Grammar For Beginners: All About Nouns

We begin our parts of speech series by writing all about nouns.

What Are Parts Of Speech?

Language is made up of different words with different functions. These words are are known as parts of speech.

“In the English language, words can be considered as the smallest elements that have distinctive meanings. Based on their use and functions, words are categorised into several types or parts of speech.” (From Parts of Speech)

These categories are:

1. Nouns
2. Adjectives
3. Conjunctions
4. Verbs
5. Articles
6. Pronouns
7. Adverbs
8. Prepositions

A part of speech is also sometimes known as a word class.

[Top Tip: If you need practical help with your grammar, buy The Complete Grammar Workbook.]

Today, I will discuss nouns.

All About Nouns

Definition: A noun is a naming word. It identifies people, places, or things.

There are four types of nouns:

1.   Common Nouns

Common nouns are names given to ordinary objects.
They can be identified by ‘a’, ‘an’ or ‘the’.
Examples: the shoe, a kitchen, an apple.

2.   Proper Nouns

Proper nouns are names given to people, places, days, months, ideologies, subjects or titles.
They always begin with capital letters.
Examples: July, China, Friday.

3.   Pronouns

Pronouns are substitutes for nouns, taking the place of nouns that precede or follow them.
Examples: I, hers, myself, who.

We have four types of pronouns:

1. Personal pronouns indicate a person or group. Examples: he, she, they
2. Possessive pronouns indicate ownership. Examples: his, hers, theirs
3. Relative pronouns introduces dependent clauses in sentences. Examples: who, whoever, that, which, when, where, whose
4. Reflexive pronouns refer back to the subject of the sentence. Examples: himself, herself, myself

4.   Abstract Nouns

Abstract nouns refer to something that cannot be seen, touched or measured, such as a feeling or emotion.
Examples: anger, happiness, romance.

Writing Tip: Powerful writing needs precise nouns.

Don’t say: A tree was situated in between the two dwellings and she couldn’t see the other one from where she lived.
Do say: An oak tree blocked Sarah’s view of the cottage from her house.

Look out for the next post on adjectives.

by Amanda Patterson

If you enjoyed this post, read:

1. Grammar For Beginners: All About Parts Of Speech
2. The Passive Voice Explained
3. Three Nagging Grammar Questions Answered
4. 30 Examples To Help You Master Concord

[Top Tip: If you need practical help with your grammar, buy The Complete Grammar Workbook.]