This document defines and categorizes different types of nouns in English. It discusses common vs proper nouns, concrete vs abstract nouns, count vs non-count nouns, collective nouns, compound nouns, and the functions of nouns as subjects, objects, complements and other roles in sentences. It also provides examples for each noun type and function. The document aims to teach parts of speech, with a focus on different classifications of nouns in the English language.

1. Parts of Speech
Nouns
Sam An Teng
July 2013

2. DEFINITION
• A noun is a word used to name a
person, animal, place, thing, and abstract idea. For
examples, teacher, tiger, school, car, health, happines
s…

3. TYPES OF NOUNS: Common vs. Proper Nouns
• Nouns can be classified into two big groups: common nouns
and proper nouns.
• [1] Common nouns: A common noun is a general or class
name. It refers to a person, place, or thing in a general;
as, woman, city, dog, shoe, sea, village, mountain…
• [2] Proper nouns: A proper noun is a noun that names some
particular or special place, person, people, or thing. A proper
noun should always begin with a capital letter;
as, Bopha, Phnom Penh, the World Bank, Samsung, the Red
Sea, Cambodia, …

4. TYPES OF NOUNS: Concrete vs. Abstract Nouns
• Common nouns are also classified into smaller groups:
Concrete and abstract nouns.
• Concrete nouns: These name something that you can perceive
with your five senses – something that physically exists;
as, table, school, car, horse, ship…
• Abstract nouns: These are the opposite of concrete. They
name something that you cannot perceive with your five
senses – something that does not physically exist;
as, education, kindness, health, happiness, ...

5. TYPES OF NOUNS: Count vs. Non-count Nouns
• Nouns can be classified into two big groups: common count
and non-count nouns.
• Count Nouns (Countable nouns): Count nouns are nouns that
we can count. It has a singular and a plural form. To make it
plural, we need to add –s / -es to the singular noun. For
examples, one book, three books; a leg, two legs; an apple, six
apples…
• Non-count nouns (mass or uncountable nouns): Mass nouns
are nouns that we cannot count. It has no plural form (always
in singular form, and takes singular verb). For
examples, fruit, some fruit; bread, a slice of bread;
homework…

6. TYPES OF NOUNS:
Collective & Compound Nouns
• Collective Nouns: A collective noun is a noun naming a group
of things, animals, or persons. We can count the individual
members of the group, but you usually think of the group as a
whole is generally as one unit;
as, army, company, firm, public, audience, corporation, group,
school, board, council, jury, senate, cabinet, department, majo
rity, society, class, faculty, minority, team, committee, family, n
avy, troupe,…
• Compound Nouns: Compound noun is a combination of two
nouns. The two nouns form a new word. Normally, the first
noun modifies the second one;
as, policeman, boyfriend, water tank, dining-table, bedroom…

7. FUNCTION OF NOUNS (1)
• Nouns, in sentences, can function as:
[1] subject: Subject tells whom or what the sentence is about;
as,
– Samnang works in a bank.
– Economics is an interesting subject.
[2] direct object: direct object receives the action of the verb; as,
– He eats ice cream.
– They play tennis.

8. FUNCTION OF NOUNS (2)
• Nouns, in sentences, can function as:
[3] indirect object: Indirect object receives the direct object; as,
– He bought his friend a pen.
– The company offers Thavy a new position.
[4] object of preposition: Object of the preposition is the noun
or pronoun after a preposition; as,
– The boy was hurt in the accident.
– The driver filled the fuel tank of the bus.

9. FUNCTION OF NOUNS (3)
• Nouns, in sentences, can function as:
[5] subject complement: Predicate nominative renames the
subject, always after a linking verb; as,
– I am a candidate.
– I am the owner of that Café.
[6] object complement: Object complement completes the
direct object; as,
– I considered him brother.
– They elected Bunna President.

10. FUNCTION OF NOUNS (4)
• Nouns, in sentences, can function as:
[7] appositive: An appositive is a noun or pronoun placed near
another noun or pronoun. The appositive enhances our
understanding of the original noun or pronoun; as,
– Ravy, our class monitor, studies very hard.
– Her sister, Anna, was an intelligent student.
[8] adjective: Noun functions as adjective when it modifies
another noun functions as adjective; as,
– The water pump is broken.
– She wore sport clothes.

11. AVAILABLE BOOKS
This lesson is available in Kindle Store:
Parts of Speech in English
Related publications:
English Grammar: The Verb Tenses
Phrases and Clauses in English

12. FREE LESSONS ONLINE
• If you wish to read free lessons, please click the links
below:
• http://grammarkit.blogspot.com
• http://thewindlike.blogspot.com