This document defines and provides examples of different types of nouns, including common and proper nouns, countable and uncountable nouns, concrete and abstract nouns, collective nouns, possessive nouns, gerunds, attributive nouns, appositive nouns, and generic nouns. A noun is a word that represents a person, place, thing, or concept. Nouns can serve as subjects or objects in sentences. Examples are given to illustrate the different types of nouns.

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What IS A NOUN?
A noun is a word that represents a
person, thing, concept, or place.

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Examples: Nouns in a sentence
 The ball smashed through the window.
 The dog ran very fast.
 June is my favorite month.

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How are nouns used in sentences?
A complete sentence usually consists of at
least a subject and a verb.
Examples: Nouns as subjects
Birds fly.
David went out.
Pizza is delicious.

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Nouns and pronouns can also play the role of
object in a sentence.
 Direct object is someone or something that is
directly acted upon by the verb.
 Indirect object is someone or something that
receives the direct object.

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Direct object - directly acted upon by the verb.
Indirect object - receives the direct object.
Examples: Nouns as direct and indirect objects
 Wilbert lends Kurt the calculator.
 Please give Jeremy some bread.
 I’ve brought the girls a gift!

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Common vs. proper nouns
 Common nouns are more general. A common
noun refers to a class of person, place, thing, or
concept, but not to someone or something
specific.
 Proper nouns are the names of specific people,
places, things, or concepts.

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Common vs. proper nouns
Examples:
Common noun: Would you like a cookie?
Proper noun: I am craving Oreos.
Common noun: My teacher starts work before sunup.
Proper noun: Mr. Arnil seems to understand what students need.
Common nouns - general
Proper nouns - specific

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Countable vs. uncountable nouns
 Countable nouns - things that can be counted.
 Uncountable nouns (also called noncount nouns
or mass nouns) refer to things that can’t be
counted.

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Countable vs. uncountable nouns
Countable nouns - can be counted.
Uncountable nouns - can’t be counted.
1. There are at least twenty Italian restaurants in Little Italy.
2. Megan took a lot of photographs when she went to the Grand Canyon.
3. Your book is on the kitchen table.
4. There is no more water in the pond.
5. Please help yourself to some cheese.

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Concrete vs. abstract nouns
 Concrete nouns refer to physical objects, places, or
individuals: things or people that can be observed
with the senses, such as “apple,” “hill,” “zebra,” and
“Dorothy.”
 Abstract nouns refer to concepts, ideas, feelings,
and processes that can’t be physically located, such
as “grammar,” “justice,” “sadness,” and “relaxation.”

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Concrete vs. abstract nouns
Concrete nouns - physical objects
Abstract nouns - concepts, ideas, feelings
EXAMPLES:
1. The dog barked at the cat.
2. A dove is a symbol of peace.
3. I love my kitten.
4. Send her my love.

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Collective nouns
A collective noun is a word used to refer to a group of
people or things
1. Our class took a field trip to the natural history museum.
2. The herd of bison ran across the prairie, leaving a massive dust cloud in its wake.
3. We waited anxiously for the jury to come to a verdict.
4. This year’s basketball team includes three players who are over six feet tall.
5. Napoleon’s army was finally defeated at Waterloo.

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Other types of nouns
Possessive nouns Gerunds Attributive nouns
Appositive nouns Generic nouns
This place is smaller than my parents’ house but much
bigger than my sister’s apartment.

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Possessive nouns
A possessive noun is a noun that’s followed by an
apostrophe (’) and the letter “s” to indicate possession.
EXAMPLE:
1. a dog's bone
2. a man's jacket
3. a lion's mane

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Other types of nouns
Possessive nouns Gerunds Attributive nouns
Appositive nouns Generic nouns
When I’m on vacation, sunbathing and reading are my
favorite activities.

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Gerund
A gerund is a noun that is identical to the present
participle (the “-ing” form) of a verb.
EXAMPLE:
1. The ballerina taught us dancing.
2. Apologizing to me isn’t enough this time.
3. She is afraid of flying.
4. They are capable of doing hard work.

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Other types of nouns
Possessive nouns Gerunds Attributive nouns
Appositive nouns Generic nouns
I’m a big fan of carrot cake, but ice cream is my favorite
dessert.

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Attributive nouns
Attributive nouns are nouns that are used like
adjectives, to modify another noun.
For example, “company” is an attributive noun in the phrase
“company policy.”

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Other types of nouns
Possessive nouns Gerunds Attributive nouns
Appositive nouns Generic nouns
1. My colleague Adam has really bad breath.
2. My car, a Ford Focus, broke down yesterday.

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Appositive nouns
An appositive noun (or appositive noun phrase) is a noun
that comes after another noun to provide additional
information about it.
1. A great civil rights leader, John Lewis left a lasting legacy.
2. Former Vice President Walter Mondale died at the age of 93.

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Other types of nouns
Possessive nouns Gerunds Attributive nouns
Appositive nouns Generic nouns
1. People are resourceful.
2. The printing press revolutionized European society.

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Generic nouns
A generic noun is a noun that is used to refer to a whole
class of things (or people, places, etc.).
EXAMPLE:
1. The heart wants what it wants.
2. People aren’t always at the top of the food chain.