Essential English: Nouns

Created by Team 11+ Connect

Key Information

Nouns are 'naming words'.

Nouns can name a person, place, thing, idea, animal or feeling.

Types of Nouns

In your 11+ Reading Comprehension paper, you may be asked to identify the 'type' of noun a writer has used. In the table below, we have identified some common types of nouns.

​Type	Definition	Example
Proper	​A proper noun is the name of a specific person, place, etc. A proper noun always starts with a capital letter.	London, India, Africa, English, Arabic, Sarah, Anirudh, etc.
Common	​A common noun is more general. A common noun is the name given to people, places, things, etc. but not their specific name.	​town, bus, pen, street, family, chair, jumper, teacher, etc.
Concrete	​A concrete noun refers to a real physical object that can be touched, seen, etc.	​shells, books, cats, pillows, plants, bench, mother, etc.
Abstract	An abstract noun refers to something that can not be seen, heard, touched, etc. Abstract nouns refer to an idea or a feeling.	​love, dreams, truth, courage, creativity, hope, humour, etc.
Countable	​A countable noun can be counted using numbers.	​apples, books, plants, dogs, bottles, coins, boats, rings, etc.
Uncountable	​An uncountable noun cannot be counted using numbers.	​air, milk, information, happiness, music, advice, furniture, etc.
Plural	​A plural noun refers to more than one person, place, thing or idea.	​monkeys, wives, taxes, cities, potatoes, cacti, geese, feet, etc.
​Compound	​A compound noun is made up of two or more different words. Compound nouns can be open (with a space in between the words), closed (without a space) or hyphenated.	​basketball, air conditioner, son-in-law, playground, swimming pool, self-confidence, etc.
Collective	​A collective noun refers to a name given to a group of nouns.	​a pride of lions, a bouquet of flowers, a crowd of people, etc.

Task: Identify the Type of Noun

1. I flew to America.

2. My mum loves eating chocolate.

3. I was filled with happiness.

4. Where is the bus stop?

5. My friend - Soraya - is beautiful.

6. I saw a herd of cows.

7. My dad baked some lovely cakes.

8. Did you visit your mother-in-law?

9. You must always tell the truth!

10. Shall we listen to music?

Answers

1. I flew to America. proper noun

2. My mum loves eating chocolate. mum- concrete, common; chocolate - common, concrete

3. I was filled with happiness. abstract, uncountable, common

4. Where is the bus stop? compound, common, concrete, countable

5. My friend - Soraya - is beautiful. friend - common, concrete, countable; Soraya - proper

6. I saw a herd of cows. collective

7. My dad baked some lovely cakes. dad - common, concrete, countable; cakes - plural, countable, concrete, common

8. Did you visit your mother-in-law? compound, common, concrete

9. You must always tell the truth! abstract, uncountable, common

10. Shall we listen to music? uncountable, common, concrete