Nouns

A ‘noun’ is denoted as the name of the person, thing,

place, idea, and quality of the person.
 Kinds of Nouns:
Classification: Type-1:

1. Common Nouns:

Common nouns refer to general, unspecific categories. So, while

"Nebraska" is a proper noun because it names a specific state, state
is a common noun because it can refer to any state. While "Harvard"
refers to a particular place of higher learning, the common noun
university can refer to any school of that type.
2. Proper Nouns:

Proper nouns are nouns that refer to specific people, places or

things. Proper nouns like Nebraska, Steve, or White House are
capitalized to show their distinction from common nouns,
such as "state," "man" or "building."
3. Collective Nouns:

Collective nouns are nouns that refer to a group of something in

particular. Often, collective nouns are used to refer to groups of
animals. Consider the following sentences.

● Look at that gaggle of geese.

● There used to be herds of wild buffalo on the prairie.
● A crowd of kids is in the pool today.
● The team did a great job in the competition.
4. Concrete Nouns:

Concrete nouns are nouns that refer to things that exist

physically and can be touched, seen, smelled, felt, or tasted.
Here are some examples:

● Can I pet your dog?

● Please pass the salt.
● Your sweater is made of such soft wool.
● Concrete nouns can be perceived by at least one of our five
senses.
5. Abstract Nouns:

More ethereal, theoretical concepts use abstract nouns to refer to

them. Ideas, qualities or conditions like love, hate, power, and
time are all examples of abstract nouns.

● All you need is love.

● I hate my new school.
● We must use this time wisely.

In these sentences, the abstract nouns refer to concepts or feelings

that cannot be understood concretely or touched physically.
6. Material Nouns:

Material nouns refer to materials or substances from which

things are made. Let's take the word "cotton." Cotton is an
adjective when used in "cotton dress." However, cotton is a
material noun when used to describe the crop.
For example:

● We use cotton from a local farm in our t-shirts.

7. Compound Nouns:

A compound noun contains two or more words that join together

to make a single noun. Compound nouns can be two words
written as one (closed form), such as softball and toothpaste;
words that are hyphenated (hyphenated form), such as six-pack
and son-in-law; or separate words (open form), such as post
office and upper class that go together by meaning.
Classification: Type-2
1. Countable Nouns:

Countable nouns can occur in both single and plural forms, can
be modified by numbers, and can co-occur with quantifying
determiners, such as many, most, more, several, etc.
For example,
the noun "bike" is a countable noun.
● There is a bike in that garage.
In this example, the word bike is singular because it refers to one
bike that is sitting in a particular garage.
However, "bike" can also occur in the plural form.
● There are six bikes in that garage.

In this example, the plural noun bikes refers to more than one
bike because it is being modified by the number six.

In addition, countable nouns can be used with determiners like

"several," rather than a number.
● In that garage, there are several bikes.
2. Uncountable Nouns:

On the other hand, some nouns are not countable, you'll see them
referred to as uncountable, non-countable or mass nouns. For
example, the word "clutter" is an uncountable noun.
● The garage is full of clutter.

This sentence makes grammatical sense. However, the following

example does not.
● That garage is full of clutters.
Uncountable nouns usually cannot take plural forms. Therefore,
clutters isn't grammatically correct.

Liquids and powders are among the items that are considered
mass nouns, such as milk, rice, wood, sand, water, and flour.
Other more abstract examples that cannot be counted would be
air, freedom, or intelligence.
Possessive Nouns:

Possessive nouns demonstrate ownership over something else. The

best way to spot them is to look for an apostrophe. Here are some
examples:

● Melissa's imagination ran wild as she daydreamed about her

trip to Ireland.
● Ireland's landscape is truly breathtaking.
● The puppy's favorite toy is the squeaky newspaper.

These nouns are demonstrating ownership, but they're also still

persons, places, or things.
Classification: Type-3

Noun: gender Living beings are either the male or the female.

Now compare the following pairs of words. (Boy, girl) (Man,

woman) (Husband, wife) (Lion, lioness)

Here the first word of each pair is the name of a male animal.
The second word of each pair is the name of a female animal.
➢ “A noun that denotes a male animal is said to be of the
masculine gender.
➢ “A noun that denotes a female animal is said to be of the
feminine gender.”
➢ “A noun that denotes either a male or a female is said to be of
the common gender.”

Examples are: parent, child, friend, servant, thief, enemy, cousin,

student, baby, teacher, writer etc.
➢ “A noun that denotes a thing that is neither male nor female
is said to be of the neuter gender.”
Examples are: book, pen, room, house, tree etc.

Note that inanimate objects are often personified, that is, spoken
of as if they were living beings. We then regard them as males or
females.

➢ The masculine gender is often applied to lifeless objects

known for strength or violence.
Examples are: sun, summer, winter, time, death etc.
➢ The feminine gender is often applied to lifeless objects
known for beauty or gracefulness.

Examples are: moon, earth, spring, autumn, nature, liberty,

justice, peace, mercy, hope etc
Classification: Type-4
Noun-Cases:

NOUN-CASES is another topic which comes under NOUN.

The CASE of a noun tells us about the position of that noun in a
sentence.
In English there are FIVE CASES.

• Nominative case
• Objective case (or Accusative case)
• Dative case
• Possessive case (or Genitive case)
• Vocative case
1. Nominative case:
A noun is said to be in the Nominative case if it is the subject of a
verb. (SUBJECT is the person or the thing who or which carries out
the action of the verb in the sentence)

• Mr. Ram is an intelligent boy.

Mr. Ram is a proper noun in Nominative case.

• The painter paints the portraits.

The painter is a common noun in Nominative case.

• I am buying vegetables for my family.

“I" is a pronoun in Nominative case.
2. Objective case (or Accusative case):
Nouns or pronouns are said to be in Objective cases if they are the direct objects
of verbs or if they are the objects of preposition. (Direct object is the person or
the thing upon whom or upon which the action of the verb is carried out).

• I met your sister.

“Your sister" is in objective case.
• The vendors sell mangoes.
“Mangoes" is in objective case.
• The book is on the table.
“Table" is in objective case.
It is object of the preposition ‘on’.
• This is one of my policies.
“Policies" is in objective case.
It is object of the preposition ‘of’.
3. Dative case:
A noun is said to be in dative case if it is the Indirect object of the verb.
(Indirect object of the verb is the noun for whom or for which the
action of the verb is carried out). There should not be a preposition
before the indirect object because in that case it will be the object of
that preposition.

• The teacher gave the students few exercises.

“Students" is in dative case. It is the indirect object of the verb ‘give’.
• The Postman brought me a letter.
“Me" is in dative case.
• Get him a pen.
“Him" is in dative case.
4. Possessive case (Genitive case):
A noun is said to be in possessive case, if it denotes possession or
ownership. A noun or pronoun in the possessive case is governed
by the noun that follows it.

• This is your pencil.

“Your" is in possessive case.

• It is our idea.
“Our" is in possessive case.
• John’s sister has been hospitalized.
“John’s" is in possessive case.
5. Vocative case:
A noun or a pronoun is said to be in Vocative case if it is used to call (or to
get the attention of) a person or persons.

• Mr. Bill, students are waiting for you in the main hall.
“Mr. Bill" is in vocative case.
• You there, stand up.
“You" is in vocative case.

• Brother, a letter for you.

“Brother" is in vocative case.

• Chairman, all the letters are posted two days ago.

“Chairman" is in vocative case.
Rule 1: Proper nouns are sometimes used as common nouns.
1. Kalidasa, the greatest (A)/ Indian writer of any epoch, (B)/
has been acclaimed (C)/ as Shakespeare of India. (D)/ No
error (E)

1. A
2. B
3. C
4. D
5. E
Answer: Option 4, D

Kalidasa, the greatest (A)/ Indian writer of any epoch, (B)/ has
been acclaimed (C)/ as the Shakespeare of India. (D)
Rule 2: A material noun does not take an article (a, an, the)
before it.
2. Germany produced (A)/ enormous (B)/ quantities of (C)/ the
coal, iron and the steel. (D)/ No error (E)

1. A
2. B
3. C
4. D
5. E
Answer: Option 4, D

Germany produced (A)/ enormous (B)/ quantities of (C)/ coal,

iron and steel. (D)
Rule 3: Two apostrophes are not used in a sentence.
3. I was invited to (A)/ the Amy’s friend’s party (B)/ but I could
not attend due (C)/ to some important work. (D)/ No error (E)

1. A
2. B
3. C
4. D
5. E
Answer: Option 2, B

I was invited to (A)/ the party of Amy’s friend (B)/ but I could
not attend due (C)/ to some important work. (D)
Rule 4: When a noun consists of several words, the possessive
sign is attached only to the last word.
4. The Prime Minister’s of India (A)/ permission is (B)/ required
to declare (C)/ an emergency. (D)/ No error (E)

1. A
2. B
3. C
4. D
5. E
Answer: Option 1, A

The Prime Minister of India’s (A)/ permission is (B)/ required to

declare (C)/ an emergency. (D)
Rule 5: When two nouns are in apposition, the possessive sign is
put to the latter only.
5. Gitanjali, Tagore’s (A)/ famous collection (B)/ received the
(C)/ Nobel Prize for Literature. (D)/ No error (E)

1. A
2. B
3. C
4. D
5. E
Answer: Option E, No error

Gitanjali, Tagore’s (A)/ famous collection (B)/ received the (C)/

Nobel Prize for Literature. (D)
Rule 6: When two or more nouns show joint possession, the
possessive sign is put to the latter only.
6. Jack’s and Jill's pail (A)/ of water is (B)/ prominently featured
in (C)/ the nursery rhyme. (D)/ No error (E)

1. A
2. B
3. C
4. D
5. E
Answer: Option 1, A

Jack and Jill's pail (A)/ of water is (B)/ prominently featured in

(C)/ the nursery rhyme. (D)
Rule 7: When two or more nouns show separate possession, the
possessive sign is put with both.
7. You'll find (A)/ beautiful artwork (B)/ in David and (C)/
Jeffrey's houses. (D)/ No error (E)

1. A
2. B
3. C
4. D
5. E
Answer: Option 3, C

You'll find (A)/ beautiful artwork (B)/ in David's and (C)/

Jeffrey's houses.
Rule 8: Noun + Proposition + the same noun remain always
singular in use.
8. Question after (A)/ questions were (B)/ asked in the (C)/
RRB PO interview round. (D)/ No error (E)

1. A
2. B
3. C
4. D
5. E
Answer: Option 2, B

Question after (A)/ question was (B)/ asked in the (C)/ RRB PO
interview round. (D)
Rule 9: There are some plural forms of nouns which are actually
singular.
9. Rather than work (A)/ for a living, the lazy (B)/ man lives off
alm he (C)/ receives from his parents. (D)/ No error (E)

1. A
2. B
3. C
4. D
5. E
Answer: Option 3, C

Rather than work (A)/ for a living, the lazy (B)/ man lives off
alms he (C)/ receives from his parents. (D)

Alms: money, food and clothes given to poor people

Rule 10: The following nouns are always used in singular
number.
For example,

Scenery, machinery, poetry, stationery, sultry,

jewellery, crockery, luggage, baggage, breakage, haltage,
percentage, knowledge, postage, wastage, furniture, information,
traffic, coffee, dust etc.
10. They moved the (A)/ antique furnitures out (B)/ of her old
room and put it (C)/ upstairs in the store room. (D)/ No error
(E)

1. A
2. B
3. C
4. D
5. E
Answer: Option 2, B

They moved the (A)/ antique furniture out (B)/ of her old room
and put it (C)/ upstairs in the store room. (D)
Rule 11: Certain Collective Nouns, though singular in form, are
always used as plurals.
For example,
Poultry, cattle, vermin, people, gentry etc.
11. During the Civil War, (A)/ the cavalry was sent (B)/ during
certain times since they could (C)/ get to the enemy by their
mares. (D)/ No error (E)

1. A
2. B
3. C
4. D
5. E
Answer: Option 2, B

During the Civil War, (A)/ the cavalry were sent (B)/ during
certain times since they could (C)/ get to the enemy by their
mares. (D)
Rule 12: Some nouns have two forms. They have different
meaning in singular and different meaning in plural.
12. He began to (A)/ put on air (B)/ and think he could (C)/
boss us around. (D)/ No error (E)

1. A
2. B
3. C
4. D
5. E
Answer: Option 2, B

He began to (A)/ put on airs (B)/ and think he could (C)/ boss us
around. (D)

Airs: an annoyingly affected and condescending manner.

Rule 13: To show Possessive Case, we put —'s (apostrophe) at
the end of a singular Noun.

But for the nouns that end with --- s, we use only (’)

For example,
Boys' hostel., Girls' school.

But,
Women's college, Men's competition, Children's
park
13. The best, most effective, (A)/ girls's schools are the ones
(B)/ created for the sole purpose (C)/ of educating various skills.
(D)/ No error (E)

1. A
2. B
3. C
4. D
5. E
Answer: Option 2, B

The best, most effective, (A)/ girls' schools are the ones (B)/
created for the sole purpose (C)/ of educating various skills. (D)
Rule 14: In compound nouns, we use possessive with the last
term.
For example,
Commander-in-chief's order
Mother-in-law's house
Father-in-law's problem
Engineer-in-chiefs' office
Brother-in-law's wife.
14. Past Engineer’s-in-chief (A)/ role was (B)/ different to that
(C)/ of the current one. (D)/ No error (E)

1. A
2. B
3. C
4. D
5. E
Answer: Option 1, A

Past Engineer-in-chief’s (A)/ role was (B)/ different to that (C)/

of the current one. (D)
Rule 15: If possessive is used before ‘than’ in a sentence, it
should be used after ‘than’ also.
15. Randhir’s brother (A)/ is more (B)/ intelligent than (C)/
Nitin. (D)/ No error (E)

1. A
2. B
3. C
4. D
5. E
Answer: Option 4, D

Randhir’s brother (A)/ is more (B)/ intelligent than (C)/ Nitin’s.

(D)
Rule 16: If there is too much sound of hiss, ses, sus etc., of the last
syllable of a noun, we use only (’)
16. For goodness's sake, (A)/ get off the (B)/ computer! You've
(C)/ been on there for ages! (D)/ No error (E)

1. A
2. B
3. C
4. D
5. E
Answer: Option 1, A

For goodness' sake, (A)/ get off the (B)/ computer! You've (C)/
been on there for ages! (D)
Rule 17: In Compound Nouns, we make their plural forms only by
adding —s to the main word.
17. They were not (A)/ just sister-in-laws (B)/ but also very
(C)/ good friends. (D)/ No error (E)

1. A
2. B
3. C
4. D
5. E
Answer: Option 2, B

They were not (A)/ just sisters-in-law (B)/ but also very (C)/
good friends. (D)
Rule 18: Nouns borrowed from other languages in English have
their special rules to change them into plural.
18. The data challenges the notion (A)/ that more directive
questions are (B)/ necessary when interviewing children (C)/
who have mild intellectual disabilities. (D)/ No error (E)

1. A
2. B
3. C
4. D
5. E
Answer: Option 1, A

The data challenge the notion (A)/ that more directive questions
are (B)/ necessary when interviewing children (C)/ who have
mild intellectual disabilities. (D)
Rule 19: The Possessive can also be used to show — time,
distance, weight, edge etc.
19. During the 1930, (A)/ the West nurtured (B)/ a very strong
(C)/ interest in art. (D)/ No error (E)

1. A
2. B
3. C
4. D
5. E
Answer: Option 1, A

During the 1930’s, (A)/ the West nurtured (B)/ a very strong
(C)/ interest in art. (D)
Rule 20: Noun with numeral adjective:

Some nouns coming after definite numeral adjectives, are always

used in the singular number. They are:

pair, dozen, score, gross, hundred, thousand, million, etc,.

20. You will be able (A)/ to take ten dozens of (B)/ bottles free of
(C)/ duty through customs. (D)/ No error (E)

1. A
2. B
3. C
4. D
5. E
Answer: Option 2, B

You will be able (A)/ to take ten dozen (B)/ bottles free of (C)/
duty through customs. (D)
Rule 21: If the numeral adjective is indefinite, all the following
nouns (pair, dozen, score, gross, hundred, thousand, million,
etc,.) will be used in the plural number.

Eg. dozens of people, scores of houses, etc,.

21. The storm (A)/ has destroyed (B)/ dozen of (C)/ homes and
buildings. (D)/ No error (E)

1. A
2. B
3. C
4. D
5. E
Answer: Option 3, C

The storm (A)/ has destroyed (B)/ dozens of (C)/ homes and
buildings. (D)
Rule 22: Numeral adjective + hyphen + noun:

If a compound word is formed by joining a definite numeral

adjective and a noun (by a hyphen), the nouns so used will
always be in a singular number.
22. The five-years-old (A)/ boy was (B)/ injured in (C)/ a bus
accident. (D)/ No error (E)

1. A
2. B
3. C
4. D
5. E
Answer: Option 1, A

The five-year-old (A)/ boy was (B)/ injured in (C)/ a bus

accident. (D)
Rule 23: Article + several adjectives + noun

If two or more than two adjectives are connected with ‘and’, the
article has been used only before the first adjective, the noun
used after them will be in a plural number.

But if the article is used before each adjective, the noun will be in
the singular number.
23. Shakespeare was (A)/ very popular in (B)/ the sixteenth
(C)/ and seventeenth century. (D)/ No error (E)

1. A
2. B
3. C
4. D
5. E
Answer: D or C

● Shakespeare was very popular in the sixteenth and

seventeenth centuries.
● Shakespeare was very popular in the sixteenth and the
seventeenth century.
Rule 24: Adjectives used as plural nouns:
Some adjectives preceded by “the” are used as plural nouns.

Eg. the poor, the rich, the sick, the down-trodden, the meak, etc,.
24. The government should (A)/ do something for (B)/ the
youth as the unemployed (C)/ is losing hope. (D)/ No error (E)

1. A
2. B
3. C
4. D
5. E
Answer: Option 4, D

The government should (A)/ do something for (B)/ the youth as

the unemployed (C)/ are losing hope. (D)
Rule 25: Nouns/ pronouns of common gender (dual gender)
The following nouns can be used both as masculine or feminine
genders. Thus, they are of dual gender:

child, friend, teacher, professor, artist, author, servant, poet,

typist, minister, engineer, lawyer, clerk, musician, cousin, orphan,
monarch, sportsman, etc,.
25. She is the (A)/ best lady (B)/ poet I have (C)/ ever known.
(D)/ No error (E)

1. A
2. B
3. C
4. D
5. E
Answer: Option 2, B

She is the (A)/ best lady (B)/ poet I have (C)/ ever known. (D)