Nouns

 
A noun is a word that functions as the name of a specific object or set of objects, such as living creatures, places, actions, qualities, states of existence, or ideas. 
 

 

  Nouns  
     
  A word used to name a person, place, object, or animal.   
     

 

  Types of nouns  
 
(a) Concrete
  (i) Common
  (ii) Proper
  (ii) Gender
(b) Abstract
(c) Countable and Uncountable
 
     

 

1.1  Concrete Nouns

 

  Common noun  
     
  A name given to every person, place, object, or animal of the same kind of group.  
  Examples: A textbook, exercise book, and sticker book are all books.   
     

 

  Proper noun  
     
  The name of the particular person, place, object, animal, day, or month.   
  Examples: Anisa, Selangor, Comot, and Monday.  
     

 

  Gender  
     
  The name of a common noun that tells us whether it is male, female, common, or neuter.  
     

 

The table below shows the examples of concrete noun 'gender':

 

  Definition Examples
Masculine Refers to the male

Policeman

Actor

Prince

Feminine Refers to the female

Policewoman

Actress

Princess

Common Can be both male or female

Teacher

Child

Neighbour

Neuter Do not have a gender or sex

Eraser

Room

Pencil

 

 
1.2  Abstract Nouns
 
  Abstract nouns  
     
  Used to describe something that cannot be seen or touched. It is used to describe qualities, states, and events, or actions.  
     

 

Abstract nouns are used:

 

  To describe the quality of things and of character.  
     
  Example:   
     
  Long (adjective) : Length (abstract noun)  
  What is the length of this wire? It is 20 centimetres long.   
     

 

  To describe the state of mind, a situation, or an idea.   
     
  Example:  
     
  Angry (adjective) Anger (abstract noun)  
  She was angry with her brother. Her anger was so great that she broke the vase.   
     

 

  To describe an action or an event.  
     
  Example:  
     
  Arrive (verb) : Arrival (abstract noun)  
  The president will arrive in Putrajaya tomorrow. There will be a small ceremony at the airport to welcome his arrival.   
     

 

 
1.3  Countable Nouns
 
  Countable nouns  
     
  Refer to people, objects, or animals that can be counted in numbers. There are countable singular and countable plural nouns.   
  A countable singular noun denotes one person, place, object, or animal.   
  A countable plural noun denotes more than one.  
     

 

 
1.4  Spelling Plural Nouns
 
There are different ways to spell plural nouns based on the conditions. You can refer to the table below to see the correct ways to spell the plural nouns.
 
Conditions Examples
Add '-s' to regular words

Boys

Pencils

Rulers

Add '-es' to words ending with '-s', '-sh', '-ch', or '-x'

Buses

Brushes

Branches

Boxes

For special words ending with '-o'add '-es'

Tomatoes

Potatoes

Add '-s' to the words ending with two vowels

Radios

Zoos

Add '-s' to words ending with a vowel and '-y'

Boys

Days

Change '-y' into '-ies' if the word ends with '-y'

Lad\(\rightarrow\) Ladies

Stor\(\rightarrow\) Stories

For some words, change the inside vowels(s) of the singular noun or the spelling

Ma\(\rightarrow\) Men

Foo\(\rightarrow\) Feet

For some words, add '-ren/-en' to the singular noun. 

Child \(\rightarrow\) Children

Ox \(\rightarrow\) Oxen

 

 
1.5  Uncountable Nouns
 
  Uncountable nouns  
     
  Refer to objects that cannot be counted in numbers.  
     

 

  • These nouns cannot take the plural form. 
  • Examples: water, rain, hair, oil
  • However, uncountable nouns can be made into countable nouns by adding a quantifier (something to measure the object). 
  • Examples:

(a) a glass of water

(b) a dozen of milk

(c) a bottle of cooking oil