There are different kinds of nouns. They are:

1. Common noun
2. Proper noun
3. Collective noun
4. Material noun
5. Abstract noun

Common noun

A common noun is the name of a particular class of people, animals, things or other objects. Common nouns have singular and plural forms. Examples are: students, flowers, bees, birds, books, countries, nation, school, story etc.

Proper noun

A proper noun is the name of a particular person, place, country, language, river, religion etc. Proper nouns always begin with capital letters. Examples are: Raju, India, Hindi, Tamil, Spain, Nile, Amazon, Arabia, Mt. Everest etc,

Collective noun

A collective noun is a word referring to a group of people or things taken together. Examples are: team, choir, army, battalion, police, committee, jury, assembly, family, class etc. Collective nouns can be used with singular or plural nouns.

Material noun

These are the names of various materials. Examples are: gold, iron, copper, rice, wheat

Abstract noun

An abstract refers to an idea, quality, concept, emotion or state that we cannot see or touch. Examples are: honesty, kindness, beauty, courage, generosity etc.

Worksheet 1

State whether the underlined word is a common noun, proper noun, collective noun or abstract noun.

1. The police dispersed the crowd.
2. A committee has been formed to look into the matter.
3. You are the best mother in the world.
4. I would like to buy a car.
5. Mother bought a laptop for my birthday.
6. Jani works as a nurse.
7. The audience gave a thunderous applause.
8. The girls were singing and dancing.
9. The child was waiting for his mother.
10. The school reopens on Monday.
11. Virtue is its own reward.
12. The pen is mightier than the sword.

Answers

1. (crowd – collective noun)
2. (committee – collective noun; matter – abstract noun)
3. (mother – common noun)
4. (car – common noun)
5. (laptop – common noun)
6. (Jani – proper noun; nurse – common noun)
7. (audience – collective noun; applause – abstract noun)
8. (girls – common noun)
9. (child – common noun)
10. (Monday – proper noun)
11. (virtue – abstract noun)
12. (sword – common noun)

Worksheet 2

State whether the underlined word is a common noun, proper noun, collective noun or abstract noun.

1. Milton was a great poet.
2. Her beauty made her famous.
3. The children are playing in the park.
4. The cat is sleeping.
5. The army advanced.
6. Hari has broken another window.
7. The audience were mesmerised by the performance.
8. The jury will soon announce its verdict.
9. Can I borrow your umbrella?
10. They have bought a new house.
11. There is not much water in the pond.
12. He lent me a few books.
13. They will not get any money from us.
14. Everyone appreciated his honesty.
15. She can speak English really well.
16. How long have you been waiting for the bus?
17. She could not contain her excitement.
18. The monkey sat on a branch.
19. You are my best friend.
20. Have you had your lunch?
21. Sam hails from Germany.
22. Amazon is the largest river in the world.
23. Hardly any vegetation grows in deserts.
24. I gave her some flowers.

Answers

1. Milton – proper noun; poet – common noun
2. beauty – abstract noun
3. children – common noun
4. cat – common noun
5. army – collective noun
6. Hari – proper noun; window – common noun
7. audience – collective noun
8. jury – collective noun; verdict – abstract noun
9. umbrella – common noun
10. house – common noun
11. water – common noun
12. books – common noun
13. money – common noun
14. honesty – abstract noun
15. English – proper noun
16. bus – common noun
17. excitement – abstract noun
18. monkey – common noun
19. friend – common noun
20. lunch – common noun
21. Germany – proper noun
22. Amazon – proper noun; river – common noun
23. deserts – common noun
24. flowers – common noun

Worksheet 3

Say whether the underlined word is a common noun, proper noun, collective noun or abstract noun.

1. I went to the school to meet the principal.
2. You cannot build castles in the sand.
3. The boy was praised for his courage.
4. I was glad to meet Sam.
5. There are many flowers on the plant.
6. I have planted some rose saplings in the garden.
7. The men were attacked by a swarm of bees.
8. My brother wants to join the army.
9. The jury hasn’t announced its verdict yet.
10. The man was arrested for robbery.
11. She is a kind woman.
12. I am looking forward to becoming a successful writer.

Answers

1. school – common noun
2. sand – common noun
3. courage – abstract noun
4. Sam – proper noun
5. plant – common noun
6. garden – common noun
7. swarm of bees – collective noun
8. army – collective noun
9. jury – collective noun
10. robbery – abstract noun
11. woman – common noun
12. writer – common noun