Noun is a word used to indicate a person, thing, place or idea. Learn about proper nouns and common nouns.

A proper noun is used to refer to a specific person, place or object. E.g. John is a very smart boy.
A common noun is used to refer to a class of people, places or objects. E.g. John is a very smart boy.

Common noun
A common noun is a noun that refers to people or things in general, e.g. boy, country, bridge, city, birth, day,
happiness.
Proper noun
A proper noun is a name that identifies a particular person, place, or thing, e.g. Steven, Africa, London, Monday. In
written English, proper nouns begin with capital letters.
Concrete noun
A concrete noun is a noun which refers to people and to things that exist physically and can be seen, touched,
smelled, heard, or tasted. Examples include dog, building, coffee, tree, rain, beach, tune.
Abstract noun
An abstract noun is a noun which refers to ideas, qualities, and conditions - things that cannot be seen or touched
and things which have no physical reality, e.g. truth, danger, happiness, time, friendship, humour.
Collective nouns
Collective nouns refer to groups of people or things, e.g. audience, family, government, team, jury. In American
English, most collective nouns are treated as singular, with a singular verb:
The whole family was at the table.
In British English, the preceding sentence would be correct, but it would also be correct to treat the collective noun as
a plural, with a plural verb:

The whole family were at the table.

 For more information about this, see matching verbs to collective nouns.
 A noun may belong to more than one category. For example, happiness is both a common noun and an abstract
noun, while Mount Everest is both a concrete noun and a proper noun.

This grammar exercise tests your ability to identify the different kinds of nouns.

1. The book was lying on the table.

Book is a common noun

Book is a proper noun

Book is a collective noun

2. Love begets love.

Love is a common noun

Love is a collective noun

Love is an abstract noun

3. We cannot live without water.
Water is a common noun

Water is a material noun

Water is an abstract noun

4. The jury has given its verdict.

Jury is a collective noun

Jury is a common noun

Jury is an abstract noun

5. The Hindus regard Krishna as an incarnation of Lord Vishnu.

Hindus is a common noun

Hindus is a proper noun

Hindus is an abstract noun

6. Alcohol is injurious to health.

Health is a common noun

Health is an abstract noun

Health is a proper noun

7. Smoking is a bad habit.

Habit is a common noun

Habit is a proper noun

Habit is an abstract noun

8. Wild animals live in forests.

Animals is a common noun

Animals is a proper noun

Animals is an abstract noun

9. The childhood of Peter was full of misery.

Childhood is a common noun

Childhood is an abstract noun

Childhood is a proper noun

10. All the girls were singing.

Girls is a common noun

Girls is a proper noun

Girls is an abstract noun

11. Gold is a precious metal.

Gold is a proper noun

Gold is an abstract noun

Gold is a material noun

12. Rice is the staple food of South Indians.

Rice is a common noun

Rice is a material noun

Rice is an abstract noun

13. The earth moves round the sun.

Earth is a common noun

Earth is an abstract noun

Earth is a proper noun

Answers

1. The book was lying on the table. (book – common noun; table – common noun)

2. Love begets love. (love – abstract noun)

3. We cannot live without water. (water – material noun)

4. The jury has given its verdict. (jury – collective noun; verdict – abstract noun)

5. The Hindus regard Krishna as an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. (Hindus – proper noun; Krishna – proper noun;

incarnation – common noun; Vishnu – proper noun)
6. Alcohol is injurious to health. (alcohol – material noun; health – abstract noun)

7. Smoking is a bad habit. (habit – abstract noun)

8. Wild animals live in forests. (animals – common noun; forests – common noun)

9. The childhood of Peter was full of misery. (childhood – abstract noun; Peter – proper noun; misery – abstract noun)

10. All the girls were singing. (girls – common noun)

11. Gold is a precious metal. (Gold – material noun; metal – common noun)

12. Rice is the staple food of South Indians. (rice – material noun; food – common noun; Indians – proper noun)

13. The earth moves round the sun. (earth – common noun; sun – common noun)