Learning English: Nouns

Apprendre l'anglais: substantifs

Learning English: Nouns:

What are nouns?

A noun is a word used as the name of a person, place or thing. There are different kinds of nouns. A proper noun is the name of a particular person or thing. A common noun is a name given in common to every person or thing of the same class or kind. Note that proper nouns always begin with a capital letter. Common nouns include what are called collective nouns and abstract nouns.

Countable and uncountable nouns

Nouns are also classified as countable and uncountable. Countable nouns are the names of objects that we can count. Examples are: book, pen, apple, doctor, sister, boy etc. Uncountable nouns are the names of things which we cannot count. Examples are: rice, gold, wheat, honesty, beauty, oil etc.

Note that countable nouns have plural forms and can be used with the indefinite article a/an. Uncountable nouns do not have plural forms and cannot be used with the indefinite articles.