1What is a noun?
A noun is a naming word. It names a person, a place, an animal, a thing or an idea.
Examplelearner, Soweto, giraffe, bag, courage
2Common and proper nouns
- A common noun names any person, place, animal or thing: girl, city, river.
- A proper noun names one particular person, place or thing. It starts with a capital letter: Naledi, Durban.
- Days, months and holidays are proper nouns: Monday, March.
3Collective nouns
A collective noun names a group of people, animals or things.
Examplea pride of lions, a swarm of bees
a herd of cattle, a school of fish
a bunch of bananas, a team of players
4Concrete and abstract nouns
- Concrete nouns name things we can see or touch: bridge, taxi, teacher.
- Abstract nouns name ideas, feelings and qualities that we cannot see or touch: courage, freedom, happiness.
5Making abstract nouns
Many abstract nouns are made from other words by changing the ending.
Examplekind, kindness; happy, happiness
brave, bravery; free, freedom
friend, friendship; strong, strength
6Plural nouns
- Most nouns add s: book, books.
- After s, x, ch or sh add es: box, boxes.
- Consonant and y: change y to ies: baby, babies.
- Some change completely: child, children.
Key words
- noun
- a naming word
- common noun
- names any person, place, animal or thing
- proper noun
- names one particular person, place or thing
- collective noun
- names a group
- concrete noun
- names something we can see or touch
- abstract noun
- names an idea, feeling or quality